Bucklucky hit the nail on the head. I started out teaching myself, then after about 4 years I attended a school in Montana that covered everything from taking care of the animal to the business end of it. Then I took one on one class in New York with a really great taxidermist Bill Yox. As a taxidermist you will constantly be learning. I attend competitions and take any training I can do.like he said taxidermy is an art you owe it to the customer to make sure you put out something something that they will be happy to look at the rest of there life.