8 years!!!!!!!!! trophy bear like that, color phase to boot! Not good Steve, that really stinks.. That just doesnt add up.. be interesting to see what he has to say.. I agree, he probably sold it if he cant show it to you...

Just to give the opposite POV, could it be that he is hearing the same line from the place he sent it to be tanned? Either way, I really am sorry that you had to go through all this, and I 100% know what you mean about that bear being so special to you.

You got that right Troy! Something doesn't add up is right but I will have my answers either this weekend or next week.

Huntingson you might be on to something. That thought has crossed my mind a few times as well.

Me too, the taxi would be laying on my floor ass up!

First off Awesome bear. And with Trad gear to boot. You are the man.


Like others have said and your saying you'll do head up there and ask to see the hide. If he doesn't have it ask him where it is and explain you want to see it. the tanery should not have it. I dosn't take 8 years. If he tells you it will be done in a month then he's not saying the tanery hasn't returned it to him yet. Over 5-6 months at a tanery I'd be asking questions if I were the taxi. I took my whitetail to a taxi this year and he said 3 months at the tanery. Another friend of mine traps. he sends a bunch and they take a while. Not eight years though. His got it or he doesn't. If he recently sent it to the tanery I can see it still being there but he would have known by now if they had lost it 7 years ago. He's hiding something.

I'm hoping its there and he's realy just not done with it because of doing deer heads. I don't know what else he'd have to to but who knows. Either case I'd pay him a vist. And its sounds like you have enough family and friends to effect his business by telling everyone the story. That pulls alot of weight when your talking about that kind of business.

Keep us informed man.

do something to get it back!!!
good luck with it

Where is this taxi located, Steve?

KJ's Taxidermy is the name. He's located in Eden Valley, Minnesota. Its south west of St.Cloud about 30 minutes on Hwy 22.

Well today I went to the home/shop of the taxidermist where my bear has been for 8 years to see what the hell is going on and pulled in the driveway to find a gate going across the driveway locked tight with a No Trespassing sign on it. He also raises deer so that may be why he has a gate going across his driveway too. So I then called the prick with my cell phone to see if he was home and no one answered. I left him a very sharp detailed to the point message that he better be in contact with me soon, I was very blunt and to the point and it took everything I had to hold the F'N himers back but I did. I plan on going back again Tuesday night!

Place a bear trap by his locked gate with a fake $100 bill inside of it....you will be able to talk to him tomorrow I suppose when you show up at his place