I'm sure you probably think my taxidermist is just some fly-by-nite kinda guy. but, here in PA you have to be tested and have your work scrutinized. From what I here, they are real SOB's when it comes to giving out taxidermy license here. Yes, he's licensed. I guess in some states anyone can stick a sign in the window and call themselves a taxidermist. Not so here in PA. I just wanted to clear that up incase you were wondering.

And another thing........ LOL!



I'm a factory worker. My take home pay is $282/wk. And, that is for 40 hours, not 20. I guess I'm considered low income. Yeah, I got to save a buck here and there to make ends meet, too

I'm sure you don't need any taxidermy tips from me....but....have you ever tried using a pressure washer to flesh a deer cape or bear? It really makes the job easy.I use a cheap electric one at around 1300psi. Just thought I'd pass that along.

Windwalker,
Take a good closeup pic of your bear mount's headand post it up. I'm intrigued by the work of your friend that does it so cheap. Any mount will look like any other from far away, and I am just curious as to what you find acceptable. Not to pick an argument but rather to see for myself what one considers good enough. I know that alot of people know nothing about animal anatomy and would never notice things that may be obvious to others. You seem rather happy and that is all that matters in the end. If you are pleased, you got more than your monies worth after all.

And...If you can hunt bear, moose, deer and whatnot, and get them all mounted to your satisfaction on your take home pay, I am in awe and more power to you! You are doing something right.I make considerably more than you and have a hard time buying a hunting license some years.

I'll try to get a better pic

I got the bear in my home state of PA. ( Self-guided...LOL)


I borrowed from my 401k to go on the moose hunt. I knew that one day "IF"I ever get old, I'd look back and wish I went on a hunt somewhere. I doubt I'll ever go on another. My wife works also.

You don't have to be rich to deer hunt. For the time being, anyway.

Another

Hi guys, I just realized this post was still going, and now includes my name a few times as an example. I wanna try to clarify on some points if I could.

I know guys like me are expected to diss the competition when they dont charge enough, or if the detail isnt in the mount. But by now youd HAVE to notice that I dont do that. Im thrilled beyond words that my name has carried as it has. But there is NO best taxidermist out there, believe me. This business has lots of good work, and the customer is always the ultimate judge. There are already many shops near me who are competively priced, and specialize in quicker return times. So I, liking to be very detailed, long ago chose to cater to the few who really dig the details, and the extra stuff some others might not notice, or desire. It was a niche I felt I could fill, and Ive made my name doing so, NOT at the expense of others.

I like to compliment the part timer as a guy who is smart enough to have a good job to support his family first. If he does taxidermy on the side, chances are its another full time job, are darn near it. I see the cruddy work along with the really nice stuff. I see the low prices with the overpriced stuff. Hey, guys do what they feel they need to. The fact that we ALL have enough work suggests and bears out the fact that all levels are sought after. Read that one again, because thats the key. Is a 500 dollar moose going to look like a 1200 dollar moose? Well...as long as it does to the guy paying the 500 dollars, it works. See? I know what I think, but my opinion wouldnt matter either way in that case. Same with all the other work I see. Guys love to show off their mounts. To them, theyre the best mounts out there. How lucky are we, as taxidermists, to have rabid hunters out there, so proud of their mounts? Thats the name of the game, my friends!

You guys HAVE to know that I dont say, that in order to be a great taxidermist, you have to have a waiting list. Those of you who have met me in the many shows over the years have sat in my seminars and met quite a different person than you expected, huh? In the competition hall I have to, as a judge, evaluate the work according to the scoresheet Im given. Yet when Ive visited with countless numbers of you taxidermists, Ive always enjoyed looking at pics of your commercial work, havent I? Ive been a guest at many of your shops too. Doctor Death, you recall what I told you the first time you posted your nice canadian buck, and some guys were giving you the business about what you paid or who did the work for you? I came in and complimented your choice of taxidermist, Brian Dobson, didnt I. Thats how I do stuff.

Those of you who PM me privately about work, what do I always do? I dont peddle my wares here, do I, rather, I suggest a guy near you that I know. I always do. Thats just professional courtesy. When guys start harping on the return times in here, I do get a bit bent though. Sure, I hate having such a long return time. But I dont like the cheap shots Ive received in the past over them either. Bottom line, just like how all levels of work are desired based on how busy all taxidermists are...if I have such a long return time for all these years, somehow this must equate to me doing SOMETHING right for them to tolerate that wait. Heck, I know of over 40 taxidermists within even a one hour drive of me, and my customers come from further then that. I dont want to sound defensive, but heck, fair is fair! Im just thankful there are those out there who see something in my work that justifies that wait...for them! I would never try to lure a good guy like windwalker into my studio. Its obvious to me that he is pleased with what he is getting, at the price and time frame. One has to recognize what matches, and what doesnt. Why fight it? Thats the key, pleasing the customer. Windwalker would not be pleased in my studio, regardless of the accolades. So, that means HIS taxidermist is just as good, in his eyes... as it SHOULD be!

See, not all of us over-priced, slow taxidermists are evil! Im kidding there guys, its ok. We really can respect each others style and choice of how to run a studio. We all stay pretty busy. We all take some time each day to do what we care to, be it type words in here, or play after hours in the studio after the kids go to bed. Our choice, and as long as we have a happy family and happy customers, all is well! Lets not take cheap shots at one another based on buzz words that some might not understand in this industry!

What a goof I am. See, I catch these threads by the latest post first. Because of this, I didnt realize I had been addressed much earlier then what I replied to, if that makes any sense!

DD, you first. I KNOW you misread my post. Heres why. When I said the taxidermists often sit and laugh back and forth about the customers, I mentioned WHY. Their impatience and also the fact they couldnt tell the difference in work. The whole point I was making was simple, THE JOKE WAS REALLY ON US TAXIDERMISTS!!!! Thats why I said we thank our lucky stars that guys ARE that pasionate. It was SUPPOSED to poke fun...but not at you customers, the irony is its at us taxidermists. See now?

Also, windwalker posted two moose pics. I NEVER evaluate work in here, anyone who knows me knows I wont. There are very noticeable features/differences to me, and thats as far as Id ever say. But the point is, there are NOT, as far as windwalker sees it. Thats all that matters. Thats what a taxidermist works with everyday. I hear every day how PA taxidermists need to be tested. Guess what? They pass a test and move on, nobody grades their work out the door as it leaves, so tests mean little to the rest of us in the industry. Furthermore, living here in NY, I have plenty of PA customers...and Im 3 hours from the border. Last, the commonwealth of PA has a bill in the system as we speak to eliminate testing in PA. So much for that matter! Its like the whole concept of procuring a trophy, its something we are all proud of, and we all wanna tout "our" taxidermist and his methods as "best". Thats good, honestly!

I truly hope that, after reading my two posts, youll really trust that what Im saying is true, or at least, sincerely stated by me. If not, theres really no sense in me continuing here. By the way, guys, for those of you who posted your kind words towards me...thank you so much!

I think a lot of people see their mounts as they see their "cute" little babies....

Bill, I have never met you but your name is well respected for a reason, and I have always been in agreement when you post how some hunters will spend so much on a hunt and try to get their mount for $50 cheaper! I don't mind spending the money, and as for the time I like to get them back fast, and I rate that right behind quality of work, and before price. The quality of work should always be the #1 concern. Here are a few examples of recent mounts I have had done, they have been on here before but they are good examples.

Here is a sika deer from MD, he was done by my "sika taxidermist", a guy who lives in MD and does as many sikas as whitetails. He makes his own forms and is very familiar with the sikuine mannerisms and looks, and does the best sikas I've seen. I paid $400 for this one last year, and he had it done in 4 months (I killed it before the rifle season so I got a jump on everyone else!)




Here is my last whitetail mount, this was done by a guy in my area, who I think does an awesome job, even from inches away the glands and everything else look completely natural, he is well known and well respected in south jersey. This guy cost $450 and took almost exactly 1 year.