Who, what where why and how!
 

Ok, heres a question for you guys in here. A couple questions, actually. Who are you all? Where are you from, what do you do, what are your occupations, and what do you like besides taxidermy. If you do taxidermy, what do you like, do you specialize, how did you get started, and what do you aspire to do in the field? Think of this a a friendly way to be nosey and to get to know one another. Feel free to use first and last names instead of just screen names, if youre comfortable. Age, family details, anything else you wanna add is certainly welcome. Lets try to account for as many of us as possible.

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

Alex Peres Ben Hezronage 57

Greek/Hebrew
Speak Hebrew , greek Spanish, English, French and Farsi
Some Italian.
belief Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah.

Lived 6 months out the year in Israel.

Own A taxidermy shop in Miami Fla.
Being doing taxidermy since age 12.

Veteran of the 6th day war in 1967 in Israel

Vietnam for the uS in 1971.
Study Medicine 5 years in Spain/ University of Miami.

degree in chemistry.
Degree in Theology.

Pastor 2 Churches, One gentile and one Jewish Christian.

Hunted Africa, Argentina, Most of The US, Russia, Canada BC.

Hobbies Painting Oils, Bow Making, Fishing and enjoying grandkids.

What About You , Next !

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

Adam Ross. Age 23. Started taxidermy at age twelve. My shop is located in west central Alabama. I currently take in 100-150 shoulder mounts, as well as 50-100 ducks, and numerous small game mounts each year. I enjoy working on any animal, but am especially partial to whitetails and predators.I would like to start competing in taxidermy competitions, soon. I hunt anything and everything that moves. Last year, I hunted Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas, Illinois, Idaho, and Alabama, of course. I definitely hunt more than I should considering the business that I'm in. I am an avid supporter of the QDMA and love managing, and working with whitetails. I mainly bowhunt, but also enjoy shooting long range rifles. I have harvested several deer at over 400 yds and took one last year at 537 yds. I've been filming hunts religiously for 7 years, and recently signed as video pro staff for Xtreme Outdoors. I'm very excited about the possibilites this could open up. I'm currently single and plan to stay that way. As far as my aspirations in the taxidermy industry, I want to be the best. I wantto be the next Bill Yox.;)

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

Hi let me introduce my self, my name is RICHARD G. SANTOMAURO 60 years young and I have been in the taxidermy business for over 35 years. I own a full service taxidermy studio located in Wall, New Jersey. I started doing taxidermy on a part time basis, but that only lasted one year, from that day till now I have been improving my skills with competition, seminars, and classes at Piedmont collage. I also try to keep up on the newest products and services offered.
At the present time I post on four sites on the Internet with questions and answers and photos to help customers become aware of what things should look like. Some of my high-end customers have been Ralph Lauren stores in Manhattan New York and Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills California, Saks Fifth Ave in Manhattan and Paramount Pictures studio working out of Manhattan New York. I also work for thousands of regular guys and gals doing their trophies that they take all over the world. In my shop I try to have as fast a turnaround time as possibly to keep my customers happy. I am a member of the National Taxidermy Association, Garden State Taxidermy association, NRA just to name a few. I have also taught classes on taxidermy in the 80's out of my taxidermy shop.
Awards I have won in taxidermy competition:
1987 Mammal 1st place New Jersey taxidermy association – Bobcat with a turkey
1987 Deer 1st place New Jersey taxidermy association – Shoulder mount whitetail deer
1987 Duck 1st place Middletown wildfowl competition – Canvasback drake
1988 Game bird 1st place New Jersey taxidermy association – Pair of gamble quail
1988 Deer 2nd place New Jersey taxidermy association - Shoulder mount whitetail deer
1988 Game bird 2nd place New Jersey taxidermy association – Ring neck pheasant
1988 Small mammal 3rd place New Jersey taxidermy association – Sleeping red fox
I love my job and I believe the taxidermy work that I do should show that. My specialties are Waterfowl and Bird Taxidermy, Deer Taxidermy, Life-size Mammals and African Taxidermy but I do the full line of work necessary to keep the customer happy and coming back with friends.
Stop in or call and I will be happy to spend time with you explaining what should be done before the hunt or fishing trip whether local or out side of the USA borders. I am usually working in my shop 5-7 days a week and if I’m not there, call me and leave a message and I will return your call as soon as I return.

Thank you
Rich

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

Hi Bill
I live in Bergen NY I think I have driven by your place a few times are you on redman rd?
I am a instrument Tech for a local pharmaceutical company.
I am not a taxidermist but I do like having my success stories on my wall.
I love Deer huntingwith abow but do carry a gun to.
I love to fish we live around so much world class fishing Lake erie smallies and walleyes, ontario trout and salmon, 1000 island musky and pike. There are a million places to fish in the NY area.
I am 43 with a great wife and a 5 year old who loves to fish, go turkey hunting with me, helps with food plots and he shoots a bow pretty darn goodto.
In the past mountin man in kendall has done some pretty darn good work for me but I would not mind stopping buy to see your place some time. I know your busy but if there was a good time of the year to drop buy and see your work that would be great. I have heard you are oneof the best it would be fun to see that quality of work. You did a turkey for a friend a long time ago and it still looks very good it is a full mountin a flying wings open position.

Gene

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

Greg Waite - Visions of Nature Taxidermy, Lexington, NC. I work full time as a graphic artist for a sign shop,and have been in the sign industry for 14 yrs. I got into taxidermy by accident, my stepson caught a 7 lb bass in our pond, well called every taxi in the business and by the time I was done I was so mad I figured I could learn it. Found a community college and a few years later, here we are. I hate fish, can't stand fish, can't stand the smell, can't get the smell off me. Did I mention that I don't like doing fish? I do a few for friends but that's it. I love fur and feathers. According to our state ass pres. I will be on the board come August.

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

Mike Magis, age 30. Live outside Cambridge, Ohio on the family farm with my fiance and 4 dogs (10 if you include the pups :D). Been doing taxidermy for about 6 or 7 years as a hobby. I take in just enough deer from friends and family to keep me busy during the winter. I also work on other mammals whenever time allows. I design thermoformed returnable packaging for a living, which takes up too much time. Ineed to limit how much work I take in, butwould liketo concentrate on only higher end work. My goal would be to get to where I can competein the Worlds on a regular basis. Spring time hobbies are primarily crappie/saugeye fishing. I spend most summer weekends fishing for trophy flatheads. Fall and winter is all bowhunting whitetails. What little time I have after all this is spent working on the farm or house.
While I work on mostly mammals, I'm getting increasingly interested in other areas of taxidermy. I think birds and fish can be some of themost attractivepieces, though I've not yet ventured too far into those. Molding and casting is something that really interests me, as does customizing/creating forms.

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

Wow, this is sure shaping up to be a fun post! Its very interesting to see what we learn about each other. I feel we are all successful as viewed by our peers. I like Adam's aspirations, lol. Gene, feel free to give me a phone call first, before dropping by, but youre always welcome! Ok, who is next? Lets keep them coming.

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

I'm Chuck O'Neal. Age 41, live in SW PA.I work in a factory as a press assistant. I'm not a taxidermist, but I've mounted a few deer, pheasants, squirrels. I have several mounts on the wall, done by several taxidermists. When I was about 15 I mounted a bunch of weird stuff. Mounted a crow, bat, shrews, mice, a cotton tail rabbit head. I wish I would have stayed with it back then.

My hobbies are hunting, bird feeding, feeding deer in the backyard,target shooting, and ATV riding.

I use to be heavy into fishing, trap shooting, indoorsmallbore target shooting, 3-D shootsand archery hunting, but not so much now.

It seems like lately, being on here, on this forum, has been my #1 thing to do.

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

Joe Bonadio, from Lodi, New Jersey 35 years of age. Law Enforcement Officer for almost 10 years, not a taxidermist at all, but like to watch how you guys do your art. Been hunting since I was 10 years of age, and I love it. My taxidermist is George Dante of WILDLIFE PRESERVATIONS, located in Totowa, NJ

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

Bowhuntercop,


Were you originally from SW PA?Knew a kid that grew up in the same hometown as me, that had your name.

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

Either of yins from Washington, Pa area? Sorry, Wershington.

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

I'm from Westmoreland Co. A little east of Wershington.

Grew up in Fayette Co.

Do most of my deer hunting in Greene Co.

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

Cameron McLain 25 years old from Nazareth, TX.

I am a carpenter, and help on the family farm/ranch whenever I can. (I know- I've heard ALL the "You're a carpenter from Nazareth?" jokes!!!!

I am trying to get into taxidermy so I appreciate everyones help on here so far!

In my spare time I like to hunt anything, and I really enjoy preparing for the hunting season (scouting, plots, buying gadgets!, etc...). I love hunting. This past weekend I tried fishing for the first time. I hated it. So that's not one of my hobbies!

I have been married for 1 year, and my wife is going to law school. In the years that we've dated/been married I have been successful in my attempt to convert her from the "sorority girl" lifestyle to now having her own gun and bow.



I also like romantic candlelight dinners and long walks on the beach.....
oh wait, wrong topic!!! :D:D:D:D:D:D


Glad to get to know more about you guys...

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

Joey Rott
Kansas
Age 23, and getting married in 24 days:D

Occupation:
Product Specialist for Garmin International

Education:
Bachelors in Network and Communications (completed)
Masters in Business Administration (completed)
Still working on my Masters in Project Management (6 classes left)

Taxidermy as a Hobby for 9 years
Specialize in Big Game Taxidermy
The main thing that aspired me is that I hunt a lot, and know that in the future I want a room full of mounts.Taxidermy saves me money and gives me a good sense of accomplishment. Plus it allows me to put the time into a mount for a mount that is quality done, the way that I want it.

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

I hear ya Windwalker. Killed my first buck in Greene County. Small world. Why is it everyone keeps talking about the deer pop going down up there? Everytime I go visit my parents I can't throw a dead cat out the window without hitting deer! We stop counting last year at 150, full daylight, 2pm. Darn things were standing on the side of the highway eating grass. I was going to go there last year and hunt but only heard negative.

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

Greene Co. is alot different than the northern part of the state. The population has dropped in Geene co. also. Took my daughter out for the first day last year and she didn't get her doe until 3:00 PM.. We saw few deer. Usually we see deer all day long and she usually has a tag on one by 9:00 AM.

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

I have a friend that says he has seen more bigger bucks but he never said anything about not seeing deer. Hell I can sit here in NC and not see deer and for alot less that the nonres PA license. WHere abouts in Greene Co do you hunt?

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

We still see deer, but not as many as a few years ago.My family and I are guilty of shooting too many deer. We'd fill every tag for years. We don't have anyone to blame but ourselves now.

We hunt around Ryerson State park and on a farm near there. Also hunt a state game land, don't know the number.


Here's a picture of a first day a few years ago. Ahhhh!The good old days.

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

I know that area well, used to camp out at Ryreson. I used to hunt near Jacktown, Greylick and Mount Morris. A few other areas but those come to mind.

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

A carpenter from Nazareth ? could you be......? naaaah ,just a coincidence,LOL

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

WindWalker, sorry not me I grew up here in New Jersey

RE: Who, what where why and how!
 

My name's Nina, I'm 15. I live in Pennsylvania, I'm a freshman in high school.

I have been doing taxidermy for two years now and started because I wanted to have my buck mounted and my dad told me we already had paid too many taxidermy fees, so I decided I would learn it myself and I'm glad I did. Now every cape is saved and I'm getting better each time with every mountI do. I went to my first competition/convention in March (The PA taxidermists convention) and placed a third with my deer in the junior amateur division, I also took a clay sculpture of a miniature deer I made and placed first with it, For that I got Best of category and it won me the 2006 Rising Star Award. :)

I hope to somewhere make a career out of taxidermy, or even just a side job. I know it isn't any way to become rich but it is a source of extra spending money and I enjoy it