Best Cape Buffalo taxidermist?
Contributors to this thread:International
From: hunt forever
17-Jun-22
A group of friends and me are heading to South Africa next week. Two of us are hunting Cape Buffalo on the trip. Can anyone recommend a top notch Taxidermy that specializes in Cape Buffalo? It doesnt matter where the Taxidermy shop is located. The Dallas Area is close to my home state but Im open to anywhere. Pictures of others mounts would be amazing.
From: Highlife
17-Jun-22
Dip and ship you will be happier. Find a state side taxi
From: Guardian hunter
17-Jun-22
There is a taxidermist in Colorado that I used for the past seven years and could not be happier with all of my African man. He does a great job on Cape buffalo. His name is Cliff from non-typical taxidermy in Delta Colorado. If you PM me I'll send you his phone number
From: kscowboy
17-Jun-22
Brush Country Studios in the Houston area is pretty hard to beat. They've done all our Africa stuff and have done 3 cape shoulder mounts for us.
From: kscowboy
17-Jun-22
kscowboy's Link
From: Iowa Rut Nut
17-Jun-22
Iowa Rut Nut's Link
Joe Meder in Solon Iowa is a master taxidermist and has specializes in African animals. I have had him do several animals including cape buffalo
From: hunt forever
17-Jun-22
Ks Cowboy,
Would you mind sharing the Buffalo mounts they did for you?
From: hunt forever
17-Jun-22
Iowa
Nice bull!!
From: billc
17-Jun-22
already gave you the place LOL kanati studios In Pa best there is
From: Kevin Speicher
17-Jun-22
Zimmerman's Wildlife Martinsburg, PA. He is a World Champion taxidermist.
From: Keith
17-Jun-22
Since your in Texas, look up Huffaker Taxidermy in Abilene Tx. Jerry does really nice work. A lot of guys can do nice cape buffalo, but the finish work can make or break the mount.
Honestly, I mount a pretty nice buff, but the finish guy at the shop paints them too dark imo.
Jerry can do both, mount em nice, and finish them also.
From: gobble50
17-Jun-22
Iowa Rut Nut - I think Meder is retired.
From: Jim McNamara
17-Jun-22
Jerry Huffaker is very good!!
From: gobble50
17-Jun-22
I would recommend the Wildlife Gallery in Michigan. They handled our last two safaris and they do incredible work. We were privileged to tour their entire operation before committing to have them do our taxidermy. It’s a very impressive facility & they are extremely pleasant and easy to work with. They personally delivered all our mounts from Michigan to our home in Iowa. I think you’d be happy.
From: butcherboy
17-Jun-22
There are a ton of really good taxidermists across the country. Call and ask questions, look at their work. Ask to come and visit their studio if you need to. Make your decision on what you feel is best for you. Everyone will have their favorites. I’ve met many great taxidermist’s when I did it and competed. None of them have been mentioned in this thread but they are all very good.
From: kscowboy
18-Jun-22
I'll have my father get a couple of pics of the bulls for you, Hunt. They are in his trophy room.
From: Pat Lefemine
18-Jun-22
Kevin, that buffalo mount is outstanding.
From: kscowboy
19-Jun-22
From: Beendare
19-Jun-22
Beendare's Link
My buddy in Utah Robert does a great job, Capture the Hunt taxidermy…at link Edit; A guy shooting one of these Cape Buff really needs to consider a pedestal mount. Ive seen a couple really cool ones my buddy did though the pics arent on his website.
From: hunt forever
20-Jun-22
Great looking mounts!!! Is the top bull a wall shoulder mount?
From: kscowboy
20-Jun-22
They are free standing pedestal mounts. We got the two together out of the same herd. Mine is the top bull and my father's is the bottom bull.
From: Altitude Sickness
20-Jun-22
Very nice bulls and mounts
From: hunt forever
20-Jun-22
How did the connect the 2 bulls on the Pedestal?
How big are the bulls bosses?
From: kscowboy
22-Jun-22
Hunt, he has a metal bar that goes from one mount into the other. It’s detachable to get through a regular doorframe. The good taxidermists can make things suspend like this with ease. Let me know if you decide to go with Brush Country and I’ll get their business development contact to send you tags to take over for shipping. They can also provide some logistical insight.
From: Bowfreak
22-Jun-22
Beautiful bulls everyone. They do make some really cool mounts.
From: hunt forever
15-Aug-22
I got a Buffalo with my bow this trip!! Now, I need to decide were to get it mounted. I'm leaning towards a taxidermist near a friend's house in PA. I'm still open for options in the Dallas/Houston areas because I might import the animals through Houston.
From: hunt forever
15-Aug-22
From: Jim McNamara
15-Aug-22
Saw your story on the other thread. So cool your daughter got to be a part of the Buffalo hunt. That's a dandy bull by the way!!
From: arlone
15-Aug-22
Have no personal experience but the photos on here of Dennis Razza's work look real nice. Think the name is right and think he's in Penn. ?
From: pdk25
16-Aug-22
Pleased with mine
From: pdk25
16-Aug-22
Trophy Solutions Africa
From: hunt forever
17-Aug-22
Amazing Bull!! Thanks for sharing.
From: Altitude Sickness
17-Aug-22
Great bulls Brady and Pat
From: AZ~Rich
25-Aug-22
I agree with the post emphasizing the finish work makes or breaks it. Look carefully at the details from field photos and you’ll see where things happen. Horns on living/fresh killed bulls have a certain luster, plus they are never perfectly clean and all black. The techniques required to bring back this luster and add realistic coloring to depict mud, tree sap and other stuff which embedded in the bosses and scratch marks on horns are generally time consuming and unfortunately overlooked by some taxidermists. The result is a jet black boss and horns. Ear shredding is common in old bulls and the distinct coloration inside them is not always duplicated well. Again, if these aspects are not important to you then no problem. I’m going next year for my buff with bow and will be doing my own mounting if successful. Some good choices mentioned: Jerry Huffaker in Tx, wildlife gallery and Dennis Razza .
From: APauls
25-Aug-22
They've all got droopy ears though.
From: Bowman
25-Aug-22
Lion is suspended off of the bull's right horn that goes up into the lion belly
Lion is suspended off of the bull's right horn that goes up into the lion belly
Here is what our taxidermy shop did with my father's 1st bull he harvested.
From: AZ~Rich
25-Aug-22
Bruce Foster Studios
Bruce Foster Studios
Bruce Foster Studios
Bruce Foster Studios
I also remember this taxidermist in Grasonville, MD Bruce Foster Studios that does a really nice job with details:
From: wkochevar
25-Aug-22
Looking to preserve the character and scars of this old (14-15 yr old) warrior I got 2 weeks ago...following thread. Thanks, Kip
From: t-roy
25-Aug-22
LOL@ APauls! At least nobody is longarming them!
From: hunt forever
05-Sep-22
Thats an old brut!! Congrats!!
From: LBshooter
05-Sep-22
Some nice buffs guys.
From: Big Joe
06-Sep-22
DonClaire Taxidermy in South Africa is really good when it comes to buffalo. The most realistic I have seen.
From: Big Joe
06-Sep-22
From: Bou'bound
06-Sep-22
that's a big one joe
