Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

I dropped my deer off at the taxidermist around the middle of november 2005 to be mounted. Is it outrageous that I still don't have it back? I was told April when I dropped it off.

Anyone else still waiting on their deer from '05?

For a little more background, this guy is very good andcosts over 400

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

The taxidermist I took my gun kill buck from november of 2005 said it would 2.5 - 3 years to get mine back. It is his life and all he does so he is super busy with tons of mounts

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

that seems like a very long time, if you want to give him a call maybe he forgot

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

Just call him and bug him. I didn't get mine back for 1.5years. It turns out all I needed to do was to tell him I'm ready or more to the point, I have his money for the mount. I guess some hunters choose to get mounts but are short on cash to pay for it.

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

my guy usually takes bout 8-18 months. Just depends on how early in the season you get the mount to him. I dropped off 2 antelope at end of Sept 05 and i am going to pick them up tonight after work.

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

I still havent gotten my mount back yet either fomr 2005 and i brought it in to him at the end of october. Im expecting it at the end of this month though. Since i brought it to this one guy, i have become close with a cousin of a co-worker who is a taxidermist. He does it full time and he claims that it takes about 15 man hours to complete a deer head sized or similiar animal. Now granted those 15 hours arent taking drying of glue time and all, but he was saying that when he used to work for someone else ( works for himself now) he would have to have 3 deer capes and racks on a manican a day. He was saying that it can take a while to get the cape back from the tannery, but if they really want to they can get it back quick. I was at his shop when he got a catalina goat in and he had the head completely done in 3 weeks. Obviously this is not the norm, but how in the heck it takes around a year to get them back is obsurd to me. Needless to say, my new buddy will be doing all my future mounts.

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

I've only had one deer mounted. The taxidermist does it part time in the evenings. He still works and is a avid outdoors man and a super nice guy. He was recomended by friends and some times I swing by his shop in the evenings just to shoot the breeze with him. I shot my buck on opening day of the 04 rifle season and it took about 9 months to get it back. He mounts them in the order they come, unless there is special circumstances. He has to finish the fish mounts for the year before he switches over and does the deer heads.

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

I took mine at about the same time and have not recieved it either. I called him a couple weeks ago and he said it would be another couple weeks, which it has been. Of course, I don't want to rush him.[8D]

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

BE PATIENT! Good work takes TIME! And there are MANY delays that could be out of the taxidermists hand, including waiting on your cape to be tanned and returned.

There's nothing wrong with giving him a call (stopping by is probably nicer) and asking how things are coming along and when he expects it to be done. Perhaps he's waiting for a deposit from you or a decision on what pose you want so he can order the form. If he told you April, then he should be able to explain the delay though.

Most good taxidermists consider themselves artists and try to perfect their art. Rushing them can be done, but the results are often poor. I have seen rush jobs from very good taxidermists and the difference in finished quality between the rush job and a good mount is litterally like night and day.

My first mount took 1.5 years to get back. I'd visit him from time to time, I'd get to hold my rack for a while and see different phases of the process. It's pretty cool.

PS: Don't forget, if you brought yours in in November, then you could be the 100th or more in line too. One guy can work on no more than a few mounts at at time so he can't even start on yours till he gets the other 99 or so (or whatever) done. Throw in a delay in returning hides, ordering forms or God forbid an illness and a guy could get socked WAY behind.

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

Thanks for the replies. I already paid half. I call every couple/3 weeks and have stopped by once just to talk for awhile.

I was told the tanner was the hold up in April. Looks like it isn't that far out of the norm to take this long.

thanks again.

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

You're lucky. I still haven't gotten my '03 or my '04 bucks back. Been calling and leaving messages but never get a call back. I know his shop is still there but it's never open when I go by. I just have a bad feeling.

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

I have a good taxidermist who doesnt do a ton of mounts. It took me 3 months to get mine back...

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

Usually takes mine a little over a year to a year and a half so looks like you're not too far off. I've heard of a guy close by that gets 'em back in 6 months, but I have to question the quality of the mount on that short of a turn around time.

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

Yea I would too[&o]

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

I know a guy that takes way too long...3-4 years. I no loger go to him. 1 - 1.5 years is all it should really take.

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

My taxidermist was arrested for fraud, he was taking the animals and downpayments and never doing the work...I have a Rio Grand turkey with him now I have to wait for the hearings to see if I can get it back.

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

13 months is an acceptable amount of time to wait as far as I'm concerned. A taxidermist pushing animals out any faster isn't as busy as the others. Anything over 13 months and the taxidermist is either lazy or taking on more than he can chew.

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

Thats how long it is for my taxidermist. He does good work but that really is a long time to wiat. He took almost 2 years for my dads walleye. After this buck I'm looking for a new taxidermist.

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

i gave mine up too the taxi htat does it for his family and ours (very good famil y friend) and i still havent go tit back but i am not worried it wont cost me nothin to get my 8 point mounted ;)

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

I've used a couple, shortest time was 3 months and longest 8 months. If you haven't got a 2003 or 04 buck back, then that just smells wrong.

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

I shot mine on Oct. 29 got it to the taxidermist on Nov. 3 and was told to not expect a phone call until at least the beginning of August. BTW i also did not pay in full up front the deal was half when i gave him the deer half when i get it back. Hes a great guy and i sent alot of business his way but you never want to rush an artist.;)

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

I used to do this as a hobby. It does take time to do the mount. If he has to send it out for tanning it can take 3 or 4 months to get it back from the tanner and if not it will take sever weeks to tan it in shop. The hide takes a long time to flesh and it also takes time to mount and dry. I now have the work done. The last bobcat I had mounted took about a year to get back. I would call once or twice a month to check in and see. Sometimes they are busy and forget to call. A Coyote took several months to have tanned and a deer took about a year. I am proud of them though.[/i]
[/i]

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

Nice bobcat! What's that he's trying to catch, a wood duck?

RE: Taxidermist - How long should it take?
 

A hooded merganser I took on a pond during duck season. Only the second I have ever taken. I have seen these ducks occasionally on other ponds.[/i]

took 2 1/2 months for my bull. AWESOME work. Tannery should take 2 to 3 months, give 2 weeks for ordering the form.
couple days for drying. More than 6 months is completely unacceptable. I would get my money back and find a new taxidermist.