Trophy Room Build after 45 years of hunting

Very cool! I'm excited to follow along as you share the build. Question for you how big are you building this to be? would like to know more details at some point.
Thanks for sharing.
 
Very cool! I'm excited to follow along as you share the build. Question for you how big are you building this to be? would like to know more details at some point.
Thanks for sharing.
The building is 140x50 with 16 foot wall plate height and the peak of the ceiling at 24 feet. The structure itself a pretty simple design, just two big rooms, two bathrooms and a butlers pantry.

As shown in the photo's, I utilized wood frame construction to be consistent with the four car garage that was incorporated into the addition. Stucco exterior and clay tile roof along with flagstone walkways to be consistent with existing architecture. Maintaining consistency with the interior finish out I will install travertine flooring and knotty alder cabinetry.

For energy efficiency I had the entire structure spray foam insulated and included a Lutron lighting control system for the building so I can program the lights to turn on and off automatically.
 
Wow ! Thank you so much for sharing!
 
Not sure how I missed this but EPIC. Maybe after it's finished I will drive over and find your nubian ibex for you and see the room !
 
And what will you name your museum of natural history?
Well, I haven't really given that any thought. Probably just "the bar at Reserve Ranch".

But, since you mentioned it maybe there is an AH contest in the making here!
 
John - Sorry if I missed it but what is the projected date you think this will finished? I have had the Reserve Ranch on a short list to potentially take my son hunting as we can drive there in about 4 hours and obviously be ideal when the room is up and running. Please let me know. Cheers
 
John - Sorry if I missed it but what is the projected date you think this will finished? I have had the Reserve Ranch on a short list to potentially take my son hunting as we can drive there in about 4 hours and obviously be ideal when the room is up and running. Please let me know. Cheers
@Throwback, my goal is to have the space functional by August, in time for our Fall/Winter Season. We would love to have you and your son come to the ranch.

As for true completion, meaning all taxidermy up and displayed that could be another 9-12 months. I ran out of space many years ago and started having all of my skins wet tanned so I could store in the freezer for later mounting. So, there is a backlog of mounts to be completed but they are mostly all underway.

I am still waiting on a couple of shipments from Zambia and Namibia which are animals hunted by my children.

Of course, I am not finished hunting so there will be a few more mounts added in the coming years.

Feel free to call, DM or email me any time to talk hunting!
 
John what is left on your own hunt list? Repeats or new animals?
I lack six spiral horned antelope to have collected all sub-species;
East African Greater Kudu
Abyssinian Greater Kudu
Menelik Bushbuck
Abyssinian Bushbuck
Sesse Island Sitatunga
Forest Sitatunga

Then, if my knee condition improves, I'd like to take few more mountain hunts in places such as Pakistan and Mongolia. If the pathway clears for the import of other Argali's I would consider those as well.

Finally, I still lack the Canadian Moose to complete the NA 29 and I am booked to British Columbia with Tahltan Outfitters for that this coming October.
 
we are walking the adventure with you. My wife has been a sport, we have heads and skins and skulls all over our entire house and my giant heated barn, I owe her for that. What a thrill to have what your building. Enjoy the journey, painful as it might be.
 
we are walking the adventure with you. My wife has been a sport, we have heads and skins and skulls all over our entire house and my giant heated barn, I owe her for that. What a thrill to have what your building. Enjoy the journey, painful as it might be.
I am right there with you @LWPhunt my wife tolerated mounts scattered all over the place the past 36 years so I am sure she will be happy once this is completed as well. Of course, the building will house her trophies as well!
 
@Throwback, my goal is to have the space functional by August, in time for our Fall/Winter Season. We would love to have you and your son come to the ranch.

As for true completion, meaning all taxidermy up and displayed that could be another 9-12 months. I ran out of space many years ago and started having all of my skins wet tanned so I could store in the freezer for later mounting. So, there is a backlog of mounts to be completed but they are mostly all underway.

I am still waiting on a couple of shipments from Zambia and Namibia which are animals hunted by my children.

Of course, I am not finished hunting so there will be a few more mounts added in the coming years.

Feel free to call, DM or email me any time to talk hunting!
Thank you sir. I will reach out at the right time. Your whole set up there looks great and I love the hacienda style. And of course more hunting so it will always somewhat be a work in progress!
 
I lack six spiral horned antelope to have collected all sub-species;
East African Greater Kudu
Abyssinian Greater Kudu
Menelik Bushbuck
Abyssinian Bushbuck
Sesse Island Sitatunga
Forest Sitatunga

Then, if my knee condition improves, I'd like to take few more mountain hunts in places such as Pakistan and Mongolia. If the pathway clears for the import of other Argali's I would consider those as well.

Finally, I still lack the Canadian Moose to complete the NA 29 and I am booked to British Columbia with Tahltan Outfitters for that this coming October.
Words for your room and hunting career, awesome and amazing, well done Sir. As a BC resident I have spent many seasons hunting moose in the now Tahltan Outfitters area. I did manage a booner moose from that area, lets hope you do the same, would be a great read on here and better a fitting final to your NA 29.

Cannot wait for more pics of your masterpiece museum.

MB
 
Words for your room and hunting career, awesome and amazing, well done Sir. As a BC resident I have spent many seasons hunting moose in the now Tahltan Outfitters area. I did manage a booner moose from that area, lets hope you do the same, would be a great read on here and better a fitting final to your NA 29.

Cannot wait for more pics of your masterpiece museum.

MB
Thank you for the kind words @MarkB. I also appreciate your confirmation that I chose a good area as the Canadian Moose has been my nemesis while pursuing the NA 29. This will be my 4th attempt and I truly hope to complete the quest this year.

Rest assured I will post a hunt report on the Tahltan hunt.
 

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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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