Picking up some Africans in May

[Michelle_Nelson]

One thing to keep in mind is go over with an outfitter that knows what the heck they are doing and a shipping company that does.  I have seen some REAL nightmare skins come from over there.  Looked like they were skinned out with a machete.  People wanting life size and when the capes got here they were cut for shoulder mounts.  Makes you want to skin your own animals when you go over there.

[Gutpile]

No Elephant?

[BLKBEARKLR]

Blackbearklr:
 I went to Africa in 2007 and took all the following plus a warthog, duiker and a blesbok. It looks like your buddy and I  hunted the exact same animals. I asked if you have ever mounted any African game because it can be a little tricky and your right Reference material is a must. I'll forward you some  Kudu pictures I took at a ranch while I was on safari.
 I'll post up some taxidermy pics from my trip.
I also book trips for my customers. You might want to think about that to draw in some additional African work.
If you need any help at all please contact me and I'll help any way I can.

Good Luck
Jeff

Thanks Jeff, will let you know.........  Joe

[carpsniperg2]

No Elephant?

lol gutpile i was waiting for that one 

[Kuduman]

Michelle:
 I should start thread entitled Things to know when going to Africa.
There are allot of GREAT outfitters in Africa and the Skinners and Trackers are the best in the world. When I was there I personally watched and instructed my skinners on every animal I took. Your comment that clients wanted L/S and got capes back tells me that they chose to be out of the loop when there skins were being processed that's not the skinners or outfitters fault. I instruct my clients to be extremely involved in every aspect of their hunt especially the processing of the skins.
The main problem with safari's is the outfitters that want you to use taxidermists for dip and pack services. That's not always a good idea. IMO a dip and pack service provider will almost always outperform a taxidermist hands down both in quality of workmanship and turn around time. WHY........... you are not giving them the $$$$$$$ so your stuff will have to Wait for the big dollar customers. Most dip and pack shipments from a taxidermist are 12-18 months out.
Most dip and pack services are 3-6 months out....Go figure
Just my  

[cohoho]

Drool, nice animals, hopefully I go in 3-5 years.... 

[Kuduman]

John:
 Here is some of the animals that I took in Africa. I still have to mount my warthog, duiker and Blue wildebeest.
Sorry the showroom is so messy 

[BLKBEARKLR]

Very nice, can't wait to get them so I can start on them

Joe

[Michelle_Nelson]

Your comment that clients wanted L/S and got capes back tells me that they chose to be out of the loop when there skins were being processed that's not the skinners or outfitters fault.

I find it hard to believe that the hunters chose to not be included in the process of there animals.  There are quite a few hunters that wouldn't even know what questions to ask.   Those are the ones that will leave it up the the Outfitter/Skinner because they asume they know what they are doing.  That is where the Outfitter/Skinner should be more involed and ask the hunter what they want and explain to them the difference. . . IMO.  

If the Skinner/Outfitter didn't know what the customer wanted as far as L/S, 1/2 L/S, Shoulder Mount, or Flat skin the Skinner/Outfitter should have approached the hunter and asked!  If the hunter doesn't understand the difference between mounts it should be explained to them.  That is just good buisness.  

I have seen and heard several cases of skins coming into the taxidermists here that were not even the animals the customer shot. Skins that have looked like they were skinned out with a machete.  Could possibly have been taken to a taxidermist that opted to trade capes because the hunters was better.  Or they got mixed up in at the dipping company.

I just know you have to be careful when you go hunting over there.  Go with a reputable outfitter and stay on top of things.

[Hillbilly270]

No Elephant?

lol gutpile i was waiting for that one 

they are too big and stupid to hunt for them.

[Kuduman]

Michelle:
I agree it's hard to believe that a client  would be so disinterested in the proper care of their hides. I hope that all the outfitters would be above reproach but that's not always the case. I'm not a big fan of suprises especially the ones that cost me allot of time and money so I tend to get alittle too involved. I will tell you that I took especially good care of my guide, tracker and skinners and received back EXCELLANT service.
After our hunt the guide told me that in 15 years of guiding the tip that my friend and I gave him was the highest he had received and it was only 10% of our hunt
I thought that was the going rate

I guess lesson #1 for the things you need to know when hunting Africa is ...........
treat your guide and staff well. You never know whats going to happen after you leave.

I'm not saying that's the case here and obviously you need to select you outfitter well but you gotta admit it never hurts to treat the staff well

[Michelle_Nelson]

I heard first hand from another taxidermist who went to africa that it was a bad thing with the outfitter he used to over tip.   I don't rememner the whole story but he gave his guide, tracker, and skinner, a tip and the outfitter I guess got upset that he over tipped them?  Why would that be? 

Kuduman I think a lot of people that don't get involved are the ones that don't know what they are doing and expect the skinner to know.  I think maybe they feel as if they may make things worse by getting involved. 

[Kuduman]

I'll tell you exactly why the outfitter got upset that the hunter tipped the tracker skinner and guide. My outfitter did the same and demanded that I give the tip to him and he pass it on to the staff.  They would never get it.
 My guide separated from the outfitter shortly after the season ended and we have been in contact ever since. He told me point blank that the outfitter will keep the tip money until after the season then give it to them. The guide estimated that the outfitter probably kept 75% or more of the tip money probably as a fee to exchange the US currency into Rand. Regardless they would not get the tip that the hunters wanted them to get.  I didn't want that to happen so I gave my tracker some $$ and a set of binoculars. We tipped the guide direct.
As far as people not getting involved with the prep of their skins I can see that but they shouldn't complain when they don't get what they want. Just one trip to the taxidermist would educate them enough to make informed decision about their hides

Jeff

[Rudy]

I'm with gutpile....gotta go for the elephant....isnt it the most exciting hunt out there or somethin?  i think i read that somewhere.....