Whether you are going on your first trophy hunt ever or you’re a seasoned hunter, outlining a clear plan will be most helpful—that is, having the know-how to better ensure a lifelike mount is key. Here are four things to consider pre-hunt, including getting in touch with a quality safari animal taxidermist in Cody, WY:
- Getting trophies home: Once you pull the trigger or loose the arrow and bring your target down, how to get your trophy home quickly and intact is something to consider. But some trophy hunting guides may not have adequate accommodations when it comes to getting your kill to a taxidermist. When you’ve paid thousands of dollars to go on an adventure in the wilds of Alaska or the grasslands of Africa, getting what you came for back home safely should be top priority. Be sure to contact your guides in advance to make sure trophy transportation arrangements will be taken care of.
- Go prepared: If you are the adventurous type and have decided to forgo a guided safari hunting trip, make sure you go prepared. As the first tip for animal trophy prep—and because taken animals are quick to decompose in hotter climates—keeping a trophy cool is an integral part of a well-done mount. Skinning, salting, cooling, storing hides in breathable burlap or canvas and timely transporting your kills will help to ensure a fantastic looking mount once in the hands of a professional taxidermist.
- Coordinate with your taxidermist: While it’s not guaranteed you will go home with a trophy, contact your taxidermy professional ahead of a hunt to coordinate shipment options and discuss mount project details. Also, it’s important that your preferred taxidermy team is available to do the job in the time frame in which you would like your mount completed. Maybe you have a full-size mount in mind, or something smaller like a head mount, or you want a rug or wall tapestry. Whatever the end goal, you will get a better idea of what your safari animal taxidermist in Cody, WY needs for an amazing end product by speaking with them.
- Consider costs: You’ve possibly already dropped upward of $10,000 on a trip to someplace like Africa, but don’t forget to calculate the possible end costs of having your trophy mounted. For example, a cape buffalo can cost as much as $12,000 to have it professionally mounted, not including the price of safe transport and any relevant service fees for your claimed hide. So to get your hunting trophies back home, you will need to look into shipping charges or arrange for the package to go directly to your taxidermist’s shop.
In the end, the only thing you should need to think about on your hunting trip is the thrill of the hunt itself. This can be accomplished by doing your research and setting up the proper arrangements ahead of time. Before you head out on your journey, contact the team at Nature’s Design Taxidermy, your go-to local safari animal taxidermist in Cody, WY.