First heads of career out the door
 

These are the 3rd through 7thheads I've ever done.I am a 20 year old college student majoring in Wildlife Management at UW-SP and have aways loved taxidermy and watching my uncle. Last year he told me if I shoot a buck that I could come and mount it while he taught me. I shot two bucks last year and they turned out great. I've always wanted to be a taxidermist so i bought all my own equipment in august and got started on my buddy's buck from 05 that we got a cape for (I suprised my uncle by showing up at his shop with the head unpainted and he was confused as heck cuz i never told him I got my own stuff. He was then thrilled once he figured it out. I thank him for the lessons). I then got my state license and opened my buisiness during this years season and have gotten 9 heads to do including my bow kill from word of mouth basically. I also have some pelts to do, full body fox and fisher as well which should be interesting getting them started in the next couple weeks. This spring I plan on having a booth at a couple of sports shows in the area to get the 09 season going. So here it is finished them today my 3rd through 7th mount (in order of pics) I've ever done and my first 4 sales (the second one is my bow kill from Nov). All four guys loved their deer!!

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

I'm no pro but i think they are all very nice

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

Very nice.

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

Nice. But do yourself a favor, get some good reference and use it. Your eyes aren't the correct shape but a very clean mount nonetheless.

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

nice

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

Please enlighten me onthe correct eye shapethen cuz mine look very similar to these photos and not so much likemost of thenon agressive onesin your gallery. I know there is things I need to work on and I had this on taxidermy.net and the only negative comment about eye was that they looked dull and that was because I forgot to use glass cleaner on them before I took the pics. I'm just trying to help understand what you think is wrong with them cuz I dont see it. WCL

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

very nice work

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

WOW man. Great work. I'm not a Taxi or anything, but I like to stop in here and check out the work sometimes. Yours is definitely some of the best I have seen.

I even checked your location with my fingers crossed hoping you were somewhere in Illinois...I was interested in bringing some stuff to you, lol.

And by the way, like I said I'm not a Taxi and don't have experience with this stuff, but I think the eyes look GREAT.Nice!

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

Bingo! Very first thing I noticed. Take a look at all of the straight on photos you posted of your mounts. Notice anything? The eyes popped right out at me. With that being said, if these really are your first seven mounts then you are going to be a very talented artist. Great job.

Don't take what nctaxi said to offense. He's just trying to help you out.

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

Look great to me... I would be a satisfied customer...
Nice job.

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

Please what I take as a helpful hint not as critical. If you will notice in the side picture of the deer, the eyes are more smooth and rounded not quite so square and hard edge. The eye is actually rounded on the back "corner". The eyelashes usually cover the eye at around a 45 degree angle. As others and myself have said, for your seventh mount you are well on your way.

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

I see now. Thanks.......

2 Lunger yeah they really are my first 7 mounts. Hereare the first two I did. The first one my uncle coached me on and helped show me what to do getting me started on areas and then tellin me what to change after i did it and then watched him dowhateverdeer he was doing at the same time so I knew what to do. The second one I did on my own only with him telling me when something didnt look right and reminding me of steps when In forgot.

Englum 06 thanks and wish I could take your work too. I have 6 more to go now and the fox and fisher and have two expos in march so hopefully next season I'll have a good number to keep get myself rollin.

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

You def. are on the right road. Better than most "beginners". You must have some artistic talents. If you have any questions, please let me know. Remember, from here on out, everything is just a bigger or smaller deer. I just took in a buffalo, 2 elk and a few deer. The buffalo is just a big black deer. A little different in a few areas but with good reference, just another big deer. Good luck and keep posting your work.

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

Haha yeah I'm a very artistic person and very anal about things like that. Yeah when I did the first couple at my uncles shop i think he was gettin impaitent with how long i was taking cuz I wanted them to look perfect, haha. Took about 20-25hrs a piece with tanning but now im more comfortable and getting fast with every mount so down to around 13-14 hrs each including tanning. Mygf gets annoyed with my pickyness alotexcept when it comes to workin on mounts then she loves it. Yeah I cant wait to get some other heads to do. should hopefully have some elk to do this year if me or guys I know do good so we'll see. Thats what my uncle said too when I asked him about doin the fisher just said its no different than doin a deer just species looks and form prep. Can't wait to get workin on that and the fox. I'll post em when I do. thanks. WCL

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

you do a really nice job. those are great looking mounts

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

I think your work looks great. Wish you success with your taxi shop.
MM;)

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

Very nice mounts ! You do have good attention to detail. You are well on your way now.
What does a shoulder mount go for in your shop ? Moose

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

Thanks. Well this year I did em really cheap cuz I needed the practice and to let some people know that I was starting to do them for people. For 2009 I'll prolly be around $400. Still cheap but figured a good price for my second year, I dunno. WCL

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

Keep up the great work. Hopefully it will be a lifelong hobby.

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

I have seen alot of taxidermy work, I cant drive by a taxidermist shop without stopping and checking out the work. I have seen alot of bad work but yours is definetly very good and most importantly very life like. Good job, you are very talented and if you were in Texas you would be getting my work.

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

Thanks Bobcat. Justput 3 moreon formsthis weekend and a fisher (my first full body) and have one headto do wed. I'll get some pics posted tom or maybe wed. O the one buck is a Net typ 12pt 182"s that I remounted.

gsp- Workin on makin it my main career so we'll see. Got a couple shows in march to attend and hopefully 09 will be keep me busy. WCL

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

Very nice wish I would have seen this a month ago, That fisher sounds interesting, I have 2 in my woods (Fremont Wi.) and have a trap out. I got a mink yesterday and it is worthless, buyer says minks cannot be given away.
Maybe if I get a fisher (yes I have tag)?
Redclub

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

Yeah I'll post some pics in a bit of the fisher. I think the warden will be visiting me tonight as well to make sure the fisher is legal (mount is tagged). My best friend (who got the fisher and traps with me), well his buddy who trapped with us a lil bit this year got a fisher in a coon set and didnt call thewardento come get it on an accidental catch and we thought he did. Well last night I guess the warden paid him a visit and he was busted, he had it in his freezer. We thought he gave it to the dnr but apparently not. All I can say is what an idiot. Havent heard what is going to happen to him. O he is alsoin the law enforcementacademy right nowso I havent heard nor do we know if he is going to get kicked outta the academy yet so we'll see. WCL

RE: First heads of career out the door
 

I think the basic shape is pretty good, but you need a little heavier upper brow for the age of those deer and the eyes are just a bit too far wide open for my taste, but your customers will be very happy I believe.
I like them.