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Life long dream coming to fruition!! #5662846 03/22/15 04:04 AM
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rbw1 Offline OP
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What started at the tender age of five, and watching such as Doc Tari, Cowboy in Africa and movies like Hatari, and Trader Horn. Which tells my age lol . And my mother putting up with a little son running around saying ungawa, calling every stray cat Simba, and packing a double made of two lead pipes clamped to a peace of scrap lumber for a stock. A twenty three year career guiding hunters from around the world . Raising two of my own children. Saving nickels and dimes for more years than I want to admit. A poor wife driven crazy by a husband that wouldn't shut up about it! ! This East Texas boy is headed to Africa baby!!!! Woohoo

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5662924 03/22/15 08:13 AM
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Congratulations my friend. I hope it is everything you have dreamed of and so much more.

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5662959 03/22/15 11:30 AM
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Congrats you will love every minute of it. Where you going and hunting?

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5663077 03/22/15 01:38 PM
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Enjoy and make memories.....happy for you.

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5663210 03/22/15 02:49 PM
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Congrats good luck and safe travel.... smile

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5663320 03/22/15 03:59 PM
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Congratulations!!!! Where are you going and what are you going for? Do you have a taxidermist lined up who has experience with African animals? There is a lot that goes into getting them shipped back here. The more prepared you are the better.

I've been twice. First time was to Namibia with Okosongoro Hunting Ranch, the second time was to South Africa with Lategan Safaris this past August.

Let me know if I can offer any insight or advice. It's going to be an amazing adventure!!!

Eddie

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5663389 03/22/15 04:36 PM
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If going to Namibia or South Africa and have questions I may have insight as well as just over last June and experience like no other.

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5663396 03/22/15 04:40 PM
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On your trophies you are shoulder mounting have them cap the skull saves you around 90 per head as your taxi will saw em off anyway, if shout warthog for shoulder mount tell them you just want teeth and cape no reason to pay for bleached skull. If possible pay taxi over there while you are there makes it all easier then just get bill for shipping, pick up yourself if you have half a day to run to DFW rather than spending another 500 or so for coppersmith, I am here if any questions, those are just some of the helpful hunts to save $$$

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5663487 03/22/15 06:19 PM
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The good news is you're going to Africa. The bad news is an addiction will be forthcoming. Congratulation up


Lucky 7 Exotic Ranch located in Eden, Tx. Well managed self sustaining herds roaming our 3,000 acre ranch. First Class Lodging, Ranch style meals and qualified guides. 30+ species.
Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5663497 03/22/15 06:25 PM
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Well first off congratulations. Hunting in Africa is surreal experience. I have been twice and I am heading back this May. Please post some details on you hunt. What country will you be hunting and with which outfitter. Just be forewarned once you hunt Africa you will be hooked. The is a lot of information out there some good some not so good. Listen to you PH, he will help you with most of the questions you have.

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: BMD] #5663502 03/22/15 06:31 PM
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Well will be leaving July 10th shv, Atlanta to Joberg Delta nonstop coach comfort window bulkhead seat. Overnight Afton house . Hunting with Cruiser Safaris, in Limpopo . Ten full days hunting . Think I will go with flat rugs , European mount skulls and pictures to save money for a couple more trophies. Don't have a taxidermist as of yet. If you fellows know of one that does good Euros let me know. Having been a guide for a while , have taken most species that I will see already with clients. It has turned into a trip more of sites sounds and the adventure of hunting those animals in native country than anything else. Also the first time I'll be the paying client.

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: BMD] #5663524 03/22/15 06:39 PM
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Any advice from folks that have been there done that , is welcomed with enthusiasm. Thanks in advance. .

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5663588 03/22/15 07:14 PM
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My advice, stay as long as you can and shoot as many animals as you can. Average your costs out over more animals as a lot of things you will have to pay regardless of if you shoot one or ten animals (flights, dip and pack, freight, etc.) and many of the costs will have a minimum charge, but not much of increase for extra animals (dip & pack was like that when I hunted Mozambique). Plan to pay about another safari (or two) worth of fees to get everything home and up on the wall.

With that said, have an awesome time! Africa is a great place to hunt, the country is a little quirky, but it will infect you and make you want to go back as often as you can. Take a good camera and shoot tons of photos of everything; people, plants, bugs, birds, reptiles, rocks, your camp, everything. If you have a long range lense for your camera, that is something I wish I had as just because it's Africa doesn't mean the animals particularly like to hang around like they do at a zoo. Eat lots of biltong too.

Congrats again and have a great time. It's one heck of an adventure!


If you died tomorrow, what would you have done today...
Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5663632 03/22/15 07:45 PM
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Would recommend to you to line up a taxidermist now and get instruction on how he wants to trophies prepared for shipping. I have heard a few stories about capes that have come back and were almost useless or had numerous cuts on the face due to poor capping. I'd make sure you discuss this aspect of the trip with your outfitter and get a good comfort level on how the trophies will be cared for and shipped.

Again, hope you have a great trip and make great memories.

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5664054 03/22/15 11:27 PM
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I saw that you were going with flat skins and skulls. This is a very good choice and I did the same with most of my trophies. I had the taxidermy done in South Africa. It was cheap enough and were very well done. My trophies were handeled through bullseye taxidermy in The Limpopo province. You may want to budget of at least a couple of shoulder mounts. Some of the animals are so strikingly beautiful that a shoulder mount really does them justice. So what animals are your main targets?

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5664162 03/23/15 12:15 AM
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Originally Posted By: rbw1
Well will be leaving July 10th shv, Atlanta to Joberg Delta nonstop coach comfort window bulkhead seat. Overnight Afton house . Hunting with Cruiser Safaris, in Limpopo . Ten full days hunting . Think I will go with flat rugs , European mount skulls and pictures to save money for a couple more trophies. Don't have a taxidermist as of yet. If you fellows know of one that does good Euros let me know. Having been a guide for a while , have taken most species that I will see already with clients. It has turned into a trip more of sites sounds and the adventure of hunting those animals in native country than anything else. Also the first time I'll be the paying client.


The skulls I had from riser over there were bleached and ready had to glue teeth in but skulls were fine. The flat rugs are expensive as well just FYI. Hard to beat Dustin Cade in Rockwall/Royse City for African work and has all license for animals like the warthogs cause they want them returned to a taxi that is certified for some sort of dipping.

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: TonyinVA] #5664181 03/23/15 12:21 AM
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Originally Posted By: TonyinVA
Would recommend to you to line up a taxidermist now and get instruction on how he wants to trophies prepared for shipping. I have heard a few stories about capes that have come back and were almost useless or had numerous cuts on the face due to poor capping. I'd make sure you discuss this aspect of the trip with your outfitter and get a good comfort level on how the trophies will be cared for and shipped.

Again, hope you have a great trip and make great memories.


Your taxi here has no control over but make sure it is concern for your outfitter, some do a great job and some don't, and it is still possible to lose a cape in process. But definitely consider Cade Taxidermy in For African work. (972) 636-2416 and the Afton house is great the steak that night will be best $25 you spend on trip and breakfast is great. Mr. X will meet you in jberg at airport and take you to police room to get guns, when you get luggage off then keep walking and he will be waiting further down when you turn to the right. I was little worried when he wasn't right there where I picked up luggage

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5664187 03/23/15 12:23 AM
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Don't let them mount anything at taxi over there work is lacking and no real saving when you figure cost of shipping back mounted, if shoot giraffe do tan over there (prolly won't) but if hide may be lost shipping back so let them tan it everything else let them just salt and pack and ship and have tanned here much better quality tan here.

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: BMD] #5664549 03/23/15 03:08 AM
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I like this bit . Dip and pack I could decide later if I wanted a shoulder on somthing

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5664578 03/23/15 03:26 AM
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My must haves Kudu, Impala,Blue Wildebeest, Warthog Zebra. Add on's Blessbok Steenbok Bushbuck
Maybe's Dyker and googly moogly OMG SHOOT lol.

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5664656 03/23/15 04:30 AM
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Waterbuck and black wildebeest will grab your attention as well and gemsbok are cheap over there I would say a must.

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5664659 03/23/15 04:32 AM
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They will call when the warthog arrives and ask where it is going if close use Cade's you can save enough picking your own stuff up and clearing it yourself at airport to pay for one shoulder mount.

Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5664681 03/23/15 05:06 AM
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This may only mattered to me but I always made a point to hang around the skinning shed a little while and watch the skinners. Sometimes I might offer a little advice from my taxidermist. My taxidermist provided me with laminated tags before my trips with all his and my important info. Therefore hides would be tagged and marked correctly. Usually I gave the skinners a carton or two of american cigarettes then several days later something like a leatherman's tool just to say thanks. Of course a tip at the end. Out of 50+ animals I only had one or 2 hide problems, nothing major. Just some friendly advise others on here may disagree.

Last edited by SheepHunter; 03/23/15 05:07 AM.
Re: Life long dream coming to fruition!! [Re: rbw1] #5664685 03/23/15 05:32 AM
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Best to watch I hung around the first afternoon to watch and see how they were caping, I know the Gras Ranch in Namibia is horrible I have seen so many animals come back from there jacked up. Best to hang around and watch if you know what what you are watching of not go to your taxi and learn before most outfitters do a decent job some better than others but some could care less.

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