Getting animals back from Africa

[trozy55]

I am planing my first trip to South Africa for next year. For those of you who have been what is all involved in getting your trophies back to Texas. I am looking at getting the taxidermy done here. Who did you go with to get the animals shipped back through customs. About how much did it all cost and what would you have done different if anything. Thanks in advance!

[Aggiehunter08]

I've used Coppersmith with great results. Price will all depend on how much you are bringing back. Michael Lewis was easy to work with.

Michael R. Lewis
Senior Trophy Specialist
mlewis@coppersmith.com
Tel: 847-437-1500 ext: 220
Fax: 847-437-8098
760 Bonnie Lane
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

Visit our trophy website @ www.huntingtrophy.com

Find me LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/in/coppersmith

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[bphillips]

Yep Coppersmith

[rladner]

If you don't want to do it yourself and since you already are going to have the taxi work done, then yep, Coppersmith. Some taxidermist here will clear your trophies for you, if they are going to do the taxi work, but in your case they are not.

Technically, to answer your question, to get them "shipped" back you will likely use whomever your outfitter uses in SA. That is who will take your trophies, tan them, do the taxi work and then ship back to you in the states. Coppersmith is a clearing agent for customs, they do not ship your trophies from SA. I've always used "Trophy Pro" when having any tanning, taxi work done. They are also the only ones I've ever used to dip and ship my trophies back to me. Most likely your PH will have someone they like to use. Generally an outfitter will work with one shipping company who will do all the shipping and dipping for the outfitter. If you want someone else you should do plenty of research and discuss with your outfitter well in advance.

[r_u_sharp_2]

I went in 2018...

Outfitter had a local person they work with alot do the dip/pack/ship(Swift Dip). 4 animals, skulls/horns and 1 just skull it was about $800. They arranged shipping which was about 700.

My taxidermist in Austin has worked a lot with Well Wordwide out of Houston.. so thats who I used to do the importing. They track the shipment, ensure it clears and gets it to the taxidermist. For 5 animal it was about 700, if I recall correctly.

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[buck_wild]

Coopersmith out of Dallas as mentioned and Well Worldwide Logistics out of Houston both do good jobs. There are other also. They will act as your agent and cut through paperwork in both the US and the sending country (it's all good until it's not). Agent will also work with USFW and help move fright along to it's final destination (your house, taxidermist etc). The usual costs for the US agent is around $500-$800.
Your bigger decision will likely be your Dip and Pack and Freight/Shipper from SA. There are several respected D&P places: Swift, Pro D&P, Trophy Solutions among others. There is some belief that dealing with a company that ONLY does D&P is better than a company that does D&P and taxidermy as they usually want to push their taxi services and some reportedly have made up bogus reasons why the animal should be mounted in SA.
D&P services normally run $110-$140 per animal regardless what what you want done with it. Some animals will need three things done (skull, cape and backhide) and some only one (maybe skull only if you are doing euro only). The D&P will pick up your skulls and salted skins from your outfit, they will chemically treat as required by USFW, boil skulls/horns (PLEASE ask they keep horns natural color), and hydrate and further prep your skins before drying again. They also crate and package for shipping then work with your freight company for shipping.
The freight shipper is where I see the widest range for fees and shipping charges. You will get quotes based on the metric volume of your crate. Once you know that, you can begin to shop for freight companies. I have had great luck and communication with Zingela Fright.
Africa has it's own timeline- SA takes off for a full month Dec to Jan and things move on Africa time, not US time ! The D&P can not even ship for 90 something odd days due to the drying requirement of USFW. Basic time could be 4-12 months to get all this done.

[Gobble1975]

PM sent

[J.B.]

used coppersmith here too, I would recommend them as well.

[Charrison]

I have done it both DIY and Coppersmith. I recommend using Coppersmith or another reputable service.
I saved a little money DIY, but it was a hassle b/t Delta freight, customs and USFWS. Nobody was real helpful, to say the least.

[Mudslinger]

Get with your taxi and get name tags made for your animals. Be sure and take plenty as you will need one for the skull/horns, cape and back cape if you want it.

If you want I have 3 trips with costs associated with different animals. 2008, 2010 and 2012. May not be relevant now, but it should be fairly close to costs today. Shoot me your email address in a PM and I will send the cost sheets to you for my 3 trips.

Also used Coppersmiths on all 3 trips.

[trozy55]

Thanks for all the info so far. Does Coppersmith handle the shipping if needed as well or just the customs clearance?

[trozy55]

Just to clarify, getting the animals back will occur 3 different cost.
1. dipping and packing
2. customs clarence
3. shipping of cart with the animals

[r_u_sharp_2]

Just to clarify, getting the animals back will occur 3 different cost.
1. dipping and packing
2. customs clarence
3. shipping of cart with the animals

Those were my expenses. There may be another shipping cost depending on how you get them from the importer to you or the taxidermist.



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[muddyfuzzy]

I use Trophex taxidermy, Zingela freight forwarders and Copper Smith stateside to secure my animals.


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[trophyhunter01]

Just went in Feb 2020, taxi in SA dip, pack, crate, paperwork was $100 per animal US$. Not sure on the other cost as all is shut down currently, maybe a crazy world when it opens up if there is less travel and shippers to carry to reduce freight costs. But as above work with local taxi, get tags printed and directions for Africa shipper to follow and contacts from the US customs clearance company. PM me in a couple months may have better info.