Frugal Hunter

[Deuce]

New to the sight and looking to see if anyone has done their homework on the “Magical” or should I say most economical number of trophy’s to take on a trip. Obviously dip and pack takes up less space, but you have to air freight and although I do like some euro mounts to me a shoulder mount gives the full effect of the animals colorization and a appreciation of their size.

Then there is the budget limitations. Maybe a full ocean container is the perfect number, but let’s face it most of us can not afford to blow the bank on one trip and besides then we would have a harder time making excuses to go back again.
So what is the “Magical” number 1, 2, 3, …… and when does the number push you to multiple crates?

 

[JimP]

Everyone's list will be different.

On my first hunt a kudu was low on the list but it will be number one on someone's else's list.

But I believe that this list is a good idea.

Kudu
Gemsbok
Impala
Springbuck
Blue Wildebeest

I took a black Wildebeest on my first hunt and then a blue on my second hunt. My main animal on my second hunt was a warthog

They can put a lot of capes, skins, and horns in a dip and pack crate

 

[375Fox]

The more you take the more economical it will become. You should be thinking at least 5+ on a normal RSA or Namibia ranch hunt. Your flights are essentially a fixed cost, the customs broker is a fixed cost, tips basically are too. I’ve taken up to 12 animals on a hunt including giraffe and buffalo on some trips it’s always only gone into one crate dip and pack. The best part of Africa is you book the days not just one animal like in North America. If you’re worried about keeping costs in check hunt lower cost animals. I think you are shorting yourself if you hunt fewer animals and don’t use all the days you booked because you are worried about the cost to ship them home. Adding a couple sets of warthog tusks or an impala skull will be a very minimal added cost to the overall shipping.

 

[Deuce]

Makes sense, but I was told it was cheaper to have them done in South Africa and have them shipped as completed taxidermy, so that was the route I was looking at. Guessing that may have been a bad idea?

 

[375Fox]

Makes sense, but I was told it was cheaper to have them done in South Africa and have them shipped as completed taxidermy, so that was the route I was looking at. Guessing that may have been a bad idea?

Depends who you ask. I have a good taxidermist at home and prefer the dip and pack route. I think you are taking a gamble with shipping prices the larger the crate gets to accommodate mounts like eland, kudu, sable, etc. I’ve also changed my mind on several by the time they arrived home and thought skulls were just fine instead of getting mounted. Some time to think can save money sometimes.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Take pictures and take more animals.
No taxidermy, no broker, no customs, no air freight, no storage. Given today's insane prices you will be able to hunt twice as many animals.

 

[JimP]

Having taxidermy done in South Afria is cheaper than the US, but then shipping will cost you more to get them home.

I had two large heads and one small one done and 4 euros in South Africa last year and by the time that it is all done it'll cost close to the same.

I had it done there just because of the time frame. My taxidermist here in the US is 15 months out from the time he receives the d&p crate.

 

[Deuce]

Yeah freight charges are insane, which is why I was asking the question. When does a crate get too big to be worth doing them overseas? I have read horror stories on here about bad taxidermy, freight charges, storage costs and lost or damage taxidermy and it’s got me a little nervous.

 

[Firebird]

Your question has a vagueness about it that makes it impossible to accurately answer.
Make a list of what you want most. Select the ph to accommodate your dream and then go fulfill it.
Have extra in your pocket in case that monster whatever steps out and you badly want to take it home as well.
Just like you (I’m confident in my assessment) I work my tail off to achieve my dreams. I don’t let shipping costs prevent me from bringing home something I want very badly. I might have to save for another year, but every time I walk into my basement and see and touch the trophies again, the cost is forgotten and the memories flood in-

 

[Firebird]

Not sure you got a proper introduction-so welcome to the site, there is lots of info to digest.
I generally stay in the hunt reports section, all 64 pages of them, and just enjoy reading about others successes

 

[Mekaniks]

 

[Deuce]

Thanks Firebird. This forum has many experienced hunters and there appears to be a genuine helpful attitude to its members, which is why I joined.

I hunted in the Limpopo region in 2022, but like yourself worked hard to make that happen.

I took Kudu, Gembok, Waterbuck and Blue Wildebeest on that hunt and even got to watch my 12 year old daughter tag a Zebra.

Those are memories you can’t put a price on.

Now I am planning on returning in 2024 to get the Black Wildebeest that I ran out of time to go after and he will need some friends with him on the long trip home to Michigan.

 

[Firebird]

I also went back a second time for a black wildebeest-among others. It was the last animal I took on my second trip. It’s planning and dreaming and the memories that get us back.
My walls are pretty busy, so I think I’m to the “trophy photo book” stage except one or two
Special animals I will hunt on the inevitable “next trip”. Good luck!

 

[CAustin]

New to the sight and looking to see if anyone has done their homework on the “Magical” or should I say most economical number of trophy’s to take on a trip. Obviously dip and pack takes up less space, but you have to air freight and although I do like some euro mounts to me a shoulder mount gives the full effect of the animals colorization and a appreciation of their size.

Then there is the budget limitations. Maybe a full ocean container is the perfect number, but let’s face it most of us can not afford to blow the bank on one trip and besides then we would have a harder time making excuses to go back again.
So what is the “Magical” number 1, 2, 3, …… and when does the number push you to multiple crates?

Welcome

 

[Andrew62]

Makes sense, but I was told it was cheaper to have them done in South Africa and have them shipped as completed taxidermy, so that was the route I was looking at. Guessing that may have been a bad idea?

I've had animals shipped back to the US, and on 2 occasions had my animals mounted in SA and shipped home. Having them mounted there and shipped home went pretty slick. Just last May I shot some animals in SA, had 4 mounted in SA and shipped to the US before I flew back last September to hunt Africa again. Now my buddy who went last Sept will be having his animals arrived stateside in October, he choose ocean freight.

 

[Velo Dog]

Hello Deuce,

Khomas Highland Hunting Safaris of Namibia, welcomes you to the greatest forum on earth.

Ya, taxidermy & shipping can get very spendy.
As others have said, a lot depends on the size of whichever species plus the number of critters bagged.

My recommendation is that, if you cannot abide euro-skull type mementos on your walls and simply just have to have shoulder mounted whatever animals, perhaps have the capes and skulls processed only to the minimum and shipped to you in a smaller crate.

Then, you can have each one put together by your local Taxidermist, here and there, as money permits.
There is no rule that says your critters must be completed simultaneously.

Another option might be to have only horns (various antelopes) and tusks (warthog) shipped to you, in a very small box.
Then, keep scouring the internet to hopefully then find affordable shoulder mounts of the same species you have horns and tusks for.
Estate Sales / Estate Auctions sometimes list very affordable shoulder mounts of various species.
Also sometimes, Taxidermy companies sell shoulder mounted critters for less than they might otherwise be worth, after whomever had originally commissioned the work, failed to pay for the finished product.

Replace the parts mentioned, via your own handiwork or, have your local taxidermist do that, with ones from the critters you have shot.
Then use the parts removed to make lamps, cabin door handles, knife handles, revolver grips and so forth.
Or, sell these parts to whomever, (where legal to do so).

Be all of that as it may, when you have a spare moment, take a peep into the Khomas Safaris web site.

Best Regards,
Velo Dog.

 

[John Telford]

The scale of economy dictates that the more you buy the cheaper it gets … to a point.
I’ve also noted a trend where hunters prefer taking two or three representative species rather than a trophy and forego the taxidermy costs.
It would seem that they are content with having the adventure rather than a trophy.
We have also noticed that British hunters are happy to shoot 10 impala rather than a mixed bag!
Also some female species are as challenging to hunt than the male .
Consider shooting:
Impala x3 one female two male.
Wildebeest x2 male and female
Waterbuck female.( over supply at most locations)
Gemsbok both sexes.
Then what ever is high priority.
Kudu and bushbuck are always icons.

 

[Inline6]

Yeah freight charges are insane, which is why I was asking the question. When does a crate get too big to be worth doing them overseas? I have read horror stories on here about bad taxidermy, freight charges, storage costs and lost or damage taxidermy and it’s got me a little nervous.

Had 15 animals that arrived last Friday. Two crates 4'X8'X4.5' freight by sea was 7800, after it made it through all the BS stateside it tacked on another 3137.00. Plus the cost of the mounts. Like @BRICKBURN pointed out. Take good pictures and go on another hunt. With the mounts we already have those 15 pretty much filled up most of the available wall space. From now on the only thing I will have mounted is something special or something my wife or son kills.

 

[mark-hunter]

Kudu - shouldermmount
Oryx - shoulder mount
Warthog - scull
Black wildebeest - shoulder mount
Red hartebeest - scull mounts + separate skin
Basically two sculls, and three shoulder mounts. I went with my taste, wasnt bothered by economy.
Economy wise, nobody sane would go for African trophy hunt.

 

[Velo Dog]

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