Questions for first elk mount

[Mark Youngblood]

I have a really good eastern Oregon tag this year and have high hopes of taking an elk suitable for the wall.  I live in Tacoma and have been checking out the threads on the different taxidermist in our area.

What is the average turn around time for a elk shoulder mount?  I understand the  good ones are "busy" but I personally cannot see any reason it should take over a year but it seems like allot of people wait 2 or more years for their mounts to be finished... just curious what your experiences are , pm's are welcome and will not be shared with anyone as well.


I do plan to get with the taxidermist I choose to get all their specific details for how they want the animal skinned and care of the trophy as well.
 
If you have any warnings or bad experiences to share please send PM.

Thanks,
mark

[vandeman17]

I have found that 9-12 months is about what I have come to expect unless it is some crazy mount you have.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Check out Michell Nelson. She is a mod on this site and lots of good reviews.

[Natures Way]

Check out our website and our post on here and right now we are around 9-12 months. congrats on bull tag.

[Mark Youngblood]

Check out our website and our post on here and right now we are around 9-12 months. congrats on bull tag.

Thank you I have been looking at your website and reviews.

[Mr Mykiss]

Did you really have to ask...BuckLucky!!

[PolarBear]

Did you really have to ask...BuckLucky!!

Charlie is the elk king imo.
If you are getting your mount back in less than a year or year and a half, there might be a reason and quality could reflect that. 

[Mark Youngblood]

Did you really have to ask...BuckLucky!!

Charlie is the elk king imo.
If you are getting your mount back in less than a year or year and a half, there might be a reason and quality could reflect that. 

I have not called him yet but see he comes highly recommended...do you know what his average delivery time is by chance?

[sirmissalot]

Mark, I would recommend Charlie for a local guy, he does amazing work that's for sure. Maybe he can chime in with his lead time. I will PM you another referral

[KNOPHISH]

High praise for site sponsor Cedar river taxidermy in Ravensdale. 

[Natures Way]

Hi, Mark all the site sponsors on here do a good job! The best thing to do is go to there shops speak with them in person get a feel for them and there shops and go from there.

[Mr Mykiss]

Mark, I would recommend Charlie for a local guy, he does amazing work that's for sure. Maybe he can chime in with his lead time. I will PM you another referral

I waited 1 year 8 months from Charlie and it was worth it. Also I believe that I hit him roughly in the middle of his tannery problems so I wouldn't be surprised if his turnaround time is less or will be less soon.
Unfortunatly for Charlie my bull was:
My first elk.
My first bull.
The first animal that I got mounted.
Worst thing was that I made the mistake of sending the antlers with him so I didn't have them at home to play with.
All of that made for a pain-in-the-a$$ customer...not angry, just bothersome...
Sorry Charlie 
I would take another bull to you in a heartbeat and I recommend that anyone else who wants the mount of a lifetime (which big bulls usually are) to......................     TAKE EM TO CHARLIE!!!

[quadcrazy69]

Did you really have to ask...BuckLucky!!

Charlie is the elk king imo.
If you are getting your mount back in less than a year or year and a half, there might be a reason and quality could reflect that. 

I have not called him yet but see he comes highly recommended...do you know what his average delivery time is by chance?

Last time I called about doing my bull he said he was booked out two years.

[quadcrazy69]

I have a record book bull at a taxidermist's in the Wenatchee area and he's had it for over two years. He won't answer the phone and won't return my calls. I showed up on his door step last weekend and told him I wanted my horns and hide back and he said "nope, you're not taking them". My next trip over to see him will be with a Sherriff in tow.

He requested a large down payment when I dropped it off because he didn't want to get screwed if I decided not to proceed. Now who's getting screwed.

Lesson learned; make sure you get receipt's and be careful who you leave your trophy's with.

[jrebel]

I have a record book bull at a taxidermist's in the Wenatchee area and he's had it for over two years. He won't answer the phone and won't return my calls. I showed up on his door step last weekend and told him I wanted my horns and hide back and he said "nope, you're not taking them". My next trip over to see him will be with a Sherriff in tow.

He requested a large down payment when I dropped it off because he didn't want to get screwed if I decided not to proceed. Now who's getting screwed.

Lesson learned; make sure you get receipt's and be careful who you leave your trophy's with.

Which one is it??

[quadcrazy69]

Not Tubbs.

[trophyhunt]

I have a record book bull at a taxidermist's in the Wenatchee area and he's had it for over two years. He won't answer the phone and won't return my calls. I showed up on his door step last weekend and told him I wanted my horns and hide back and he said "nope, you're not taking them". My next trip over to see him will be with a Sherriff in tow.

He requested a large down payment when I dropped it off because he didn't want to get screwed if I decided not to proceed. Now who's getting screwed.

Lesson learned; make sure you get receipt's and be careful who you leave your trophy's with.

i would never leave antlers of that size w any taxidermist until they are ready.

[quadcrazy69]

Me either. I had the antlers for a year and gave them to the taxidermist when he said he was ready.

[washingtonmuley]

Did you really have to ask...BuckLucky!!

Charlie is the elk king imo.
If you are getting your mount back in less than a year or year and a half, there might be a reason and quality could reflect that. 

Not all quality taxidermist take 2+ years to complete your mount.

[jrebel]

Not Tubbs.

There are three or four in the area I known of.  Pm me who if you don't mind.  I use one on a regular basis and get quality work in a reasonable time frame. 

[bucklucky]

From the pictures I have seen I would highly recommend Natures Way Taxidermy.  Im in a catch up stage right now and trying not to take  much work in  This year. Thanks for the props anyways  guys    Just keeping slots open mainly to current customers  or people that insist in bringing something to me. 

[quadcrazy69]

Not Tubbs.

There are three or four in the area I known of.  Pm me who if you don't mind.  I use one on a regular basis and get quality work in a reasonable time frame.

If you have one that you use and trust, keep using him. As long as this guy still has my stuff I'm not going to say who it is.

[jrebel]

Not Tubbs.

There are three or four in the area I known of.  Pm me who if you don't mind.  I use one on a regular basis and get quality work in a reasonable time frame.

If you have one that you use and trust, keep using him. As long as this guy still has my stuff I'm not going to say who it is.

I understand....I just don't want to see another hunter have the same problems.  I have no problem endorsing my guy as he does great work.  Jeff Reeves (Tru to Life Taxidermy) in East Wenatchee north end of baker flats. 

If you get your stuff back you should give him a shout. 

[gasman]

Personally, Charley is the man. #1 in my book. every thing he does is a work of art.

 



BUT, knowing how busy and how much work he has, I would consider taking my smaller stuff to Natures Way (kind of a test trial I would say).
I have never used them, but have seen and heard good things from and about them on this site.

[quadcrazy69]

Not Tubbs.

There are three or four in the area I known of.  Pm me who if you don't mind.  I use one on a regular basis and get quality work in a reasonable time frame.

If you have one that you use and trust, keep using him. As long as this guy still has my stuff I'm not going to say who it is.

I understand....I just don't want to see another hunter have the same problems.  I have no problem endorsing my guy as he does great work.  Jeff Reeves (Tru to Life Taxidermy) in East Wenatchee north end of baker flats. 

If you get your stuff back you should give him a shout.

It's not Jeff Reeves either.

[Natures Way]

Thanks Charlie for the compliments and confidence in our work. If anyone has a trophy that they are considering mounting take the time to go to the shops are speak with them in person.  Thanks for the considerations in having us mount the little ones they are sometimes more difficult to get the expression and composition but we are up to the ability and the challenge.

[huntnnw]

Check out our website and our post on here and right now we are around 9-12 months. congrats on bull tag.

 

[quadcrazy69]

Not Tubbs.

There are three or four in the area I known of.  Pm me who if you don't mind.  I use one on a regular basis and get quality work in a reasonable time frame.

If you have one that you use and trust, keep using him. As long as this guy still has my stuff I'm not going to say who it is.

I understand....I just don't want to see another hunter have the same problems.  I have no problem endorsing my guy as he does great work.  Jeff Reeves (Tru to Life Taxidermy) in East Wenatchee north end of baker flats. 

If you get your stuff back you should give him a shout.

It's not Jeff Reeves either.

OK I finally got my bull back yesterday after 2 years and 3 months. After all that time, I had given him very specific instructions on how I wanted it done and he didn't do it the way I asked, so now it won't go on the wall it's supposed to go on.

You want to avoid this taxidermist (Wildlife Creations in Malaga, WA) at all cost as he doesn't give a crap about his business or his customers and he's a compulsive lier. Anyone who treats their customers that way shouldn't be in business and he certainly won't get any more of mine.

[Pilot_Hunter]

Wow that taxi is an idiot!

[mikelonsford]

I'd recommend Mike White at Nature's Way.  Good guy who cares about what he is doing and it shows.in his work.  Definitely an artist and a very good one.  Good pricing, good turn around time and Great work.  I wish he'd finish up his bull and put it on here.  When I get a real monster I'll be back.

Mike

[huntnphool]

If you can talk Charlie into it I'd go there.

[Mr Mykiss]

Was there ever a BBD??

[wastickslinger]

Not Tubbs.

There are three or four in the area I known of.  Pm me who if you don't mind.  I use one on a regular basis and get quality work in a reasonable time frame.

If you have one that you use and trust, keep using him. As long as this guy still has my stuff I'm not going to say who it is.

I understand....I just don't want to see another hunter have the same problems.  I have no problem endorsing my guy as he does great work.  Jeff Reeves (Tru to Life Taxidermy) in East Wenatchee north end of baker flats. 

If you get your stuff back you should give him a shout.

It's not Jeff Reeves either.

OK I finally got my bull back yesterday after 2 years and 3 months. After all that time, I had given him very specific instructions on how I wanted it done and he didn't do it the way I asked, so now it won't go on the wall it's supposed to go on.

You want to avoid this taxidermist (Wildlife Creations in Malaga, WA) at all cost as he doesn't give a crap about his business or his customers and he's a compulsive lier. Anyone who treats their customers that way shouldn't be in business and he certainly won't get any more of mine.

Shocking to hear this. That is not the treatment that friends and I have had with him.

[n_mathews13]

You want to avoid this taxidermist (Wildlife Creations in Malaga, WA) at all cost as he doesn't give a crap about his business or his customers and he's a compulsive lier. Anyone who treats their customers that way shouldn't be in business and he certainly won't get any more of mine.
[/quote]


It's not same taxidermy ( wildlife creations) in Coeur D'Alane?

[Torrent50]

While you are shopping around, give Joel at BlackRiver Taxidermy a look. 

[PolarBear]

Folks, this is a post from September 2013.  My guess is that he already has it figured out.   

[n_mathews13]

I asked because I just heard about Wildlife creations in CDA. This post is what I found when I looked him up on forum. Wanted to know if it was same business different location? Just wondered

[Timberstalker]

Folks, this is a post from September 2013.  My guess is that he already has it figured out.   

Not necessarily!  Depends what taxi was selected!  Some take up to 5 years!

[Jpmiller]

Yeah I saw Michelle nelson mentioned on the first page...

[Torrent50]

Well crap.  I'm supposed to check the dates on these things too?