Leopard is home!

Yes, a damp rag to wipe the hair back into position. If it's stubborn, maybe a hair gel product diluted with a little water. I know you said you are leery to try it yourself, but not really any downside to trying and it not working. There's nothing you could do trying those methods that would do any permanent damage to it. Go for it!
 
Well ladies and gentlemen he is finally home and I could not be happier! I have been smiling ear to ear ever time I come to my office. Hunted in July of 2023 arrived November 6, 2024. Taxidermy was done by Steve Collette's Wild life in Bulawayo. I will list the costs below if anyone is interested. It did have some damage on arrival nothing to major but still very frustrating. They did tell me to use a wet towel to smooth out the fur but not sure if I trust my self to do it. After all the costs I think the next time I will get it done in the states.

Conservation Force $2000
Collets Taxidermy $4000
Shipping from Zim $4500
Chicago to CA $2200
$12,720

View attachment 645797View attachment 645798View attachment 645799View attachment 645800View attachment 645801
Curious Colletts has a shop in both SA and Zim. Seems they did the work in Zim then the expensive charge from Zim to SA. Would it have been cheaper to have the skin sent to their SA facility to save the $2k+? Just asking for my future cat
 
Curious Colletts has a shop in both SA and Zim. Seems they did the work in Zim then the expensive charge from Zim to SA. Would it have been cheaper to have the skin sent to their SA facility to save the $2k+? Just asking for my future cat

@Rare Breed - I could be reading it wrong, but when I look at the price rundown I don't see a price listed for it being shipped from Zim to SA. I had thought the way he wrote it, it shipped from Zim to the states (Chicago) and then domestic to CA.
 
@Rare Breed - I could be reading it wrong, but when I look at the price rundown I don't see a price listed for it being shipped from Zim to SA. I had thought the way he wrote it, it shipped from Zim to the states (Chicago) and then domestic to CA.
Thank you…that makes more sense to me!!!!
 
Well ladies and gentlemen he is finally home and I could not be happier! I have been smiling ear to ear ever time I come to my office. Hunted in July of 2023 arrived November 6, 2024. Taxidermy was done by Steve Collette's Wild life in Bulawayo. I will list the costs below if anyone is interested. It did have some damage on arrival nothing to major but still very frustrating. They did tell me to use a wet towel to smooth out the fur but not sure if I trust my self to do it. After all the costs I think the next time I will get it done in the states.

Conservation Force $2000
Collets Taxidermy $4000
Shipping from Zim $4500
Chicago to CA $2200
$12,720

View attachment 645797View attachment 645798View attachment 645799View attachment 645800View attachment 645801
Spectacular! Good for you....
 
Excellent cat and mount glad you got it home.
 
I'm sure you are relieved to have it in your home. I agree that Conservation Force is very helpful on these imports. They helped me a lot on the ivory import this year.

Remind me...this was your first cat attempt or you had tried before?
 

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Grz63 wrote on roklok's profile.
Hi Roklok
I read your post on Caprivi. Congratulations.
I plan to hunt there for buff in 2026 oct.
How was the land, very dry ? But à lot of buffs ?
Thank you / merci
Philippe
Fire Dog wrote on AfricaHunting.com's profile.
Chopped up the whole thing as I kept hitting the 240 character limit...
Found out the trigger word in the end... It was muzzle or velocity. dropped them and it posted.:)
Fire Dog wrote on AfricaHunting.com's profile.
2,822fps, ES 8.2
This compares favorably to 7 Rem Mag. with less powder & recoil.
Fire Dog wrote on AfricaHunting.com's profile.
*PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS FOR MY RIFLE, ALWAYS APPROACH A NEW LOAD CAUTIOUSLY!!*
Rifle is a Pierce long action, 32" 1:8.5 twist Swan{Au} barrel
{You will want a 1:8.5 to run the heavies but can get away with a 1:9}
Peterson .280AI brass, CCI 200 primers, 56.5gr of 4831SC, 184gr Berger Hybrid.
Fire Dog wrote on AfricaHunting.com's profile.
I know that this thread is more than a year old but as a new member I thought I would pass along my .280AI loading.
I am shooting F Open long range rather than hunting but here is what is working for me and I have managed a 198.14 at 800 meters.
That is for 20 shots. The 14 are X's which is a 5" circle.
 
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