What is the best way to care for my animal before I can get it to you?
It is always best if you can get it frozen solid right away in a couple plastic bags. If you don't have access to a freezer, it is crucial to keep it as cold and dry as possible and get it to me ASAP. Bacteria builds up on the skin rapidly with mild warmth and dampness and will lead to the hair slipping off in patches. If you need to bring an animal back from a trip, it is okay to put it in a cooler with ice for the drive. Just make sure to keep it up out of the ice melt. A wet cape will speed up bacteria growth. Fish can be wrapped in a damp towel before being placed in the bags to help protect the fins and prevent freezer burn.
What is your turnaround time on mounts?
We offer high quality work at extremely fair, affordable prices compared to others in the area. And we've been an established business building our customer clientele for almost 30 years. This results in lots of customers every year wanting to have us do their mounts. I am not slow, I'm just always packed with mount requests! I make sure each mount gets the time it needs and deserves rather then rushing through it to get to the next one. Because of this, on most years I average 12-18 months turnaround time. During the covid years, (when supply companies and my professional tannery were backed up plus lots of people got back into hunting and fishing) that time got out to as far as 24+ months! As long as we don't encounter some new "world trauma", I'm estimating that this year will be back in the 14-16 month range! There's a saying in the taxidermy world:
You can get it fast and cheap but it won't be good.
You can get it fast and good but it will cost you an arm and a leg.
Or you can get high quality work that is reasonably priced but it will take some time waiting in their line! Choice is yours!
Do I have to pay for my mount when I drop it off?
No, you don't have to pay the full price at drop-off, just a deposit. The paperwork you receive will say "50% deposit required before work can begin" but we can work out a different payment arrangement if needed.
Do you do other things not listed in the pricing such as Euro mounts, Missouri mounts, feather art, etc.?
Yes, we do all of those plus other things like antler mounts, deer hoof gun racks, etc. Feel free to contact us with what you have in mind!
Do you mount pets?
No, I did it for awhile but the atmosphere is much more enjoyable when someone brings in their big buck or bass they are super excited to get rather than their best friend of the last 10+ years.
I found a dead animal, can you mount it for me?
Yes and no. Before you move a dead animal you find, you are required to get a salvage permit from your sheriff's office or a conservation officer. If you bring this permit and the animal is still in good condition I can mount it for you. If it is a raptor (hawk, owl, eagle, etc.) you can pay for the taxidermy work but it is required to go to an approved educational facility.
What is the weirdest thing you've ever mounted?
In almost 30 years, I've mounted tons of different things but I'd have to say that one of the weirdest was a pet cow that was born with multiple birth defects but still lived to adulthood! I also mounted a 6 foot long rattlesnake once!
What is the hardest thing to mount?
Full strut turkeys! Talk about OCD tweezer work for weeks while waiting for caulk to dry! It is literally like watching caulk dry! It could be deemed cruel and unusual. I'd explain it more but the tediousness would bore you!
What is your favorite thing to mount?
I've always considered myself to be a "bird nerd"! Waterfowl have always been one of my favorite things to mount due to their wide variety in species, colors, posing, etc.!
How do you have mounts in homes all across the country?
Back when I was a part time taxidermist, I also worked as a hunting guide for 14 years. This introduced me to 100's of hunters all around the country and a lot of them began bringing their mounts to me each year when they came for their next hunt. This still continues to this day! I also produced a hunting and fishing TV show for 8 years during this time filming hunts around the country and gained a lot of out of state friends and did taxidermy work for them. When I switched to being a full time taxidermist and started having grandkids, I no longer had time to dedicate to guiding and filming the show!
I couldn't find my buck for several days and now the cape is ruined. Can you get spare capes to mount it with?
Yes, this request actually happens more often than you would think. I try to have some spare capes on hand if available just in case this happens to someone. I even sometimes offer a discount on Euro mounts depending on the size of the cape and if the customer has properly cared for the cape. We can also order capes online to meet a certain size and coloration as best as possible. Capes generally range from $75-250 depending on the size and raw/tanned condition.
Why do you prefer appointments for drop-offs and pickups?
Although Amy is involved with certain aspects of our business, I am the only one working in the shop every day. I would hate to miss someone on their way if I have to run to the store for supplies or lunch. I also can't hear if someone comes in when I'm in the back room operating the loud tools and fleshing machine. Although we do have good security systems, I don't want to leave the front showroom unlocked when I can't hear or see if someone has come in. You can feel free to stop by chance but a "heads up" that you will be coming in at a rough timeframe is preferred!