Planning a trip to Africa and I have been reading horror stories about mounts coming back trashed or capes sent back in the same condition. Would it be smart to take some Stop Rot with me and apply when they are being skinned. Thinking of having everything sent back and done here. Any suggestions?
Thanks
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I was snooping around yesterday doing research and found this article on how this particular guide handles trophies. It is in Acrobat, so give it a few seconds to load if you have dial up. It gives you some ideas and options on how to get trophies home.
http://www.shakawasafaris.com/trophy-preparation.pdf
Find out what the owner/PH/safari agents can or cannot do before you go. Some know exactly what to do and how to take care of your animal/cape etc. Some don't. Be prepared, rather take with what you can.
I've been their many times and got skins back from all over africa.
Bring your knife and skin them out yourself salt them with a lot of FRESH salt and you will not have a problem .
... that after the skinners had finished fleshing the skins/capes, they soaked them in brine/salt water! I was told they have always done that with no problems. After I presented two of the skinners with ear openers and showed them how to use them... I asked that they forget the soaking step and go right to the salt!
Oh, by the way... I now have two new friends! :)
My outfitter and my PH had both sent their skinners to a school for the preparation of hides and capes. They all did FIRST CLASS work on my skins, doing dorsal skinning and short Y incisions, per my instructions. I took a pair of ear splitters along, too, but I found that the skinners were so good that they could do the ears better with their hands and fingers. I'd have loved to see them try it on an old whitetail buck. LOL From what I saw, the ears on African species are easier to turn than on North American game. Salting was done with an extremely fine salt, labeled "Bakers Salt", that my outfitter got out of Port Elizabeth.