Taxidermy work delays

[sirmissalot]

Sorry bearpaw but I get tired of the line " good taxidermist take longer". I have one of the best for big game and birds and they never take longer than 12 months. If a taxidermist has that long of wait then he/she needs to stop taking in business until he/she gets caught up. I have been around the taxidermist industry and have studied work so I do know good and bad work when I see it.

I agree completely. Obviously there are times where quick turn around times mean shotty work, but not always. There is a guy here in town that has a turn around time thats quite often only 2 or 3 months. He doesn't advertise because he gets enough business as it is, and turns away quite a bit of work. He does some of the best blacktail mounts around, but I've also seen some that don't look overly great... so I don't use him.

The taxi I use runs a good size shop in Wyoming, its not a hobby like many taxi's its his job and how he makes a living. Its a business and he runs it like one. Its him and one other taxidermist, as well as a highschool kid who comes in and helps after school and on weekends. They do world class work and its done within a year. I have several mounts done by him he they were done in about 8 months, and I can guarantee you won't see a better quality mount. Prices are higher than average, but you get what you pay for... especially in taxidermy.

[whacker1]

Also I wanted to add, this is the disclaimer I saw on the web-site of a specialist i ordered a barreled AR upper from some time ago. 

** My current lead-time on a complete upper is about 13 months.  Lead-time on a non-fluted barrel is about 6 months.  Fluting will add about 3 weeks to the lead-time on a barrel.**


I ordered from him because they came highly regarded from several in the coyote hunting community.  He limits phone calls to 2 1/2 hours 2 days per week to be in the office and take orders and deal with clients.  He also told me over the phone, don't bother sending e-mails for status update as I don't have time to respond to them.  He wants to remain a 1 man shop and this is still the case.  And I am waiting patiently and we are approaching the 13 month time frame.  I fully expect it to go over, but not by too long.  This is as simple as advance communication needs to be.  If you exceed the 13 months, then you communicate that it will be longer, but communicate that it will be a realistic longer and then try to deliver sooner than expected.  "under promise and over deliver" are the back bones of successful business models.

Amazon:  Shipping & handling will take 14 days under standard delivery - everything I have ordered from them shows up in 3-9 days. 

[seth30]

I have used 3 taxi's in my life.  Two of them from this forum and both did great jobs   I found about a local guy that does things quick and cheap, so I dropped of a coyote skull for a euro mount.  He turned it around in a month and I thought it was great.  Now the thing is yellow and looks like crap.  I will never go with the cheap and fast guy again.  In my experience the person with the reputation and wait time is worth it

[BOWHUNTER45]

Not sure how many understand what it takes to be Taxidermist but I know it takes a lot of hard work ..Skinning tanning and mounting ..Once a taxidermist gets established and their work is great they continue to grow ..This seems to be the biggest issue ..Just imagine having 50 bear - 150 deer and say 20 elk ...It may be to the taxi's best interest to think about hiring someone to help ..Just having someone around to skin and prep hides would be a huge benefit ...you either continue to grow or stay small ...from what I am gathering on the site I think I would stay small  I know we have some good taxi's on here and some of these threads are not doing them much good . I would recommend watching what you say because there has to be a better solution to the problem rather than continuing to make negative comments ...Business is a tough road these days no matter what it your doing .....

[inchtowntracking]

I have been waiting on a bear rug for three years and some change. I talked to him on year two and he remembered me so I just keep waiting. They guy does good work so I am not to worried. Instead of getting annoyed I am excited to get the call saying he is done.

[JPhelps]

I have one of the best for big game and birds and they never take longer than 12 months. If a taxidermist has that long of wait then he/she needs to stop taking in business until he/she gets caught up.

That doesn't make sense.  I purposely put myself in a 2+ year long line. Why?  I know the exact quality I'm going to get from Charlie in return.  I also had 10+ very close friends also take their trophies to him knowing exactly what they are getting into.

He went through a tough situation with a tannery. Can you imagine having your livelihood in someone else's hands and not having a lot of control. There is also the process of walking on egg shells while switching the tannery. You can't afford to make him mad and lose your clients hides.  You then have to find a QUALITY tannery to replace the one you were using and then you have the downtime for the switch. 

...I can't wait for the masterpiece to be finished!!!

Jason,
Please explain what doesn't make sense.

Just that I wanted to get into the line. I didn't care what the lead times are.  He layed them out there but it didn't really matter. I would have been mad if he had turned me away.  I just questioned you telling taxidermists what their lead time should be.

It's kind of like going to dinner at Olive Garden on the weekends. They tell me 45-60 minute wait. It's then on me to decide whether I'm going to wait or choose my second option. It's all about supply and demand.

[washingtonmuley]

I have one of the best for big game and birds and they never take longer than 12 months. If a taxidermist has that long of wait then he/she needs to stop taking in business until he/she gets caught up.

That doesn't make sense.  I purposely put myself in a 2+ year long line. Why?  I know the exact quality I'm going to get from Charlie in return.  I also had 10+ very close friends also take their trophies to him knowing exactly what they are getting into.

He went through a tough situation with a tannery. Can you imagine having your livelihood in someone else's hands and not having a lot of control. There is also the process of walking on egg shells while switching the tannery. You can't afford to make him mad and lose your clients hides.  You then have to find a QUALITY tannery to replace the one you were using and then you have the downtime for the switch. 

...I can't wait for the masterpiece to be finished!!!

Jason,
Please explain what doesn't make sense.

Just that I wanted to get into the line. I didn't care what the lead times are.  He layed them out there but it didn't really matter. I would have been mad if he had turned me away.  I just questioned you telling taxidermists what their lead time should be.

It's kind of like going to dinner at Olive Garden on the weekends. They tell me 45-60 minute wait. It's then on me to decide whether I'm going to wait or choose my second option. It's all about supply and demand.

[washingtonmuley]

Here is rest of my post:
You are correct that you have a choice. If I had a taxi that did great work and I was ok with a 2 year wait then so be it. I am tired of taxidermist  taking in work plus 50% deposit and turning work out 4-5 years later. This in my book is unacceptable!!!!!!!! Here is the kind of work I get back in 12 months.

[BOWHUNTER45]

awesome ...that wolf mount is unbelievable ...the only thing I can see wrong with it is they have a heck of a lot more teeth 

[bearpaw]

Sorry bearpaw but I get tired of the line " good taxidermist take longer". I have one of the best for big game and birds and they never take longer than 12 months. If a taxidermist has that long of wait then he/she needs to stop taking in business until he/she gets caught up. I have been around the taxidermist industry and have studied work so I do know good and bad work when I see it.

It sounds like you have a taxi that you are very pleased with, I am happy for you. I have provided thousands of trophies for mounting to many different taxis across several states over the last 35+ years. Several of these taxis are some of the most well know and most award winning taxidermists in their state, but by your standards none of them are any good. I'm sorry but I can't agree.

Most taxis tell the customer an approx. turn around time and most are pretty close to keeping that promise. Many times my clients leave their mounts with me to deliver to a taxi that I recommend. If a person doesn't want to wait for a taxi who has a 18 month turnaround I will leave their trophy with someone who has a 10-12 month turnaround. I have one very affordable big game taxi who finishes everything within 12 months every year, but he's not as good as some of the guys with 12 to 24 month turn around so I tell my clients that and let them decide on which taxi.

I'll give John and Allysa at Willow Creek a plug, they seem to finish mounts in a few months to a year at the most and do excellent work, but they only do birds. It seems that many big game taxis have longer turn around times.

[washingtonmuley]

Sorry bearpaw but I get tired of the line " good taxidermist take longer". I have one of the best for big game and birds and they never take longer than 12 months. If a taxidermist has that long of wait then he/she needs to stop taking in business until he/she gets caught up. I have been around the taxidermist industry and have studied work so I do know good and bad work when I see it.

It sounds like you have a taxi that you are very pleased with, I am happy for you. I have provided thousands of trophies for mounting to many different taxis across several states over the last 35+ years. Several of these taxis are some of the most well know and most award winning taxidermists in their state, but by your standards none of them are any good. I'm sorry but I can't agree.

Most taxis tell the customer an approx. turn around time and most are pretty close to keeping that promise. Many times my clients leave their mounts with me to deliver to a taxi that I recommend. If a person doesn't want to wait for a taxi who has a 18 month turnaround I will leave their trophy with someone who has a 10-12 month turnaround. I have one very affordable big game taxi who finishes everything within 12 months every year, but he's not as good as some of the guys with 12 to 24 month turn around so I tell my clients that and let them decide on which taxi.

I'll give John and Allysa at Willow Creek a plug, they seem to finish mounts in a few months to a year at the most and do excellent work, but they only do birds. It seems that many big game taxis have longer turn around times.

How many taxidermist tell you they have a turnaround time of 52 months?

[jrebel]

Here is my take....

The actual taxidermy (Mounting of the animal) does not take a ton time.  It is the entire process that most taxidermist don't have 100% control of, that takes time.  If the tannery is behind it will take longer.  If there 100 mounts in front of you it will take longer.  If there is an unforeseen family emergency or person injury, it will take time.  Ordering the forms / pedestals takes time......etc, etc, etc.

Usually taxidermist with good reputations have a large clientele and that will add time. 

I am not sure why so many people are in such a big hurry.  If the work is quality who cares if it takes 6 months or 2 years??? 

The problem really lies with when the taxidermist are not realistic with their turn around times.  If a taxidermist tells me they are 18 months out...I expect it to be done around the 18 month mark.  If something changes that I expect open communication.  After reading a few post on HW it is very apparent that communication is the majority of the problems with turn around time. 

Another point to make...I know a lot of people who drop off animals and pay a small deposit but never make any more payment.  Then they complain when their animal is put on the back burner.  Come on.....if you are not paying the mount will not get done.  I have seen finished mounts sit in my taxidermist shop for 6 months cause the hunter doesn't want or have the money to finalize payment.  This is unacceptable..... 

[washingtonmuley]

Wish I had more time to sit around and debate but it is time to train for elk season.

[bearpaw]

I think there is some misunderstanding about how business works for many taxis. When they receive trophies they prep the hides and send them to the tannery. This often takes 6 months. Some taxis do a quick tan themselves, this isn't necessarily the best quality of tan, but they have a quicker turn around time and more control when they do tanning "in house".

When taxis are completing mounts most turn them out in somewhat the order received. It's a supply and demand situation for the really good ones. They can only do so much work in a certain amount of time and so there is a backlog of mounts waiting to be worked on. If you want them to do your work you know they have a backlog and you agree to wait. If you don't want to wait or pay the often higher price, then you use a different taxi that's quicker and/or cheaper.

It's all personal choice, there's no need to flame any taxi unless they grossly fail to provide what they promised to their customer. 

[wildweeds]

I've got no problem waiting for a great end result.Instant gratification of getting something back quick will lead to disappointment some years down the line.