Here or there?

[Flipper Dude]

Hey guys. With any luck I should take an elephant bull this June in Zimbabwe. I plan on having replicas made of the tusks. Here’s my question. Cuan at TCI has done taxidermy for me before, and does an excellent job. My PH can get the actual tusks to TCI so they can make a cast (?) and make exact replicas. I’ve seen their work and it looks great. Otherwise, I can only get pictures and multiple measurements to a stateside taxidermy company. However, no shipping, no clearances, no BS in getting stuff in from Africa. Is it the same hassle and expense getting fiberglass tusks shipped from Zim as actual taxidermy? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[375Fox]

I’ll be interested to hear the responses. I was under the impression since there is no wildlife products it can just be shipped back standard mail to your door, no clearing.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

I’ll be interested to hear the responses. I was under the impression since there is no wildlife products it can just be shipped back standard mail to your door, no clearing.

I would agree

 

[rookhawk]

Hey guys. With any luck I should take an elephant bull this June in Zimbabwe. I plan on having replicas made of the tusks. Here’s my question. Cuan at TCI has done taxidermy for me before, and does an excellent job. My PH can get the actual tusks to TCI so they can make a cast (?) and make exact replicas. I’ve seen their work and it looks great. Otherwise, I can only get pictures and multiple measurements to a stateside taxidermy company. However, no shipping, no clearances, no BS in getting stuff in from Africa. Is it the same hassle and expense getting fiberglass tusks shipped from Zim as actual taxidermy? Inquiring minds want to know.

I've had truly mixed results with TCI over there. Costs for "curios" which I include Elephant Tusks are a LOT more expensive over here. The best replica tusks and other curios I've seen are with Vince Pegg in Bulawayo at Collette's Taxidermy. They will reverse cast your actual tusks and you cannot tell they are fake until you actually put them in your hands. They cost relatively little, about $600 or so, wall mounted?

If you have the time to get harassed at the airport, you can walk them through the US customs yourself once they are satisfied they are replicas. What you save on shipping nonsense by going back to Africa to fetch them on another safari is a substantial savings, probably covers the airfare to go back and get them in fact.

 

[Philip Glass]

Hey guys. With any luck I should take an elephant bull this June in Zimbabwe. I plan on having replicas made of the tusks. Here’s my question. Cuan at TCI has done taxidermy for me before, and does an excellent job. My PH can get the actual tusks to TCI so they can make a cast (?) and make exact replicas. I’ve seen their work and it looks great. Otherwise, I can only get pictures and multiple measurements to a stateside taxidermy company. However, no shipping, no clearances, no BS in getting stuff in from Africa. Is it the same hassle and expense getting fiberglass tusks shipped from Zim as actual taxidermy? Inquiring minds want to know.

Why would you not try to bring home the trophy of a lifetime? They are issuing import permits now.

 

[Flipper Dude]

I’m going to try for sure. I’ll admit that I haven’t done the research yet as to what is required, or if the area that I’m hunting is eligible for import. I need to get on that.