taxidermist

[wobblegobble]

I see some nice mounts and euro's on this site, but my question is why does it take some so long to get thier mounts back? I've used 2 guys in winchester TN and both get your mounts 2 you within 2-4 months. Bryan's Taxidermy and 3-may (a tndeer member and my current Tax) both charge under $300 for shoulder mounts and $75 for euro's and get them back to ya quick. HOOKEDUP (3-may)should post some of his work here.

 

[Columbia Scott]

My taxidermist has won several awards for his work. He is in high demand and has a pretty large backlog of work. I killed my 9 point on Thanksgiving day. I went to pay the balance the other day and he said he should get to mine in a few weeks. I expect a call sometime in May or June. It's just the name of the game I suppose. It's one of those things you probably shouldn't rush.

 

[AlabamaSwamper]

Good taxi work is hard to find. It also isn't cheap if done right unless the person doing it isn't making any money. I'm lucky I guess. Got a guy that does it not for a living but as a hobby almost. Every mount is competition quality mount. It cost but dang they look good. hard to say that for the majority of mounts I see.

 

[wobblegobble]

My guys have won awards also but never take mounts into the next season. My son once killed a 9pt on halloween and we got it back on thanksgiving...I'll post some of my mounts from them.

 

[wobblegobble]

This was the one my son killed got it back in 25 days

 

[wobblegobble]

A smallmouth $130, it took a month and a half.

 

[wobblegobble]

3-may 9pt price was under $250...

 

[deerhunter10]

Its crazy some of these guys are waiting a year or two my guy has also won a ton of awards and he will get it back to you before may or June at the latest. My only thing is maybe some of them don't do it full time. But it scares me to hear some of the roccomendations for taxidermist work on this site. I've seen some terrible ones. But for the most part they are pretty good.

 

[AT Hiker]

Quality taxidermy works takes time. You have to allow for the mount to dry properly before you do the finish work and this takes around 2 weeks minimum.

Some of the quicker turn around taxidermist use the dry preserve method on their capes. Taxidermist that send them off to be commercially tanned take a lot longer, some tanneries are backed up 4-6 months.

Assuming you did not pay a rush order fee and you were not the first customer and you get a mount back in under a month I would be a little weary, though earlier in the year the quicker you will get them back before the Nov rush hits.

 

[tickweed]

nice

 

[rukiddin]

The problem with quick turnarounds is a lot of times the difference you are asking about cannot be noticed quickly. Look at your mounts in 20-25 years vs those who used other tanning methods and you will then be able to answer your own question.

Me personally, and this is just my opinion, but if a taxi tells me he can get my mount back to me in <2 months, I'd b very cautious.

I have a friend that is a world class waterfowl taxidermists and he can hold his own with anyone with deer too, but asked him the same question u just did. He said 9/10 times with a quick turnaround, a corner is being cut somewhere in the process.

 

[Rackseeker]

You get what you pay for on the cost of a mount. As far as the turn around time. Most of your good taxidermist work alone instead of having 3 or 4 friends, young kids, cousins, etc., that don't know what their doing helping out just to get them out the door. I would rather wait a year and get quality work than have it back in a month or so. You can tell the difference in quality mounts verses your average mount. As far as euro mounts go just about anyone can do those.

 

[cleatus2506]

All 3 of these were done by Bryan Bradford at Bryan's Big Game Taxidermy. They were all done in a very timely manner and at an extremely fair price. I'm well plesed with his work and would recommend him without hesitation.

 

[Nealmeally]

I prefer not to get mine back in 2-4 months, and you usually get what you pay for on deer mounts...

I recently started using Stan Gross in Hollywood, AL. He is higher than most but I've never seen better work, especially on whitetails. I carried him one in February and will probably get it back in October-November. Bout 40 deer ahead of mine..

As far as price goes, if I'm gonna hang him on my wall and be looking at him everyday I want the taxi to take his sweet time. And I'll pay a good price for that also..

 

[Anonymous]

Have your taxidermist explain the process to you. If you are comfortable with the way they do things, go for it. A great taxi takes their time and usually has plenty of work that causes the delay. I have no problem waiting awhile knowing it is done right. You never want to knock someone's mount because they are proud of enough to have it mounted, but I have seen some poor work from fast and cheap.

 

[Nealmeally]

but I have seen some poor work from fast and cheap.

So have I and as the years pass they slowing start looking worse..

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

i don't mind waiting a year for quality taxidermy.i have work done by some of the same taxidermist and was very happy until i had work done by chip hayes in tullahoma.there is no comparison.but as long as the customer is happy,thats all that matters

 

[xtremedeerman]

nice deer and yes it takes a good taxi almost a year he has that many to do plus all the bear ducks etc.

 

[rukiddin]

You never want to knock someone's mount because they are proud of enough to have it mounted, but I have seen some poor work from fast and cheap.

I try not to, but the problem is that based on what I've seen and heard from hunters, is that the majority of hunters cannot recognize it and I'm not just talking details. IMO, you have poor work, good work, and excellent work. There is a fine line between poor and good work. Neither are acceptable to me. I expect excellent work. Anything less belongs in the trash.

Just take this website for example. How many times has someone posted a pic of their new mount that looks like a highway road cone with a deer hide stretched over it and it's followed by 3-4 pages of "looks great" comments. Their either ignorant about what a whitetail looks like or they are liars. Lol.

 

[AlabamaSwamper]

Stan Gross is possibly the best in the country. His work takes a backseat to nobody.

 

[Nealmeally]

Stan Gross is possibly the best in the country. His work takes a backseat to nobody.

I totally agree and he is a great guy. Never seen whitetails look any better.

 

[Rackseeker]

Stan Gross is possibly the best in the country. His work takes a backseat to nobody.

Anyone that has had work done by Stan Gross post up a few picks. If he does better work than the taxidermist I use. I'd like to see some of his work.

 

[Nealmeally]

Stan done all these. These are some deer a couple of my buddies killed. Only pics I have right at the moment.. Of course you have to see his work in person to really appreciate it.

 

[wobblegobble]

Sweet!

 

[Wells Taxidermy]

Re:

Taxidermy is a luxury business and the guys who are great at it will charge for it. There are hundreds of great taxidermist , take the last few mounts for example I've personally never seen his work nor heard about him but he does a fine job. I have seen chip Hayes work up close and personal ( have learned a lot from it) and if his customer work is anything like his competition work which it is in my opinion then what more could you ask for. Then again there are hundreds of good ones out there and then you have the few that are scary good. But what is bad is when guys spend a grand or better for an archery set up and kill a once in a lifetime deer they look for the guy that watched a video slapped a sign on the door and it says taxidermist open for business. And these are usually the one that look like road kill with all the comments that say " looks great". I met one of these taxidermist one time and strike me dead he said I use the cheapest things I can get my hands on. I charge 275 a head and make an easy 175-200 bucks to fund my hunting and fishing habits. I throw em together cheap and fast and when they look like sh$! They can't bi#%* cuz they only paid 275 for it. Bottom line is good work you will have to wait for it and pay for it. all taxidermist suck which is another issue but put anybody's work next to a live deer ( not pics) the real thing and then see how good we really are. I'm not saying there are not guys and gals who are close but in general it ain't in the same ballpark. Birds are a little different but the same applies for all areas of taxidermy. You can not recreate Gods work I dont care how good you are

 

[deaddownwind]

Here are a couple from Bryans Trophy Game. I feel like he done a very nice job. Both are 5 years old and still look great in the living room.

 

[Winchester]

Supply and demand!! Quality will many times dictate how long a Taxidermist will take to complete a mount, as a GOOD taxidermist will build business fast and become very busy most times. How many a taxidermist chooses to take also dictates how long it will take? Does he do Taxi full or part time? etc? Most times you get what you pay for!

 

[Hunter 257W]

I've had thoughts that maybe a good way to measure a taxidermist's skills would be to not look at deer he has done but small game mounts. My observations have been that most anybody can do a pretty fair job on getting a deer to look decent but a LOT of taxidermist fall way short with small game. Coyotes and bobcats with funny smirks on their faces are common.

Wells Taxidermy, what's your opinion on this. Is the ability to do small game a good measure of a Taxidermist's all around skill level??

 

[Winchester]

I've had thoughts that maybe a good way to measure a taxidermist's skills would be to not look at deer he has done but small game mounts. My observations have been that most anybody can do a pretty fair job on getting a deer to look decent but a LOT of taxidermist fall way short with small game. Coyotes and bobcats with funny smirks on their faces are common.

Wells Taxidermy, what's your opinion on this. Is the ability to do small game a good measure of a Taxidermist's all around skill level??

Depends what you want mounted, small game or deer? Some taxidermist only do big game. Im personally only interested in how good a taxi is on what particular animal im taking him??? I know a guy that's a great artist and does the best fish and Turkeys ive ever saw, yet I don't like his deer at all.

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

nice bucks you have there deaddownwind