Anyone do their own taxidermy?

[Trenton G.]

Hey guys. Like the title says, how many of you do your own taxidermy? I've got a deer being mounted right now and the wait is driving me crazy, which got me thinking that it may be kind of fun to give it a try myself. With starting college and all that in the fall, I know that picking up another hobby probably isn't the smartest, but I think it looks like it could be a lot of fun and cheaper in the long run. I've found lots of fun supply sites online that have all sorts of cool forms and some starter kits with videos that look helpful. For those of you who have tried it, any advice for how to get started? I know that shadowing a skilled taxidermist would be the best way to go about it, but I don't really know how I would make that work with my schedule. At the rate I shoot deer though, I may not get to practice for a few years 

[Herdbull]

Yes, I've done almost all of mine. Out of necessity started out doing them, and I think I've gotten better  over the years, but being self taught takes time, but talent is a skill. So I have reached my best, but not as good as the masters. But, it does let me spend more time with the memories of the animals I have taken. Fleshing hides, tanning, mounting and then displaying them, all keeps me connected to them. Mike

[Dannon]

Trenton, I've mounted deer and other stuff for over 20 years. Just like you I thought it would be cool to do my own deer and turkeys. I've never mounted a deer or turkey for myself. I've done some horn mounts and euro's for myself but that's it. It can be a lot of fun but reaching a point to where the deer actually look lifelike can take years. I finally just burned out because it does take time and certain steps of the process have to be finished once you start. Don't try to turn it into a business unless it's what you plan on doing it for a living. I promise you are going to have all kinds of friends and family come out of the wood work offering to let you mount their deer for a "good deal". If you do decide to get started get you some dvd's and lots of reference material and study it! Good luck!
Here is one done for my cousin.

[Dannon]

And another one for a camp member

[Bowguy67]

Taxidermy isn't a hobby imo. I did it full time for many years. Even among taxidermists there's a big difference.
The animal shouldn't look mounted but alive, the attitude of the animal needs to be recreated. Now I understand what you're saying and where you're coming from but what I've you cut time much shorter, "spend time w a memory" mounting it only to have a deer that doesn't look right.
Say it drums, splits, seams open, grease bleeds in a fish, a bird ain't preened right.
Point is about the time you get a piece the piece you did is sitting there proudly but not real great? What did you gain??? You gained a mess that doesn't resemble any memory but hey certain "taxidermists" are the same.
Here's what I'd do. If you'd like to dabble spend time learning how to do small things first. Maybe a turkey tail mount or a "fly down wing",, a deer foot gun or coat rack, maybe skin out some moose calves and use that skin to build a sheath? (Moose calves resemble seal skin).
Perhaps you should be involved making a personalized mounting plaque, perhaps shaped like an arrow if it was Bowhunted, You could cut it, stain it, etc. it'll give you something to do to be part of the whole process.
You could do turkey feet and beards, even fish you could build a display base.
None of this will make time go by faster but think of this a dif way. If the guy is putting out quality pieces and not sleeping on  he's busy cause he's good. A guy who could finish it next week cause he had no work should scare you as to why.
In hunting we always wait, waiting for a piece to be proud of is better than rushing something done with unskilled hands or unknowing minds. Just my opinion. Best of luck

[Bowguy67]

Another thing to add is the cost of buying all the stuff required from draw knives, fleshing beams, ear splitters, salt, epoxy, clay, mache,  scalpels, stands, compressors, air brushes, cleaning supplies, paints for your items, bondo, tongue depressors, screws, brushes, wire wheels, leather shaving tools, pins, something to reposition hides with,  that doesn't include the manikins, eyes, ear liners, etc etc etc.
more things to think about.
Either way best of luck

[arrow30]

I have done a lot, started just wanting to do my own. then turned into a wintertime job after deer season. all my buddies and family wanted theirs done. there are a lot of supplies to have as mentioned before, assorted colors of paint, air brush and compressor, fleshing machine, tanning supplies.
  try some small stuff first, squirrels, minks, coons or coyotes. you can get an idea of the process before you take on a deer head. videos do help, but you have to have talent to bring the mount alive. IT IS FUN, till it turns into a job. I still have capes in the freezer that are a couple years old that I need to check out. good luck 

[Kenny Henderson]

I did it part time for about 7 years and got burnt out. There is a learning curve that just takes time to learn, I personally went to a Taxidermy school and learned the "basic" skills to get started. It can be expensive to get all the tools you need to do a quality job. I have a bunch of deer antlers in the basement and I can't bring myself to even think about mounting one. I personally believe taxidermy is an art, some are gifted at it, some are not. If you are "artistically inclined" go ahead and give it a try, you might be the Michelangelo of the taxidermy world.

[bucknut]

I did it part time for 10-12 years and got burnt out. It was alright when I worked construction but I took a plant job and it went to hell.  Like Kenny says I have a pile of horns that I just can't make myself touch now. If you just do it for yourself it is fine, but when you have a full time plus job and Taxidermy and kids its just too much. And don't forget Deer season skinning deer heads out til 2:00 am on a work night.  That being said I absolutely loved doing it and was pretty fair at it from what everyone said. Just say No! when people ask and you will be good. Mckenzie supply has some great how to videos that will get you on the right foot.

John

[Trenton G.]

Thanks for the tips guys. Sounds like it is something that I should probably hold off on for the time being. Sounds like a lot of time that I won't have. I'd really like to give it a try sometime down the road just to say that I did, but it sounds like it could be pretty pricey. I was thinking that maybe trying a doe might be good since if it turns out bad it's not to big of a deal. It was just one of those things that suddenly seemed like a really good idea and one worth exploring a little bit. I wouldn't ever want to do it as a job I don't think. Just something for myself.

Dannon those look like really nice mounts. I'd be really happy if I could make them look like that.

[Dannon]

Thanks Trenton. I dont think anyone was trying to scare you away from trying it. If it's something you want to do then I'd say try it. Pick a few tools here and there and give it a shot! It can be very rewarding, but it can also become overwhelming. Like some of the other guys said, I have a pile of horns I'd love to have shoulder mounted but I can't make myself get out there and mount them. I have an Axis deer I killed when my wife was three months pregnant with my first son, he's 11 now, I still havn't mounted it. Good luck with your decision.

[Trenton G.]

I haven't been scared away from it. I just think I should hold off on trying it for a little bit. Like you said, maybe I'll start collecting tools and stuff like that. I used to do a lot of clay sculpting in middle school and have a lot of tools from that that may be useful.

Also, when I was complaining about the wait in my first post, that wasn't anything against the taxidermist at all. He does really good work and I know he's working on it. I'm just excited to get it back.

[mnbwhtr]

I just retired after 43 years of doing my own. When I started the only thing I had to learn from was a couple of books. Taxidermy has changed drastically! It's much easier now. You can now go to any supplier catalog and find videos that show you how to mount anything. I'd say go for it, I did and after a couple years got licensed and opened a part time business that payed for my hunting trips for the last 40 years.  Go to a Taxidermy website and check it out. Good luck!

[Trenton G.]

Hey guys. Figured I'd bring this back up. Along with doing their own has anyone ever got taken by a taxidermist? I was told that my deer would be done in April, then June, then he said he didn't even get the hides or forms until mid June. I gave him an extra month and he has now stopped answering the phone altogether. I know he runs an even barn so this is probably a busy time of year for him, but I would think he could at least return one of my phone calls sometime. What do you guys think? I was hoping to have it back before heading to school but looks like that won't happen.

[dragonheart]

I have just done the euro mounts.  I used to help my uncle who was a taxidermist with fleshing pelts when I was younger.  I never took to the work.  My uncle really had an eye for the detail and that artistic "eye".  Here is a buck I did for one of my hunting buddies.  The plaque wood was from an old barn on the adjacent property we hunt on.



       

[Trenton G.]

That looks great! Barnwood looks great on just about anything, mounts, bow racks, etc. Euro mounts look awesome. Have a few, including one by the guy doing my deer now. No issue then.

I know I ought to be patient with this guy but it makes me a bit nervous that it's been almost twice the amount of time that he said it would take and he is no longer answering the phone.

[arrow30]

if he sends his capes out to be tanned , it could take awhile to get them back. there usually is a year wait on getting your deer back, that's why I started doing my own.

[RJonesRCRV]

My best work....


Im sorry, I had to...

[Huntschool]

If you want one that looks right ya just give the taxidermist your hornes and cape and sit back and wait.  (This deer is a 10 point though in this view you can not see the short g4 on his right side and the g2 on his left.  Measured 163 3/8 with a 22 1/2 inside spread.)

Like this:



I am fortunate to have known this lady since she was a pup. She is an artist with deer.  This mount has a long story behind it as regards she and I talking quite a bit about what I wanted and what she wanted to do.

It was well worth the money and the wait.

[Bill Turner]

Sorry to see that "Guru" has not chimed in. Don't hear much from Curt anymore but I know he has had some taxidermy experience. Believe he did a deer for Terry a few years back. Hats off to all who have the patience and artistic eye to do that kind of work.