wanting to learn taxidermy

[awallfishnhunt]

wanting to learn taxidermy. have done some small projects on my own and read some books and looked into some schools. any advise from you taxies out there.

[boneaddict]

I started with birds.   Little more manageable to learn some basics.  Also least expensive to experiment with.

[bow-n-head]

Fastest way to learn would be to take a taxidermy course. There are many out there. I live in Montana and took the Montana School of Taxidermy in Helena. 8 week course that covered lifesize, shoulder mounts, rugs, fish and birds, with a good touch on tanning.

[firecrotch]

  Yep Jeff Welch at Montana School of Taxidermy and Tanning will get you going. You will cover everything from birds, fish, tanning, habitat, lifesize and shoulder mounts if you want to take the full course.  Jeff is extremely knowledgeable and teach you things most taxidermists do not do for themselves.

[elkhunter1977]

I'd order some how to DVDs for beginners, like Rick Carter's whitetail shoulder mount A-Z... Or just about any DVD for a begginer.... No use dropping all that money on a school until you find out if your going to like it.... That way your only out $30 bucks instead of a few thousand...

[gasman]

Are there any schools in Western WA.?

[pjb3]

I learned off some old books from the 60's  (I'm OLD), of course things changed but you learn as you go along. U wont'/can't be professional right away, takes many years, if you have the talent
Still learning new things every year

I have tought some people how to do it, some good stories, some not so good

[BOWHUNTER45]

yeah its fun and all until you have to deal with the law ....I can show ya my last turkey I mounted FOR MYSELF ...I am getting better 

[pjb3]

yeah its fun and all until you have to deal with the law ....I can show ya my last turkey I mounted FOR MYSELF ...I am getting better 

Y the law? Besides waterfowl?

[hrd2fnd]

I found this site http://www.taxidermy.net/ to be a big help with trying to learn, some very helpful people on the forum willing to help out newbie's

[BOWHUNTER45]

all once you get good enough and people start running their mouth because you do not have a license things just kinda go bad ... Not that you need one doing your own stuff but it does not go over that easy ...just be sure you have a license if you are planning on doing stuff for other people ...Thats all I am warning you about 

[BOWHUNTER45]

I wish I had my 1st duck I mounted So I could show ya then and now 

[awallfishnhunt]

thanks for all the info guys

[bear hunter]

My first time mounting a bird didn't go that well. My brother and parents said it smelled bad in my room. I didn't smell anything.  I was talked in to taking down my flying mallard I mounted. I almost throw up. I didn't remove the brains and eyes. LOL I didn't know taxidermists used fake eyes.  I had to toss it in the trash. My buddy showed me how to flesh and degrease and some tips at his shop real fast and gave me the eyes,clay and stuff. I went home that night and put the pelt in the degeaser over night. The next day I wash off the degeaser and dry-ed off the feathers. In just about 2 hours I finished the barrows goldeneye mount. After it dry ed I mounted it to a piece of wood I found out duck hunting and added fake grass. So how do you like my 2ND attempt of mount a duck. I shoulder mounted this because the wings were hit hard but I like the look.

[Michelle_Nelson]

I didn't remove the brains and eyes.