Recent Trophy Handling / Shipping Costs
International
Timing and charges for my trophies taken last august (8/2023). Shipment is currently on a truck from Chicago to Minneapolis for arrival tomorrow 5/9/2024.
Salted skins etc. as listed below received 9/5/2023 by Trophy Solutions Africa (Polokwane, Limpopo) from Afrika Barrel and Bow Safaris.
# DESCRIPTION SKULL HORN SHLDR BACK FULL FLAT FEET OTHER (Plains Game; CITES; TOPS) TUSK CAPE SKIN CAPE SKIN 1 Buffalo ? ? 2 Leg Bones, Scrotum 2 Honey Badger ? n/a ? 3 Baboon, Chacma ? n/a Skull 4 Zebra, Burchell's ? n/a ? B/Jaw 5
Dip and Pack plus shipping to Johannesburg $1779.00
Shipment received by Condor Cargo Johannesburg 3/18/2024 Assorted paperwork and documentation plus air freight to Coppersmith in Chicago via Turkish Airlines $1466.33
Shipment received in Chicago by Coppersmith 4/11/2024. Various import clearances and shipping to Minneapolis $1650.98
Shipment received by Taxidermy Unlimited (Burnsville, MN) 5/9/2024
What does one do with a baboon
Baboon is easy. What do you do with a Buffalo scrotum???
Baboon is just the skull......An interesting addition to my skull collection.
The Buffalo scrotum I kept at the suggestion of the PH without giving it a great deal of thought. Since then I have seen one set up as a pencil holder. Don't have any other ideas yet. If you have some let me know.
At a much younger age I had the scrotum of a Black Angus calf (Collected while castrating several at a farm) dried and stretched over the gear shift knob of my Karmann Ghia. Was a great conversation topic on first dates.....usually starting with "What is that"? Then proceeding somewhat unpredictably.
No suggestion on the buffalo sack but the calf sack in the gear shift is something most all guys have in high school so nothing really noteworthy about that item.
Maybe put some golf balls in it. You know, use it for a ball sack…
My friend just got hit for nearly $7,000 for getting his animals from South Africa processed and delivered to his taxidermist here in Missouri. Taxidermy could easily hit $20,000 as well.
Ouch that seems high and one reason I am hesitate to go back.
The main reason there’s an uptick in trophy shipping is that many airlines that once flew trophies as cargo have stopped, cowering in the face of animal rights groups objections. Delta for one, no longer flies African trophies back to the US. In fact, Turkish Air is becoming the primary carrier and may soon monopolize the business. Many airlines we once counted on, no longer transport trophies. Transport via ship is not always a cost effective option due to destination location and costs associated with that, but quite a bit less expensive when proximity is optimal.
Ken,
That is such a shame that companies give in to the pressure, but in today's world not shocking.
Just curious why is shipping via ship not always an option?
Shipping via ship is usually always an option but can be more expensive than air based on final destination of crate/proximity to port. Sorry, my previous post was a bit misleading so I edited it and added this one.
Thanks Ken, that makes sense to me.
I just had shipping flown back on Delta this July, just arrived yesterday from South Africa so Delta is still flying along with Turkish Air, but is true, down to just two airlines so it's driving up the prices. No competition or very little.
Makes photos an attractive option
Makes photos an attractive option
Makes photos an attractive option
I believe it was well publicized when Delta announced they wouldn't carry them anymore, so if they are doing so again, I think that's a pretty new occurance and one they're probably doing quietly.
1arrow, just curious what was the cost
StickFlicker, all I can tell you is my trophy flew into Atlanta and then from there to Houston on Delta flights. Don't know if it's a secret but I know how mine got here. So they definitely are doing it again. I'd heard Delta had quit too but know what I saw on my flight updates and flight numbers. Definitely Delta.
bghunter, one crate with one mounted antelope was $600. Pretty expensive. Was going to send via waterborn but had expiring permits so had to send it by itself. It's getting crazy expensive. Waterborn freight should cut it 40% to 50%. That's the route we're going with all else. Had a crate last February that came water born and was roughly half the cost of the air freight estimates, just takes about 70 days to get here depending on the route and ports. You might look into that. We're also trying to get the crating done locally versus the shipping companies. Their markup on crating adds a good chuck of the crazy shipping costs. That's at least what we are trying to work on and reduce.
Arrow,
Thank you. The shipping has been the one thing holding me back from going again. I appreciate you saying what it cost as gives me an idea of what to maybe expect.
Problem being is if I go it won t be until 2026, have a cruise planned next year for 20th Wedding g anniversary.
Hoping to pick up a trip at an SCI auction next Feb
