Bringing the Adventure to life
I am absolutely blown away with this customized wildlife artwork from Dave Booth Taxidermy. Everything down to the smallest detail brings back very personal memories that I can barely explain without pause. I am in absolute awe as how Brody Teale took my dreams, and brought them back to life with such a high level of excellence. Without a doubt this was one of the most memorable adventures that I will ever share.
Bringing the adventure to life
By Keith Denoncourt
Before I walked in to the Dave Booth Taxidermy shop, to see my South African wildlife artwork from Basso Safaris for the first time, I knew that I was going to be blown away. I have known Brody Teale and his family for years, and the anticipation of seeing our wildlife artwork dream come together for the first time was almost too much to bare. It took a lot of personal restraint for me not to stop in and say hi. As I am very well versed with the level of excellence that Brody, and his team, can accomplish personally, the excitement and anticipation was almost overwhelming. I am ever so glad that I waited and let Brody just do his thing. I only came in when I was invited by Brody to share the finished product. I was actually speechless. Just absolutely dumbfounded with joy. It is like Brody read my mind, and heart, from the inside out, then executed that outcome with wildlife artwork excellence! He knows first hand the level of respect that I demand for interacting with animals, and he brought it to life for me beyond my wildest imagination. This piece will help me showcase every part of the Basso Safaris South Africa adventure that I wish to convey. It was so much more to me than just a kill. It was a life changing event that only a few of us can experience, let alone share first hand. The best part, yet the hardest part, was the first 20 minutes after the animal was confirmed down. No cameras. No fanfare. Just pure solemn quiet moments of sincere appreciation, value and respect, for what had just transpired. The silence, personal distance, and respect that Boris Basso, and his team, gave me to process what has just happened will always be valued. This was personal. For the first time in my life, I had harvested an animal mostly for the necessity of others. I did not take that responsibility lightly. All went as planned and practiced. For that I will always be grateful. I was then very Blessed to be playing a huge role in what was yet to come.
Each step of creating this wildlife artwork was intentional right from the beginning. Even before the shot, criteria was put in to place to make this a very respectful experience that I would be proud to remember, let alone publicly share. Boris and his team were ready, and when the final personal respects of the harvest were completed by myself, the Basso Safaris team immediately went to work. Boris and I discussed what message that our wildlife artwork was to be sending, then he systematically shared those expectations with the Skinning Team. I just stepped back and absorbed this process. It was very unusual for me not to have my knives out, but when a high level of expertise is required to make the perfect mount , as well as get the meat in to the cooler immediately, it is best left to the professionals. The hides and skulls were fully field prepped to my expectations, then held in the freezer until my departure. When my adventure was coming to an end, we stopped at the local Thabazimbi orphanage to drop off the extra meat. The pure level of their appreciation is very hard to explain. It was beyond humbling to receive that sincere level of gratitude. It forces you to step back, and truly value what has just happened. These students can now eat meat for roughly one month because of my Hunting Safaris adventure. Wow ! The stresses at home now pale in comparison. The complete financial value of what we just provided is making the difference between life and death of these students. It was truly an honor to have been so respectfully, and graciously, received within this community. From there we stopped in at “Swift Dip” processors in Thabazimbi and dropped off my capes and horns. They not only specifically catalogue, and photograph, your individual animals, this is where the first stage of processing begins. All skulls and capes are 100% genetically confirmed and identified. Then they are chemically treated for diseases, germs and parasites to the standards of International transporting laws. When this process is done, the capes and skulls are then shipped to “Badger Cargo”, in Johannesburg. This is where they are inspected and processed a second time. All parts of the animal are re-inspected a second time for genetic identification, germs and parasites. This is a very diligent process to make sure that everything is legal. This process also stops all of the potential threat of accidently shipping any unwanted byproducts in to Canada. When your shipment has been legally cleared “Badger Cargo” will then ship it to your nearest International airport. I had mine shipped directly to the Edmonton International Airport. There we had a International Receiver clear Customs for us. Once again, the package must pass all International Importing Custom standards before it will be released to you for pick up. To save money, on International shipping costs, I just had my hide, cape and horns dipped and dried. My confidence with Brody Teale and Dave Booth Taxidermy was too great to risk anyone else touching my mounts. The completed package from South Africa arrived at Dave Booth Taxidermy in perfect condition, roughly two weeks after arriving in Edmonton. From start to finish, my complete deliver time to Dave Booth Taxidermy for International transport was roughly four months. This entire process was 100% hassle free. The Importers and Exporters that we use have vast and extensive experience with wildlife transport. With their constant updates, it was never a concern where my mounts were. The fun part of the artwork has now just begun. Lets just say I could spend hours with Brody at his shop and never be bored. Together we dreamed about the adventures. Even in South Africa we were planning, and dreaming, as to what our message was with this wildlife artwork. Amy Teale was very specifically taking pictures of the local flora to add to the mounts. This was such a huge personal touch that it meant more than you could ever envision. Every tiny minute detail that was added to this wildlife artwork was very specifically chosen to exceed our expectations. Overall I am beyond blown away with the professionalism of this entire process. Life changing does not even begin the describe how proud I am to have this entire experience invited permanently in to my home.
If I can ever help you dream and bring your adventures to life in any way, please, never hesitate to give me a shout out at kadenoncourt@gmail.com
Thank you for respecting wildlife and supporting non-profit conservation organization !
-Keith
Before I I knew Brody Teale, I knew Dave Booth very well. Together we often worked on wildlife and conservation fundraisers. We, not once, glorified the kill, but rather reflected the entirety of the animals existence through wildlife art. Every single one of my Taxidermy pieces is from Dave Booth Taxidermy. I can not tell you how proud I am of Brody Teale for carrying on his Grandfathers tradition of excellence ! Dave would be very proud of what Brody has done for me, and for that I will always be grateful.
Never in my life have I ever disrespected an animal. This Blue Wildebeest was my first off continent harvest. It was clean, quick and set in a process that truly sets a standard for animal stewardship. Nothing is ever wasted. Furthermore we are going to use the Taxidermy artwork to motivate others to make the journey. We will customize your adventure just for you. Photography or Hunting Safaris will support the local area. Never hesitate to give me an email at kadenoncourt@gmail.com. Lets dream together to bring your adventure to life!
Every harvest is respected, and nothing ever goes to waste. Bringing this Gemsbok back to life, through artwork, is the best ways that I know to get anyone involved. When we create a passion, we can make a difference. My hunting Safaris fed all of us thoroughly, plus the staff, and the 64 people at the Thabazimbi orphanage for roughly one month. Never hesitate to give me an email at kadenoncourt@gmail.com.
I can not tell you how much I valued the Professional Trackers and Skinners at Basso Safaris. They asked some base questions, and then set in to motion what would turn out to be my dream wildlife artwork.
We are Blessed that our harvests are cooked up for us immediately at camp. Recognizing, and valuing, the role that this animal plays in the ecosystem is the best way to value its existence. Furthermore, it is the base reason why we diligently, and professionally, interact with it. We not only protect the quantity of wildlife, and the variances of the wildlife resource, but it is also our main motivator as to why we protect the environment. Together we can a make huge difference!!
Before you leave to head back home, we arrange to have you visit to Swift Dip exporters. They begin the logistical process of thoroughly cleaning, clarifying and registering all of your harvests for the journey home. Each item is individually photographed, labelled and processed for you.
Your last stop before you head back to Johannesburg is the stop at the local Thabazimbi orphanage. The meat from your harvests will support them for a very long time. This first visit overwhelmed me with the gratitude they demonstrated for what we provide. It will humble you hard when you come to terms with how Blessed we are at home.
Basso Safaris helps you arrange all of the paperwork to get your animal back home. It is very reassuring to know how well cared for your harvests are.
I chose to have mine dried, prepped and shipped directly to Dave Booth Taxidermy. It was absolutely hassle free. I was constantly updated as to what stage of shipping my animals were in, and how soon they would get to my final destination. I also saved substantially in shipping costs because on how I had them prepared in South Africa. Plus the quality I knew that I would get from Brody makes this the best choice for shipping.
Just a special shout out to Brody Teale and the entire Team at Dave Booth Taxidermy. Your professional dedication to excellence in helping bring my South African dream to life will not be forgotten. It is much appreciated and valued more than your know.
Nothing like a dream come true !! Brody brought this Wildlife Artwork out to my house. Helping me set it up at home is one of the final stages of re-living this adventure. I truly have no works that can describe how much I value the time, effort and personal touches that Brody and his Team from Dave Booth Taxidermy did to make this such an outstanding display of Wildlife Artwork !! Thank you does not quite seem enough…it was life changing and for that I will always be grateful.
Sometimes there are no words that can change a person, however living an adventure is something else. Never hesitate to give me a shout a kadenoncourt@gmail.com
Lets dream together to help bring your adventure to life!
