Cost for Me To Take The Big 5

[Daisy]

here is what I did

That’s badass. Is it a painting or a picture on canvas?

 

[Green Chile]

My lion will be done this month. Kanati did the work but wasn’t cheap . Paid $20,000 for it two years ago and still will need to ship it to the Dallas area. Their work is amazing.

I've been to their displays many times but would love to see how it turns out for you when you get it back. What did you have them do?

 

[Hank2211]

I have seen vets walk from their truck and dart a rhino. Not my cup of tea as a lifetime hunt.

Interesting.

I did a dart hunt a few years ago in South Africa and it was not at all like that.

The effective range on a dart gun - at least the one I had - was about 35 yards, and getting that close to a group of rhino was a challenge, to say the least. We had to play the wind, make sure to stop moving when they stopped moving, and find decent cover because although they don't have great eyesight, at 35 or fewer yards, they can see you.

And then once you hit one with the dart, you have to find it - quickly - to partially reverse the drug (no helicopter here). It takes off like the proverbial bat out of hell and you can (and have to) chase, but it's not easy - they - or this one at least - went into thick cover.

When we were done with pictures, and some vital statistics, the vet allowed me to inject the reversal drug as well, which is fun - you need to get back relatively quickly, because it works faster than you might expect and you will have a drowsy but not entirely happy rhino on your hands when it gets up.

Overall it was an exciting hunt, and far more exciting than shooting one with a rifle would have been. I could easily have taken a shot at 100 or more yards, and likely brought the rhino down a lot faster than the dart did.

I'm not saying darted hunts are all like that, just that mine was. I would speak to a good outfitter who offers these hunts and tell him what you want. It's not fish in a barrel.

And FWIW, many outfitters will let you deliver the actual tranquilizer, rather than the vita-dart. Not sure it's entirely kosher, but . . .

 

[Green Chile]

I've darted a few times and all required stalking and some effort for sure. They didn't stand around waiting for us and I found it to be pretty interesting. We are offering a rhino dart on our group hunt offer.

 

[ActionBob]

My lion will be done this month. Kanati did the work but wasn’t cheap . Paid $20,000 for it two years ago and still will need to ship it to the Dallas area. Their work is amazing. Just to clarify certain areas still have wild lions which can be imported.

I paid about $12,000 for a real lion/dead lechwe and a hyena done by Kanati around about 9 years ago. Recently paid closer to $9000 just for my Tanzania lion with a different taxidermist.

 

[Rockwall205]

I've been to their displays many times but would love to see how it turns out for you when you get it back. What did you have them do?

They are doing a full body mount . I gave them pictures of the lion. They told me they will replicate the lion I shot . When it comes in I will post both the actual lion and the simulated mount .

If it’s similar I might rethink hunting a polar bear. They had several at DSC the year before but didn’t have an actual bear to compare their work to.

 

[Rockwall205]

I paid about $12,000 for a real lion/dead lechwe and a hyena done by Kanati around about 9 years ago. Recently paid closer to $9000 just for my Tanzania lion with a different taxidermist.

We’re you happy with their work?

 

[ActionBob]

We’re you happy with their work?

After I got them home I discovered a lower cost option that did every bit as good work. However I was very pleased with the lion and lechwe, there are pics on here somewhere The hyena i gave them artistic license and they did it sneeking around the corner towards the lion. So great concept. But they mounted it downhill. So looks weird for a hyena. And it was supposed to be open mouth with some drool hanging but they cheated out and did closed mouth. Very good work as far as the hides, skulls, etc. And some of the best bases I have.

 

[ActionBob]

They are doing a full body mount . I gave them pictures of the lion. They told me they will replicate the lion I shot . When it comes in I will post both the actual lion and the simulated mount .

If it’s similar I might rethink hunting a polar bear. They had several at DSC the year before but didn’t have an actual bear to compare their work to.

I think their Polar Bears are outstanding! Tempted to do that myself

 

[Rockwall205]

I think their Polar Bears are outstanding! Tempted to do that myself

If it wasn’t soooo cold would be an easy decision!

 

[ActionBob]

I found a picture of my lion done by Kanati. But it is a real skin mount.

 

[Rare Breed]

That’s badass. Is it a painting or a picture on canvas?

I took good pictures with my Canon Rebel camera then had an Africa artist paint the photo as oil on canvas. I had her do it large enough to just about cover my wall. Her charge $440. Now the olive wood frame mounting $1800. All in mounted picture $2240

 

[ActionBob]

If it wasn’t soooo cold would be an easy decision!

The cold shouldn't be a problem as long as you are geared up properly and follow some common sense. Don't take a deep breath through your mouth. Be very careful of exposed skin. No pissing in the wind

The thing that worries me is that I don't want to be put in one of those damned sleds behind a snowmobile. My back cannot take that. Just let me drive one myself and I'll be all in.

 

[Rockwall205]

The cold shouldn't be a problem as long as you are geared up properly and follow some common sense. Don't take a deep breath through your mouth. Be very careful of exposed skin. No pissing in the wind

The thing that worries me is that I don't want to be put in one of those damned sleds behind a snowmobile. My back cannot take that. Just let me drive one myself and I'll be all in.

I was thinking the same thing about the damn sled ! But didn’t mention it . Wouldn’t be able to see anything getting bounced around for miles on end !

 

[Muskox]

here is what I did

I spoke to a guy in Italy that is a trophy painter. I can't remember what his name is. He wanted $4000 to paint me in a 24x36 inch trophy portrait of my most interesting trophy. A black grouse killed on top of a mountain on the Austrian-Italian border in Tyrol.

Could also buy a black grouse painting by him for $500, adding my fat ass to the painting was the expensive part.

 

[buck wild]

Nope, Nope, Nope. I'm not going to read this cuz I don't want to know (as it also relates to my pocket book)

 

[DAVE LANGERMAN Safaris]

I fear you are correct @rookhawk !!! Lou Hallamore my ph said “craig no matter what your told, leopard is 50-50.”. That’s why i have saved him till last. While hope is eternal I know it might take several hunts to get him

Ha, got to Love Lou! He told me the same thing many years ago! And I agree, Lou is a great leopard hunter.

I shudder when I read stories of hunters taking 4 trips to get a leopard. But I understand it happens! The Niassa is quite honestly one of the best destinations for leopard. We have a very high success rate! Feel free to drop me a line.

 

[CarsonG]

I’m considering an elephant hunt in [emoji[emoji6]] (I have a pg hunt I’ll be going on before then) what does the CITES permit cost and along with taxes and additional fees normally included? I’m looking at going to Zim. Just trying to get my head around some of the numbers.

 

[CarsonG]

I don’t know why it the emoji thing. I want to hunt in the year twenty twenty eight.

 

[Rare Breed]

I’m considering an elephant hunt in [emoji[emoji6]] (I have a pg hunt I’ll be going on before then) what does the CITES permit cost and along with taxes and additional fees normally included? I’m looking at going to Zim. Just trying to get my head around some of the numbers.

The real key to getting elephant imported to the US is legal paperwork not the fees. Be careful please here to understand what I am saying…the actual fees to use Cites for import are small…good luck in yourself answering all our governments questions!!! I always use import experts of Conservation Force at $3,000 for Elephant and $1,500 for leopard which covers all your paperwork costs. When the government asks a question, they not you find the answer. In fact when our government sees you are using CF they quickly approve your permit given CF we’re the ones that successfully sued the US government and won for all of us