Category: A Victory!
The orthopedic Surgeons out there must love these for their job security that they provide! Grumpy
It all starts in Africa …
I guess I was first exposed to large wooden crates from watching Looney Tunes Road Runner cartoons. Poor nemesis cartoon character Wile E. Coyote would order some hair-brained contraption from Acme, Inc. by letter, and a large crate would magically appear in minutes. Talk about great service!
My next exposure to large freight was “A Christmas Story” when the father wins a contest and a large crate appears. The father sees the stenciled Fragile, painted on the crate and famously mispronounces it, “Fragilly.”
It’s a classic line for the fishnet stockinged leg lamp he unveils to his boy’s bewilderment and his wife’s dismay. Anyway, I never thought I’d receive a large, wooden freighted crate. Roughly 40 years later, a trip to Africa presented itself in 2019, to be exact. I was invited to hunt in Botswana. It was closed to hunting for years and was just reopened because of a new government regime change.
It was my first international trip. John Sheehan, a fellow writer for GUNS Magazine, was a part-time professional hunter for an outfit in Botswana and invited me on a two-week safari. Since it was my first trip abroad, he suggested using camp guns rather than dealing with bringing my own. It was a wise move for a first-time trip, making the experience easier and more relaxing.
Heads, horns and hides are prepared for the Taxidermist.
After the taxidermist, the heads/horns are crated for shipping.
Kalahari Safari
I’ll never forget my first trip. From the flight to the drive to camp, and enjoying my first starlit sky over a cold beverage. There’s a saying that if you wish to return to Africa, you must see the Southern Cross constellation. Believe me, I was asking John to point it out for me, as Africa is a special, magical place for many. I think you either love it, or don’t care for Africa. There’s no in- between. I think if you ever wondered what the world was like when it was created, Africa would be a good place to go, as much of it is still untouched.
I went to Botswana the last week in August through the first week in September. This is springtime in the Southern Hemisphere and a beautiful time to be in Africa. The hunt was an unadulterated success. Then COVID hit. We all got sick in camp, but we recovered, figuring it was just the flu. Within months, the border between Botswana and South Africa (SA) closed for 2 years. My hides and skins were in the salt room, awaiting transit to South Africa. Other circumstances occurred, further delaying transport of my trophies.
There’s a saying in Africa called TIA. It stands for THIS IS AFRICA! It means whatever happens, happens; just go with the flow, and it will eventually work out. My trophies eventually make it from South Africa to a taxidermist, and the regular two-year wait starts. This includes completing the taxidermy work and then crating the heads for shipment.
This is where the first debate starts. Are you better off having the taxidermy work done in Africa or the States? Shipping will be cheaper since your crate will be smaller, but taxidermy is cheaper in Africa than in the States.
It’s basically a wash and up to you, price-wise. I chose to have the taxidermy completed in Africa. Unfortunately, the long delay caused hair slippage on all my hides, meaning I needed replacements.
I ended up mounting only half my heads to save costs on replacement hides. Something to consider when choosing where to get your work done. Replacement hides are cheaper in Africa than in the States.
The crate top is opened and memories come flooding out as you admire your trophies.
Bon Voyage
My trophies were crated and shipped in a large shipping container. The container must be full to ship; otherwise, it’s delayed until it is loaded on the vessel.
From South Africa, it heads to Houston, Texas, where NFG inspects and stamps the heads for clearance. My heads were then flown to a local airport and then freighted to my house. Ironically, it was a total surprise when they arrived (TIA), and I was leaving for Africa the following day for another hunt. Anyway, six years later, my Botswana trophies found their way home.
Hanging the heads can take a lot of work.
Uncrating
It’s the big moment! The crates are assembled with plywood and screws. A cordless drill comes in quite handy for this task. Let me tell you, when you finally pop the lid, it’s all worth it! The long wait and the expense of taxidermy and shipping fade as memories flood out of your crate. These are your animals, and they’ve made the long journey to their new home, where you’ll admire and love them. Many will think you’re Looney Tunes for doing so, but that doesn’t matter.
These heads represent a long trip and how far you’re willing to go to do something you love. Some won’t understand, other than another hunter, why your memories mean so much hanging on your wall. That’s fine. To each their own. Let me tell you, it’s a pure pleasure and honor to admire these beautiful critters.
Once hung, you’ll be able to admire them daily.
Hung Up
Most have hung whitetail deer in their homes. Hanging African heads is a different animal, har har! The shoulder mounts are huge. We built an addition on our house over 20 years ago, tying into the roofline of the second-story house. This provided an 18-foot ceiling, sloping down to 8 feet on the far end, 20 feet away.
Luckily, a contractor friend helped me hang the heads using scaffolding. It’s the safest way to hang the large heads. Horns are slipped off larger species to make shipping more efficient, then slipped back on during hanging.
Then another crate appears.
Recycle Projects
The plywood crates/screws are great for making shelves, further reminding you of your African Safari. The stenciled paint of the taxidermist, your name, and the African address add mystery and coolness to any project you choose to make. I’ve made a few shelves for the garage from my first shipment, and will make larger, heavier ones with this shipment. Crate goodies are the gift that keeps on giving.
More memories arrive.
It never gets old.
A beer before departing for another trip to Africa.
The Do Over
Would I do it again? You betcha! I have no regrets and am enjoying my African animals immensely. Admittedly, it’s not for everyone, but for those who understand, it’s pretty darn cool!