Ship Elk Rack from Grand Junct to Ohio??
Elk
Just thought I'd try here.....if anyone has an idea how to get my elk rack and cape from Grand Junction to northeast Ohio just off I-80? No head, just the rack and shoulder cape. Cape is dry salted and boxed and at local Taxidermist. Rack is not boxed. Anyone coming back this way by chance or know of someone trustworthy who is? It's a 5x6, 350 class bull. Cape box should fit into rack. I'm planning to have my local taxi do the work so just need to get it back here.
I have to see a pic of a 5+6 350
https://forums.bowsite.com/tf/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=500644&messages=92&forum=5
Well-that's a pic & an awesome one at that...
I wonder if you could find a trucker that regularly goes back and forth from your area to Grand Junction area. He might stash it in his trailer for a reasonable price.
That’s what I’m hoping or someone on Bowsite that may know somebody. I’m placing an ad on uShip but a bit nervous about it being unboxed.
The taxidermist should know some shipping companies that all they do is transport mounts and antlers. I don’t remember the ones I used off the top of my head. I would wait till the end of the season or find out their scheduled route then send everything with them. Life size, shoulder, rugs, euros, antlers, salted capes, etc. They even had some freezers at point so I would send processed animals with them as well.
Just trying to avoid the ridiculous prices, that’s all. Will do if I have to for sure. If I find someone headed this way it could work.
Might try Citizen Shipper
If it’s been officially scored already, split the skull and your shipping costs with be reduced by a lot.
If you could get to Denver,Lucas at the Meat Cleaver could ship it.
If someone can get it to central NM or any where on my route. I’m driving to unit 13 NM Nov 2nd for my Son in laws elk hunt. and returning to Michigan a week later. I would happily help transport that rack. The hard part would be wrestling Thru the hotel door at night. There is no way I would leave it in the parking lot.
I have to see a pic of a 5+6 350
Dandy! I just shipped a moose from Anchorage to salt lake for 250
i would think with a few phone calls, emails, or posts to 'local' hunt clubs in ohio, pennsylvania, or michigan, you'd find someone heading that way to hunt.
try posting on the state forums. maybe someone knows someone. i'd be nervous shipping that.
Shipping makes the most sense, but I'd drive to pick that rack up in a heartbeat if I had to.
Bowsite is a big community. There is always a chance someone is coming your way. Maybe for a whitetail hunt. Maybe they are coming to Iowa, Illinois or somewhere else fairly close. You could meet them there.
Your taxi should be able to crate and ship,Does he happen to have any crates coming from Africa that he could use?I know those crates are pretty big.If not build one and put on truck.Also if being delivered to business it's alot cheaper usually
I used Old Dominion to ship mine from Arizona to Indiana. I did build a crate for it before I left AZ but the process was very smooth with them.
I wouldn't recommend you just let anyone drive that rack to you, but I would trust just about any recognizable handle I see on Bowsite. Salt of the Earth people.
Thanks everyone. Doesn't look like I have a taker here....I may just have the local taxidermist there split the rack and ship it back that way. Ive tried uShip & Citizen Shipper and the lower was $600. Just too much. I could see it if it was a finished product. Not just a rack. Not trying to be cheap, but just wise. My taxidermist says that splitting it won't hurt a thing and I don't care about an official scoring.
I think in your hunt post you said you are retired? I would just drive out, make a mini vacation out of it and drive home with it. Colorado's not a bad place to be for a long weekend. Just an idea.
I doubt you'll find anything cheaper than $600.
I would be on the side of driving out to get him.
Especially if you have the time.
Heck of a bull and too many chances something going wrong and it being broken, lost or stolen.
Although you may have no interest in scoring and entering him in P&Y, you may have kids or grandkids that would be excited about it. Any record book critter is special. If you cut it before it’s officially scored, it can’t be scored.
Maybe find someone in Colorado to drive it 2-3 hundred miles towards you and you could meet and pick up.
I’m in florida until the 29th which complicates things. I’m retirement age, but not retired and own my own business. I am able to schedule my days pretty much as I want. I could drive, but just trying to see if a better option presents itself. Taxi told me today there is no rush…so I may keep options open a bit.
Good luck Steve. Heck of a bull. Like Treeline I wouldn't trust it with anyone, not even a carrier. Maybe have the taxi that has it do the mount and then it buys you plenty of time to schedule a trip to get it when it's done.
I once lost all of my shipped moose meat due to shipping. I avoid shipping at all costs now.
Seems like you have a couple of options.
If the cape is salted and dry, it will be fine for a good while. If the taxidermist in Grand Junction can hold it for you, you could plan a trip out there to get it. I would recommend being careful about travel out there from December thru April because of the potential for nasty roads. If you’re interested in fishing on the Grand Mesa, it starts getting good in late May to early June for ice out, depending on the lakes. The river fishing can be good up around Glenwood Springs on the Colorado or Roaring Fork till early May before runoff.
If you’re good with the taxidermist out in Grand Junction mounting it, you could do that and just plan a trip out to get it when it’s done.
I would recommend having the antlers removable for the mount, whoever does it. If you do decide to score and enter it in P&Y, you would need to do that before splitting or making the antlers removable.
Great bull and need to make sure it’s done right so you can enjoy him for a lifetime!
A lot of taxidermists have about a year wait time anyway so another option is to just ship the cape (which should cost far less) so that your taxidermist at home can start the process and pick up the antlers next September if you are heading out west again in 2024.
If you aren't headed west next September I'm guessing you could find someone very close to you who is.
Congratulations Steve!!!!! Just saw this post... not on Bowsite a lot lately. You done good my friend.
Safely back to Ohio
Safely back to Ohio
Thanks to all who replied both here and via PM. My rack arrived today and to say I was thrilled with the shipper and his price is an understatement. It's safely on my warehouse shelf and being picked up by taxidermist this Thursday. Thanks again everyone!
Please share who you used and the price. I do not often find myself happy with shipping prices:)
I put a $200 offer out on uShip and a driver who was close by Grand Junction making another pickup traveling nearly past my office in Ohio accepted my offer. I vetted him and turns out he was a fellow hunter and understood. Outstanding experience!
Nice bull, glad it worked out
