SOUTH AFRICA: Kuche Safaris - Free State - August 2024

[cwickgo9]

Koos was at DSC would have been a great time to talk to him.

When DSC is here at the Gaylord DFW in July, I fully intend to check if they're attending and if so, I will definitely be at his booth

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I have been twice now, literally without a single hiccup, and I attribute a great deal of the success to this site. Also, it seems to me like there is such a high level of transparency on the part of active sponsors here that it's hard to get too far off track with planning, expectations, and eventual experience.

 

[KuduKiller]

When DSC is here at the Gaylord DFW in July, I fully intend to check if they're attending and if so, I will definitely be at his booth

I’m about 99.99% sure Koos will not be at that show. He usually only comes to the states from January to February/March. Upon speaking to Koos today he informed me of his facility issue. He had to upgrade to a larger facility and I remember his last taxidermy shop from a few years ago which was not too big. Also, he had to wait on the permits and license. Koos also had to “farm out” some work which he advised didn’t go well due to them not fulfilling their end of the workload and he had some issues with his clean and dip people and some items had to be redone. I was actually informed 2 weeks ago that my bushpig “full body mount” had hair slip and he gave me the option of hunting another or him getting a different cape. Luckily I am going back in June so I will hunt another.

I have personally never had an issue with Kuche and I have been hunting with them for 15 years. I do know that things happen that is beyond control sometime. I tell the hunters I bring with me that they shouldn’t even expect their mounts for atleast 16-18 months but here I am, almost 2 years and I haven’t gotten my trophies from 2023 and I am going back in June.

I said that to say this. Don’t kill the messenger. I am truly sorry timelines for trophies have gotten screwed up but the trophies are coming. If anyone has any issues communicating with Kuche please reach out to me and I will do my best to get you an answer.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

"Koos also had to “farm out” some work which he advised didn’t go well due to them not fulfilling their end of the workload"

That's on him, 110%.

Good on you offering to be a middle man, but one should not be needed. He should be communicating with his clients directly.

 

[375Fox]

The common denominator with all of our stories (I think) is Kuche Safaris and his in-house taxidermy/shipping processes.

The more common denominator is first time African hunters pulled in with questionable high volume marketing methods. There are better outfitters to hunt with next time.

 

[Arty0802]

The more common denominator is first time African hunters pulled in with questionable high volume marketing methods. There are better outfitters to hunt with next time.

Absolutely. It was an opportunity that fell into our laps at a Ducks Unlimited dinner and we jumped on it, nothing more. That being said, we had no issues with the hunting/time in camp. It wasn't the African dream by any stretch, but we certainly still enjoyed it. The only issues have been trying to coordinate our trophy shipments.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Here's hoping for a satisfactory if delayed conclusion.

 

[cwickgo9]

I’m about 99.99% sure Koos will not be at that show. He usually only comes to the states from January to February/March. Upon speaking to Koos today he informed me of his facility issue. He had to upgrade to a larger facility and I remember his last taxidermy shop from a few years ago which was not too big. Also, he had to wait on the permits and license. Koos also had to “farm out” some work which he advised didn’t go well due to them not fulfilling their end of the workload and he had some issues with his clean and dip people and some items had to be redone. I was actually informed 2 weeks ago that my bushpig “full body mount” had hair slip and he gave me the option of hunting another or him getting a different cape. Luckily I am going back in June so I will hunt another.

I have personally never had an issue with Kuche and I have been hunting with them for 15 years. I do know that things happen that is beyond control sometime. I tell the hunters I bring with me that they shouldn’t even expect their mounts for atleast 16-18 months but here I am, almost 2 years and I haven’t gotten my trophies from 2023 and I am going back in June.

I said that to say this. Don’t kill the messenger. I am truly sorry timelines for trophies have gotten screwed up but the trophies are coming. If anyone has any issues communicating with Kuche please reach out to me and I will do my best to get you an answer.

Yes, part of one of the responses to one of my queries (because I was told one thing and that turned out not to be the case) was that one of his "other taxidermists" fell behind and he had picked up my items and taken them to another. Then later I got the information about building the new facilities. Again, all well and good if I was having the taxi done there, but mine should have been dip/pack/ship. And per your statement above, I waited 18 mos before I even reached out just to get an idea. At any rate, I hope to have an answer before the Jan show next year if he's not here in July (I get it, in season). Unfortunately, I had issues this year and couldn't get to the show to ask. If I don't have them or they are not shipped by the Jan '25 show (28 mos) - then it will take on a whole new perspective.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Yes, part of one of the responses to one of my queries (because I was told one thing and that turned out not to be the case) was that one of his "other taxidermists" fell behind and he had picked up my items and taken them to another. Then later I got the information about building the new facilities. Again, all well and good if I was having the taxi done there, but mine should have been dip/pack/ship. And per your statement above, I waited 18 mos before I even reached out just to get an idea. At any rate, I hope to have an answer before the Jan show next year if he's not here in July (I get it, in season). Unfortunately, I had issues this year and couldn't get to the show to ask. If I don't have them or they are not shipped by the Jan '25 show (28 mos) - then it will take on a whole new perspective.

You should not have had to wait that long.

The lack of communications is egregious and irresponsible, IMO.

 

[cms62236]

We hunted with Kuche the last week of August/First week of September in Limpopo and Free State. When we left we were told 6-8 months for Euro mounts and flat skins(7 animals for me and 7 dip and pack for my buddy). After hearing the horror stories I asked Koos face to face at DSC in Atlanta this year what to expect. He told me because of the issues to add 2-3 months to that number. That means he was telling me 8-11 months from my return. I understand it's easy to tell me anything because I am thousands of miles away and he won't see me again for another year at the earliest. Rest assured if i haven't heard from him I will will be on him every other day starting in August. Following to hear what others have heard/experienced.

 

[KuduKiller]

If you all reach out to him and he or his staff doesn’t respond, please let me see if I can help get you an answer.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Has anyone else that was not at Kuche heard this about new regulations?

I've spoken to (2) other taxidermists in South Africa and a large US based Importer and all have said they're unaware of any regulation changes. Take that for what it is

 

[Arty0802]

We hunted with Kuche the last week of August/First week of September in Limpopo and Free State. When we left we were told 6-8 months for Euro mounts and flat skins(7 animals for me and 7 dip and pack for my buddy). After hearing the horror stories I asked Koos face to face at DSC in Atlanta this year what to expect. He told me because of the issues to add 2-3 months to that number. That means he was telling me 8-11 months from my return. I understand it's easy to tell me anything because I am thousands of miles away and he won't see me again for another year at the earliest. Rest assured if i haven't heard from him I will will be on him every other day starting in August. Following to hear what others have heard/experienced.

We were told 12 months on our final day in camp as we were squaring away payments, etc. That would have brought us to July 2024. I think I reached out directly to Koos around that time and got no response (We tried WhatsApp, email, and Facebook if I remember correctly). It wasn't until around Nov or Dec of 2024 that I got a response from a lady named Elize saying we should expect ~18 months due to the new facility. Fair enough. Well 18 months came and went, we're now inching closer to 21 months and the latest reason for delay is a "change in regulations requiring 60% rebuild of taxidermy" that apparently no one has heard of. Rounding out my complaint-fest (I apologize for letting it go on this long), delays are totally understandable. Whether it's due to negligence or reasons completely out of one's control, all that I ask is clear communication of what's going on. I can forgive just about anything with that simple act of courtesy.

 

[Arty0802]

On a more positive note: here's a few of our animals to lighten things up!
Our PH "SW", seen in the bottom corner of my wife's zebra photo, was an absolute treasure. My wife actually got a little teary-eyed when we said goodbye to him. Loved spending the week hunting with him.

 

[cwickgo9]

On a more positive note: here's a few of our animals to lighten things up!
Our PH "SW", seen in the bottom corner of my wife's zebra photo, was an absolute treasure. My wife actually got a little teary-eyed when we said goodbye to him. Loved spending the week hunting with him.
View attachment 672710

Nice animals. We had a great PH - very understanding, patient and worked hard.

 

[Hunt anything]

This probably needs to be a new thread but here it goes anyway.

Is getting taxidermy done in-house vs an established taxidermy shop make since? My one experience with in-house was pretty good. The taxidermist had worked at one of the big shops in South Africa and had taken a job with an outfitter after the lock downs were lifted in RSA, the only issue was I had to have him redo a couple of poses but the work was good and the value was exceptional. Turn around was around 13 months for finished taxidermy.

I know why the outfitter wants in-house, make money but are there that many quality taxidermist out there?

I would like to hear from others that have used in-house just to hear their experiences.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

We were told 12 months on our final day in camp as we were squaring away payments, etc. That would have brought us to July 2024. I think I reached out directly to Koos around that time and got no response (We tried WhatsApp, email, and Facebook if I remember correctly). It wasn't until around Nov or Dec of 2024 that I got a response from a lady named Elize saying we should expect ~18 months due to the new facility. Fair enough. Well 18 months came and went, we're now inching closer to 21 months and the latest reason for delay is a "change in regulations requiring 60% rebuild of taxidermy" that apparently no one has heard of. Rounding out my complaint-fest (I apologize for letting it go on this long), delays are totally understandable. Whether it's due to negligence or reasons completely out of one's control, all that I ask is clear communication of what's going on. I can forgive just about anything with that simple act of courtesy.

Slight change of wording to the last sentence: with that simple act of professional responsibility.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

On a more positive note: here's a few of our animals to lighten things up!
Our PH "SW", seen in the bottom corner of my wife's zebra photo, was an absolute treasure. My wife actually got a little teary-eyed when we said goodbye to him. Loved spending the week hunting with him.
View attachment 672710

LOVE the kudu!! I have a fondness for the ones that run heavy, high, and tight.

 

[Arty0802]

LOVE the kudu!! I have a fondness for the ones that run heavy, high, and tight.

He was an old salt. Worn down teeth and horns, faded stripes. He measured out at 52". I would loved to have seen him in is prime. I was super happy with him. And the mountainous property we harvested him on was stunning.

 

[cwickgo9]

He was an old salt. Worn down teeth and horns, faded stripes. He measured out at 52". I would loved to have seen him in is prime. I was super happy with him. And the mountainous property we harvested him on was stunning.

If I ever go back - Kudu and Sable are on my list