Taxidermy work delays

[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.

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

If that is what you are referring to then just come out and say it instead of beating around the bush. No, I've never had a taxi say that. The taxi you are referencing is taking the heat for the situation. That situation has absolutely nothing to do with other taxis who tell their customers upfront that they have a 1 to 2 year turn around.

Also, unless you have work that is overdue with the taxi that you reference you no bone in the issue and must only want to cause trouble. That's the only reason we had to lock those topics, some people just couldn't keep their nose out of the fray and allow the affected members to work it out.

[Skyvalhunter]

Come on Dale are you actually saying there are members that would do that just to stir the pot??

[gottatree]

 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..... 

I understand paying a deposit and I understand some customers don't always pay in full. With that being said why should I pay in advance or make payments for a product that is not completed? If a business has 18 months of work ahead of them they should be completing work on a weekly basis. This should be the source of his or her income not being paid for work that he or she has not completed or even started. I would love to expect my customers to make payments on a product that I have not yet started. When my customers sign my contract I ask for ten percent down then thirty percent when the job starts the remainder is due upon completion. completion to me equals when my customer signs off on the work.           

[jackmaster]

i know a taxi that my family has used for years, mineral taxidermy, the owner is jack paige, anyways, his deer head are so awesome i cant even explain, it looks like the day you killed it when you get it back, a couple of the taxis from this site know him and his work, he doesnt do rugs and full mounts anymore as he has been trying to retire for ions but does mainly heads now, when we take a head to him we have to have 50%down, and the rest when its done, we have never had to wait longer than 6 months, alot of time it is around 4 months, not to mention that jack knows more about blacktail than i ever hope to learn, i swear he is on first name basis with a few of the hog bucks runnin around his mountains if you guys ever get a chance to swing into his place and have a look at some of the most incredible blacktails and some of the sweetest head mounts a person can see i urge you to do so... when jack does decide to hang it up, there are a couple taxis from this site that i will be using.... i just hope i whack one more respectable blacky to have mounted before jack does decide to throw in the towel

[jrebel]

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..... 

I understand paying a deposit and I understand some customers don't always pay in full. With that being said why should I pay in advance or make payments for a product that is not completed? If a business has 18 months of work ahead of them they should be completing work on a weekly basis. This should be the source of his or her income not being paid for work that he or she has not completed or even started. I would love to expect my customers to make payments on a product that I have not yet started. When my customers sign my contract I ask for ten percent down then thirty percent when the job starts the remainder is due upon completion. completion to me equals when my customer signs off on the work.         

Let me try to explain this diplomatically...

1.  A small deposit gets you in line.

If you don't continue to pay you get put on the back burner...Why you may ask?

Well because most taxidermist work on small margins.  If you don't make payments while you are waiting the taxidermist has to use their own money to pay for tanning, shipping, materials, forms, etc. etc. etc.  Why should a taxidermist stick their necks out for a person that has not shown initiative with paying their bills. 

Most taxidermist offer different payment options.   1.  half now...half when I'm done (the half usually covers supplies...but not labor).   2.  Small down 10-25% to get you in line and then more as you can.  Trust me...they are not getting to you until you reach the 50% mark.  I personally don't think it is unreasonable to say pay as you can, but I am not working on your mount until you have payed 50-75% of the bill. 

I do agree that I will not pay in full until I see the final product.  I will however pay upwards of 75% prior to completion.  I stay in close communication with my taxidermist...if he needs money for materials, I pay then.   Again communication, communication, communication!!!!!

[Halo]

I believe in Wyoming it is the law the taxidermist has 365 days to get the job done. I have had a taxidermist in Rawlins do several mounts for me and always great work and in a timely manner. It was at least 50% up front and the balance on completion. He also gave a small discount for paying in full up front, and after getting to know him and his work I was completely comfortable with that. When I dropped off my bison a little over a year ago I found out he had sold out and was on his way out. I was a little nervous about it but went ahead and dropped it off with the new guy after being assured he did good work. I paid 50%+ up front and crossed my fingers. Latter there were a few red flags that had me nervous but in the end I got it back in just over 8 months and was very happy with his work.

[bullcanyon]

Jack Page at Mineral Lake Taxidermy does great work.  Not looking forward to his retirement.

[6x6in6]

I believe in Wyoming it is the law the taxidermist has 365 days to get the job done. I have had a taxidermist in Rawlins

It is 365 days unless it's negotiated and disclosed in a written agreement or contract.
I'd venture to guess that we had used same taxi since Rawlins is a small place. 

[Mr Mykiss]

I can't wait to take something to BuckLucky again...18 months was well worth it!!

[rasbo]

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 disagree, I will wait two yrs for one of the best,and Im glad he will take the work If he and his wife are busy,and I promise every client he has will say the same as I do...

[BKMFR]

After reading these posts I feel really fortunate.... My taxidermist for the last 10+ years is out of Montana, 3-4 month turnaround, he has won world competitions as well as many national titles. He does the majority of the work himself and remains small with one or two others helping with prep work. For me he has mounted 2 Mule deer over 200", 405" bull,  state record muzzle loader Ca. Bighorn at the time(don't know now) 173 5/8" a couple of Whitetail over 160", numerous bears and at least 3 cats. I have never seen better work, and I am very critical. Before him I went through a few. He's the kind of guy that you can pay in full and wait with confidence and be amazed at the work when you get it, again within 3-4 months and not "home tanned" and prices are not any higher than the lesser quality taxidermist that I have dealt with in the past.
PM me if you are seriously looking for someone.

[MtnMuley]

Turn around time is normally based on the quality and popularity of the taxidermist. Most good taxis I have dealt with have run anywhere from 1 to 2+ years because they have a loyal clientele and a good reputation. Good taxis simply tend to get the most business and they all have a backlog.

Exactly.  I've known going in that I might have a 2+ year wait, yet still wanted the quality of the work certain taxi's did, so that was no problem for me to wait.  I know a couple more taxi's that are very small in business and don't want much more, and they get things back over a couple months, and the work is phenomenal.  I've also waited 8 years for a piece to be done.  A lot of that time was on the taxi and a fair amount of that time was on me for changing things up as we went.  He was paid in full up front for several mounts, so I figure after some time went by, I feel he lost some interest in my work because the money was probably gone.  Was I upset, no.  On the other hand, if a taxi tells me they will have the work out by a certain time, they'd better try damn hard to get it done.  There's always things that pop up which warrant valid delays,  but some of these stories these days would get me really bent.  My best advice:  Do your RESEARCH, keep your RECEIPTS, and maintain good CONTACT with your taxi.

[gottatree]

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..... 

I understand paying a deposit and I understand some customers don't always pay in full. With that being said why should I pay in advance or make payments for a product that is not completed? If a business has 18 months of work ahead of them they should be completing work on a weekly basis. This should be the source of his or her income not being paid for work that he or she has not completed or even started. I would love to expect my customers to make payments on a product that I have not yet started. When my customers sign my contract I ask for ten percent down then thirty percent when the job starts the remainder is due upon completion. completion to me equals when my customer signs off on the work.         

Let me try to explain this diplomatically...

1.  A small deposit gets you in line.

If you don't continue to pay you get put on the back burner...Why you may ask?

Well because most taxidermist work on small margins.  If you don't make payments while you are waiting the taxidermist has to use their own money to pay for tanning, shipping, materials, forms, etc. etc. etc.  Why should a taxidermist stick their necks out for a person that has not shown initiative with paying their bills. 

Most taxidermist offer different payment options.   1.  half now...half when I'm done (the half usually covers supplies...but not labor).   2.  Small down 10-25% to get you in line and then more as you can.  Trust me...they are not getting to you until you reach the 50% mark.  I personally don't think it is unreasonable to say pay as you can, but I am not working on your mount until you have payed 50-75% of the bill. 

I do agree that I will not pay in full until I see the final product.  I will however pay upwards of 75% prior to completion.  I stay in close communication with my taxidermist...if he needs money for materials, I pay then.   Again communication, communication, communication!!!!


I have no problem paying a deposit until it exceeds 50%. What is the motivation to finish my project in a timely fashion? I have used the same taxi for 20 plus years. I know going in that he is going to take 18-24 months. If any business can not afford the cost of doing business such as paying for materials, labor or anything else that may come up. That business needs to look at raising prices or lowering overhead. To many business today are extended out to far and are robing Peter to pay Paul. The business owner decided on his or her own career path and his or her financial problems are not mine. I would not pay 75% upfront for anything and I would not expect my customers to pay that much up front.

[GUscottie]

I have to admit I read all of these comments about people waiting for long times for different animals and I'm confused by some and understand others. Having met Bucklucky and observed his shop and the quality of work first hand, I'd wait on a OIL animal with him to get it done right. I understand that he also had (maybe still does) have a tannery that takes a little longer than some, but I also know that you will get back everything and more than you expect from Bucklucky.

On to my personal taxidermist, he's outta Shell Wyoming. I shot my bear August 1st, had the bear into him by 15 September and it was done by New Year's Day. He told me this was the exception not the norm since the bear somehow got put to the front of the line when shipped to one of the Carolinas for his tannery. My deer was shot on the 20th of October and was done about a week ago. I'm going to pick them up in 3 weeks (Shell is 850 miles from here).

As has been said many times by many different people; taxidermists vary greatly on turn-around, quality and the amount of work they do on their own. I agree one must do their research. My guy has been doing mounting since the 70's, first in South Dakota and now in Shell Wyoming. He exceeds my expectations with his work. He has also told me that his work will be done in about 8 months, plus or minus. My first deer was right at 7 months. My taxidermist also uses a tannery in one of the Carolina's for bear and then either a Montana or Colorado Tannery for his deer, elk, etc mounts.