TAXIDERMY CRATING EXPLAINED: HOW TAXIDERMY TROPHIES ARE PROTECTED FOR SHIPPING FROM SOUTH AFRICA
- Bertus Steenkamp
- Mar 7
- 8 min read
When hunters hear the word “crate,” they often picture a basic wooden box being used to transport a trophy from one place to another.
But a good export crate is way more than just that - it's a vital part of making sure your trophies get to their destination in one piece.
It's all about protecting those trophies during the road trip, the loading and unloading, the inspections, the air transport, the storage, and then that final delivery. And a good crate also affects how much you pay for shipping, how much space you need, and just how safe your trophies are going to be.
At Trophex, we don't just think about crating as an afterthought. In fact, we build our own crates and design them not just for protection but also for transport.
QUICK OVERVIEW
What a good crate helps prevent it from happening
Your trophies are moving around while in transit
Trophies rubbing against each other, which can cause damage
Pressure damage and breakage
The hassle of having to repack your trophies after they've been inspected
Moisture damage during shipping
Wasting space, which drives up the cost of shipping
What Trophex focuses on
Building strong, sturdy crates that can withstand the journey
Making sure the crate is the right size for transport
Including access points for forklifts to make handling easier and safer
Using the internal space efficiently
Providing extra support for mounted trophies
Making sure all our crates meet ISPM 15 export requirements for places like the US and Europe
WHY THE CRATE ITSELF REALLY MATTERS
When people think about a trophy crate, they often just think of it as packaging. But it's way more than that - it's actually a critical part of the whole shipping process.
If a crate is poorly designed, too big, or not supported properly, your trophies can end up moving around inside the crate during transport. And even if the outside looks fine, it can cause all sorts of problems - from rubbing and pressure damage to broken details and unnecessary stress on the mount.
So, good crating is all about starting with the right foundations, long before you even add the lid.
WE BUILD OUR OWN CRATES TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE JUST RIGHT FOR TRANSPORT
One of the most important things about crating is getting the size just right. The crate needs to fit what's inside, but it also needs to fit within the transport limits.
If a crate is too wide, it can cause problems when loaded onto a plane or truck. And if it's too high, it may not fit into a container efficiently.
That's why we build our own crates. It gives us total control over both the strength and the dimensions.
A MOUNTED TROPHY CAN'T JUST BE WRAPPED UP AND PUT IN A BOX
People often think that a good taxidermy crate is just about wrapping up a trophy and popping it in a box. But it's not that simple - during transport, crates can vibrate and shift around, and that can cause all sorts of problems.
If a trophy is just loose and free in the crate, it can rub against other trophies or against the side of the crate, which can cause real damage.
For mounted trophies, the key to safe transport is securing them to the crate structure using proper fixings and internal bracing - not just wrapping them up and leaving it at that.
HOW WE SECURE MOUNTED TROPHIES INSIDE THE CRATE
For mounted trophies, we focus on keeping each one stable, separate, and supported.
Here's what we do:
We secure the mounted trophy to the crate structure so it doesn't move around
We position larger mounts, so they're resting on the base of the crate for extra support
We fix smaller mounts to the side of the crate to create a safe layout
We use internal bracing to support the front of the trophy and stop it from moving forward
We add padded contact points where needed to reduce the impact of handling
We design the layout so the crate works as one solid unit once the lid is closed
The goal is not just to stop the trophy falling over - it's to reduce movement, absorb the shock of handling, and keep the trophy stable even if the crate gets handled roughly during transport.
WHY INTERNAL BRACING MAKES SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE
A good crate needs to be able to control movement from all angles - both the back and the front.
Fixing a trophy at the back is a good start, but the front still needs extra support. That's why internal bracing is so important.
It helps reduce shock and vibration, and it makes the crate stronger. Once you've closed the lid, the crate functions as a single, rigid unit.
CRATE FEET AND FORKLIFT ACCESS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN PEOPLE REALISE
Another important detail is how the crate is supported on the ground and how it's lifted. We make sure to include crate feet so the crate can be easily handled by forklifts during transport.
This matters because crates may change hands many times during the journey - in the workshop, on the truck, at the airport, in storage, or after arrival. If a crate is too heavy to lift, it can be handled roughly, increasing the risk of damage.
Practical forklift access is a major plus in keeping your trophies safe. This is one of those nitty-gritty details hunters may never even notice, but it can really make a difference in getting their gear from one place to another.
HOW WE SQUEEZE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TROPHY SHIPMENT
Crate size has a huge impact on shipping cost - especially when flying stuff across the country.
Often, shipping costs are calculated based on volumetric weight rather than the actual weight of the box. So even if you've got a relatively light load, if the box is big enough, it's going to cost you more in shipping.
That's why good crating isn't just about protecting your gear - it's also about being efficient with space.
We do our best to reduce wasted space by
Taking into account the actual mix of trophies in the order and planning the crate around them
Figuring out the most space-efficient way to arrange the mounts so they use up as little space as possible
Removing horns on suitable antelope species, if it makes sense, and packing them separately in the same crate
Tackling the order as a puzzle so we can get as many trophies safely into the crate as possible
Considering how any pedestal mounts or bulky items might affect the final dimensions of the crate
Pedestal mounts, in particular, can sometimes make a shipment much more expensive, but in large orders, if the same pedestal fits in some spare space in the crate, it can actually help bring the cost down.
It really depends on the whole combination of trophies in the shipment.
WHY WE APPROACH CRATING DIFFERENTLY FOR MOUNTED TROPHIES VS DIP AND PACK
Crating for mounted trophies and crating for dip-and-pack are two totally different ballgames.
Mounted trophies are pretty easy to inspect visually once the lid is popped - just lift the lid and have a look. Dips and packs, on the other hand, are tightly compacted and protected differently, so we can't just use the same rigid internal support system we use for mounted trophies.
This comes into play especially during veterinary or nature-conservation inspections, when someone needs to go through the crate and unpack items to make sure everything is legit. With dips and packs, that often means a deeper unpacking process than with mounted trophies.
So we pack our dips and packs with inspection access in mind - so if someone needs to dig into the crate to verify everything, they can do it without jostling everything around too much.
And tightly packed dips and packs can be pretty sensitive to repacking mistakes after an inspection, so we've got to get it right the first time.
You can also check out our guide on the differences between dip and pack and mounted trophies in South Africa here: Dip & Pack vs Mounting in South Africa
PACKAGING FOR MOISTURE AND INSECTS - IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PROTECTING FROM IMPACT
Crating isn't just about stopping your gear from getting bashed around on a flight.
Moisture control and insect precautions are also super important - especially when shipping long distances and putting gear in storage. This is especially important with dips and packs, since you've got raw or semi-processed items that are more vulnerable to mishandling.
So we tailor the packing method to the type of shipment - it's not just about getting the crate the right size.
EXPORT CRATES HAVE TO MEET WOOD PACKAGING RULES
This is a thing that a lot of hunters never even think about.
When shipping internationally, the solid wood used in export crates usually needs to meet ISPM 15 requirements, which means the wood packaging material must be treated and officially marked so it can be cleared by customs.
In the States, wood packaging material has to be pest-free, treated, and marked properly to get in - and if it's non-compliant, it won't get cleared. The EU has the same requirements.
The official mark is the IPPC/ISPM 15 mark, and it's what you need to show that the wood has been treated to the required standard.
One little-known detail: processed wood products like plywood don't have to meet ISPM 15, whereas the solid-wood parts of the crate (like framing, feet, and bracing) do.
You can also check out our guide on export paperwork here: Export Paperwork Explained: Who Does What
WHY CRATING IS SUCH A BIG DEAL
A well-packed crate does three main jobs:
It saves your trophies from getting bashed around
It helps reduce the risk of shipping problems
It helps control the size and cost of the shipment
So crating is not some afterthought - it's a critical part of getting your trophies from South Africa to their final destination in the right shape.
At Trophex, we believe the crate should receive the same care and attention you put into your trophies.
READY TO GET STARTED?
Are you already planning your trophies?
Shoot us an email with the following before you go hunting or start getting your taxidermy work done:
Your species list
Your destination country/state
Whether you're after Dip & Pack or Mounting
Your travel month or hunting season
We'll give you the lowdown on crate size drivers, inspection considerations, and what you can expect.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Why can't trophies just be bubble-wrapped and boxed?
Because wrapping alone does not prevent the contents of a crate from moving around, and transport vibrations can cause a real ruckus - the trophies inside can rub against one another, shift around, or even take a beating.
2. How does the size of the crate impact shipping costs?
The truth is that crate size can play a big role in airfreight shipping costs - the size often affects the crate's volumetric weight, which in turn can affect the price you end up paying.
3. Why do they remove some horns before shipping?
On many antelope species, removing the horns before shipping helps save space in the crate. They can be packed separately in the same shipment, which often helps reduce the overall size of the crate, making it a win-win, really.
4. Is crating for mounted trophies the same as dip & pack?
No way. When you've got a mounted trophy, it's usually pretty solidly fixed in place. But with a dip & pack shipment, they're packing up wrapped skins and skulls all nice and tight, which makes inspections a right old fuss.
5. Why is forklift access so important on a crate?
The truth is that a crate will likely be moved around a few times during shipping, so having decent forklift access can really help prevent all sorts of awkward lifting - and reduce the risk of a crate getting manhandled in the process.
6. Does the wood in the crate need to meet export regulations?
For international shipping, the solid wood in the crate needs to meet ISPM 15 regulations and carry the right mark for import acceptance in places like the US and the EU - it's all part of getting your shipment through the doors.
7. Does plywood get treated the same way as solid wood under ISPM 15?
Not quite - processed wood products like plywood are usually exempt, whereas it's the solid wood bits in the crate that typically need to be treated & marked to meet those ISPM 15 rules.
8. Can inspections change the way a crate gets repacked?
You bet they can, especially with those tightly packed dip & pack shipments. If inspectors need to take your skins and skulls out & put them back again, your crate may not be repacked the way it was originally - it's just how the industry works.
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