Can anyone help me with Taxidermy information?
 

I want to mount my dads buck from this year for a senior project in high school but i don't know every thing i need to do.

RE: Can anyone help me with Taxidermy information?
 

Please expand....

Are you talkin' a shoulder mount, european mount, or mounting the skullplate to a plaque?

RE: Can anyone help me with Taxidermy information?
 

I would start by checking out http://www.taxidermy.net/forums. Search the achives and ask questions. If you're talking about a shoulder mount, it may be just a little more complex than you think. I've seen kits that sell for around 50 bucks and you will have a mounted whitetail, but the quality may not be quite what you're hoping for.

I'm attempting to get into taxidermy as a hobby myself this fall. I bought several books & videos last winter and have gone over them several times. I also started purchasing some of the tools, chemicals etc. that I needed a little at a time. So far I've invested about $300 and I've purchased about half of what I need, excluding the specific form & eyes I will need for my deer.

I have 2 deer and a few other critters in the freezer. I should have everything I need to get started shortly after Christmas. Feel free to drop me an email & I will try to help with any other questions. However, you're probably better off getting advice from the folks over at taxidermy.net.

RE: Can anyone help me with Taxidermy information?
 

There are several taxidermy supply companies out there........I have thrown away all of my catalogs, but it shouldn't be hard for you to find them on the web.

They have videos and all the stuff you need. Some of the stuff you can buy locally.

I mounted a deer in a class I took a few years ago........it's really not that hard. The hardest part is skinning out the head.

Our class was taught by a taxidermist who lives around here.

Here's one source.............Van Dykes Taxidermy

RE: Can anyone help me with Taxidermy information?
 

Thanks for replying I have visited taxidermy.net and van dykes. I am going to try to do a shoulder mount. Do i have to tan the skin or just cure it?

RE: Can anyone help me with Taxidermy information?
 

There are several methods to preserve the skin. You can wet tan it, or dry preserve. If you want a quality mount that will last a long time, I would suggest wet tanning it. Better yet, send it off to a tannery and let the experts do it. Shaving a hide is a pain in the butt if you do not have the right tools.

Also, buy a manual. They're not that expensive and it'll be your best resource for this information. Here are a couple good ones.

http://www.taxidermy.com/cat/02/BP1005.html

http://www.taxidermy.com/cat/02/BP1003.html