I may be done with africa, at least for a while

[Newboomer]

I have so many mounts that the only thing I bring home are European mounts. I have them done in Africa as my taxidermist uses beautiful African teak for the plaques. I have yet to see a taxidermist in NA who can match them.

I used Safari Specialty Importers for my trips. They handle everything from your outfitter to your taxidermist there or here, shipping, importer, inspections, domestic delivery, etc. Just give them the info on your outfitter and they will take it from there.

I had dip and pack so that simplified things to some degree. I don't trust African taxidermists and wanted mine done here at home where I had some control.

 

[Nyati]

@62flint , you are not ranting, just saying the truth.

After 8 safaris, I find flights and airports getting more uncomfortable.

The hunt itself may go well, or not, that depends on your outfitter, and then bringing back your trophies is a nightmare, if you have an animal with a CITES, up to two years of waiting.

Most airlines refuse to transport the big 5.

Shooting cull ? Not for me, I am looking for specifc trophies, and want to see them home.

So, most likely not going back.

 

[Skshyk]

 

[Tanks]

I used Safari Specialty Importers for my trips. They handle everything from your outfitter to your taxidermist there or here, shipping, importer, inspections, domestic delivery, etc. Just give them the info on your outfitter and they will take it from there.

I had dip and pack so that simplified things to some degree. I don't trust African taxidermists and wanted mine done here at home where I had some control.

Same here. As a matter of fact, my Zambia trophies are coming.

 

[375Fox]

The shipping prices are a lot higher than they were pre-2020 and so is the final clearing. For as many hunters as South Africa and Namibia have I think their hunting organizations need to organize multiple outfitters clients into a sea shipment at end of seasons or they are going to start losing bookings. I have changed the way I hunt. The cost of shipping and clearing is nearly the same on a short 7 day hunt with only a few trophies as it is a 14 day hunt with more trophies. I don’t see myself going as frequently as I did and only for extended hunts now to justify shipping. Unfortunately I realize many are limited on time. I really hope collective end of season ocean shipments become an option in future.

 

[thi9elsp]

I am in the planning stages working with several sponsors on the forum to hunt trophy / exportable elephant in 2025. The costs will add up but I want to be able to touch / hold the tusks back here in the states. If, after that, life allows me to go to Africa again I will probably hire a videographer through the PH and have the DVD contain the trophies and capture more than my 64 year old brain can remember.

 

[.300RUM]

Hopefully things will work out for ya, shipping was a concern for me too. Well the whole trip was as I was "breaking the ice". Safari Cargo Systems handled the shipping to Coppersmiths in Atlanta and my taxidermist picked it up for me.

 

[WAB]

I am in the planning stages working with several sponsors on the forum to hunt trophy / exportable elephant in 2025. The costs will add up but I want to be able to touch / hold the tusks back here in the states. If, after that, life allows me to go to Africa again I will probably hire a videographer through the PH and have the DVD contain the trophies and capture more than my 64 year old brain can remember.

Every time I walk into my office I run my hands across my elephant tusks. There is something very special about ivory.

 

[JOHN WATERS]

Its not just Africa... Trophy shipments, Cites permits, importer fees - its beyond crazy.. I am headed to Tajikistan in Dec for Marco Polo and Ibex. The cites permits are a disaster, guys are shipping trophy to a Canadian taxidermist and hoping for a cites permit into the US.. I may not even bother bringing them home - and THAT is sad!!!

I have a very nice buff and roan in Namibia - still have not decided if I will ship them when they are ready...

And once they get home - another 5k-10k plus to mount them!!

I wont stop hunting but I think the trophies are going to be in picture frames... And I'm gonna hunt more here in the US, where I can drive, bring home the meat and NO DAMN GUN PERMITS!!

The meat is a big benefit of hunting in US and its territories. I understand that you can bring in meat from Canada after a process. Would have liked to have my meat from my Kudu, Gemsbok, Impala and Blue WB flash frozen and sent home.

 

[Spearhead]

Its not just Africa... Trophy shipments, Cites permits, importer fees - its beyond crazy.. I am headed to Tajikistan in Dec for Marco Polo and Ibex. The cites permits are a disaster, guys are shipping trophy to a Canadian taxidermist and hoping for a cites permit into the US.. I may not even bother bringing them home - and THAT is sad!!!

I have a very nice buff and roan in Namibia - still have not decided if I will ship them when they are ready...

And once they get home - another 5k-10k plus to mount them!!

I wont stop hunting but I think the trophies are going to be in picture frames... And I'm gonna hunt more here in the US, where I can drive, bring home the meat and NO DAMN GUN PERMITS!!

@smp005 PLEASE post that hunt report when you get back. I'd love to hear about your MP hunt. It would be sad to leave those giant curls and not bring him home.

 

[smp005]

@smp005 PLEASE post that hunt report when you get back. I'd love to hear about your MP hunt. It would be sad to leave those giant curls and not bring him home.

I will for sure! I still need to post my Buff hunt from back in May - time gets away from us!!

 

[BC Tal]

Everyone will have their own point where they say enough is enough. I see two concerns, cost and the headaches. Cost is something I balanced and accepted, I wanted to hunt in Africa with my own rifles and was willing to pay a certain amount to do it. Everyone must reach their own cost acceptance level.

I can't speak to bringing my trophies into Canada just yet, that is about to start, but I can speak to two factors that made our hunt so much less stressful: the issues of hunting with our own guns and flights in general. The price of hunting in Africa from North America is going to be what it is, can't do much there, but I do highly recommend the following to make for less headache and hassle:

1. Get a travel agent. Many will say you don't have to and that may be true for them; it was my initial thought also. Well, let me tell you, @Just a dude in BC and I are glad we did. Even though we live in Canada, we went with @TRAVEL EXPRESS. The cost was not that much more and the service they provided was so worth it. Not just booking three flights each way with the same airline group thereby luggage checked all the way through and if any delays it's easier to deal with. They got us emergency exit seats with extra legroom in the econo class when they could, confirmed our travel with firearms 72 hrs prior to boarding with all airlines, advised on the required paperwork, contacted ATF to confirm we did not need to have importation paperwork to transition through Atlanta, when WestJet changed their flight times for our return from Atlanta to Calgary causing us to not have enough time to catch our connector to Victoria, they sent emails while we were hunting giving recommendations and sorting out alternative flights. We didn't have to do any of it and had a much more enjoyable hunt as a result.

2. Get a pro to sort out the firearms paperwork (SAPS for South Africa for example). We went with Afton Lodge, paid our very acceptable fee and had zero problems. They took care of it. So worth it to bring our own rifles to hunt with and not have any issues.

You will have to decide when enough is enough, but just a couple tips we found to make the hunt easier.

 

[DLSJR]

Y2flint, call Safari Specialty importers or Coppersmith and have them handle your trophy imports.

I can’t imagine not wanting to go on another African hunt. I’m 65, have been on 10 safaris, 3 in the last 24 months. I have 3 more booked for ‘25 & ‘26 and am looking at another for next year. I’ll hunt Africa as long as my health and finances allow. I’m 65 and hope to hunt Africa at least another 15 years. Planning another buffalo hunt right now with a buddy who is 81, it’ll be his 2nd buffalo hunt in 3 years.

 

[gram2117]

This is who I used for my last two safaris. loriz@pridebaltimore.com I had no issues with them and it is who my taxidermist uses. Good luck to you.

 

[Doubleplay]

It’s not just the shipping of the trophies. It’s the entire process of getting things straight to go back over.
When I look at the cost of flights, firearm paperwork shipping trophies home vs loading stuff up in my truck and driving 3000-5000 miles round trip to an outfitter in the states.
Dont get me wrong. I really enjoyed my trip last summer. Best trip of my life.
But right at the moment I am frustrated and considering cost vs reward to me.

Did you look at the prices of comparable North American hunts lately?

 

[62flint]

Did you look at the prices of comparable North American hunts lately?

yep,, Nothing is cheap any more. I am more aggravated with the hassels right now. I am sure I will eventually go back on a free range hunt or tiger fishing, I just cant bear to not go with my rifles or bring back the horns of a trophy.
Its not going to get any cheaper or easier though.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

The shipping prices are a lot higher than they were pre-2020 and so is the final clearing. For as many hunters as South Africa and Namibia have I think their hunting organizations need to organize multiple outfitters clients into a sea shipment at end of seasons or they are going to start losing bookings. I have changed the way I hunt. The cost of shipping and clearing is nearly the same on a short 7 day hunt with only a few trophies as it is a 14 day hunt with more trophies. I don’t see myself going as frequently as I did and only for extended hunts now to justify shipping. Unfortunately I realize many are limited on time. I really hope collective end of season ocean shipments become an option in future.

With how often you’ve been you might think about combining D&P Shipments from multiple years. I’ve got a shipment getting ready to leave with stuff from 4 different hunts.

@62flint who’s you’re import agent? There are a bunch of them. I’ve used a couple now but have been using Wyatt with Safari Specialty Importers.