how did you get started....

[bowhunter/taxidermest]

just wondering how some of the taxidermist out there got started, ill start about two years ago age of 14 i went to cali to meet up with my godmother cuase she is the head taxidermest down there at the san berdino museum or was, she has done a quite few of the birds there, she does only birds so i thought this is what i want to do for a living so i started young and hoped to improve over the next couple of years well i did just that and now i taught myself how to do big game and so on, just thought it would be a good topic kinda new actually 46 min new to this site. thanks would really like to hear about your experinces  

[Aneoakleaf]

just wondering how some of the taxidermist out there got started, ill start about two years ago age of 14 i went to cali to meet up with my godmother cuase she is the head taxidermest down there at the san berdino museum or was, she has done a quite few of the birds there, she does only birds so i thought this is what i want to do for a living so i started young and hoped to improve over the next couple of years well i did just that and now i taught myself how to do big game and so on, just thought it would be a good topic kinda new actually 46 min new to this site. thanks would really like to hear about your experinces  

:hello:Welcome to the site! That's an awesume way to find  what you like to do!

[bowhunter/taxidermest]

thanks i was reading up on the ladys board for my girlfriend and u seem to be quite the hunter i may be with the new generation but i like the old ways beter, of ladys enjoying the sport of hunting instead of turning there noses to it wait to go on that kitty too

[bow-n-head]

I went to a 2 month taxidermy course 16 years ago. I learned a lot, but I have learned a lot more on my own. You never forget what you learn in the school of hard knocks If you have any specific problems or questions I would be happy to try to answer anything I could.

[bowhunter/taxidermest]

sounds good im might be pm you pretty soon

[Aneoakleaf]

thanks i was reading up on the ladys board for my girlfriend and u seem to be quite the hunter i may be with the new generation but i like the old ways beter, of ladys enjoying the sport of hunting instead of turning there noses to it wait to go on that kitty too

Thanks Bow, I'm so glad to know that there ars generations of wemon hunters to follow in my foot steps. I'm writing a book of my adventures so the rest the girls will be encouraged to go hunting too!

[Michelle_Nelson]

I majored in taxidermy at the school of hard knocks.  Pretty much self taught with books and videos.  With a little bit of trial and error added in here and their.  Started doing taxidermy in 2000. 

[boneaddict]

Well, I love animals, and I have always loved the artistic ability of some folks to portray these animals and I am a science freak, so it all just kind of came together.  I started with birds and went from there.  ALL self taught through magazines, trial and error and fun.  Still in that process.  I suppose I have alot of mounts that aren't the best, but they are good enough for me, and if I hadn't done them myself I could never have afforded to do them.  I also suppose its just part of the process for me.  I like to flyfish, so I raise the birds for their feathers, tie the flys, then catch them.  Same with handloads.  I haven't quite mastered making arrows, but have been fun trying to make arrowheads.  Must be one of those personality flaws that I like to do alot of stuff myself.

[Gobble]

Well, I love animals, and I have always loved the artistic ability of some folks to portray these animals and I am a science freak, so it all just kind of came together.  I started with birds and went from there.  ALL self taught through magazines, trial and error and fun.  Still in that process.  I suppose I have alot of mounts that aren't the best, but they are good enough for me, and if I hadn't done them myself I could never have afforded to do them.  I also suppose its just part of the process for me.  I like to flyfish, so I raise the birds for their feathers, tie the flys, then catch them.  Same with handloads.  I haven't quite mastered making arrows, but have been fun trying to make arrowheads.  Must be one of those personality flaws that I like to do alot of stuff myself.

I'm with you on that bone  I've done bird mounts and will be mouting the small 4x4 I shot in Nov shortly. It will be good practice and keeps me going until next fall. With 3 kids and a fat mortgage I can' afford to pay to mount every animal so it will be fun and economical to mount them myself. I have a 700+ sq ft bonus room that I need to fill up with mounts. I feel the memory of the hunt is more important to me than the score on the antlers and seeing even the smaller bucks will revive the memories of past hunts.

[bucklucky]

Its something I wanted to do since I was in 2nd grade. I was always the kid that drew pictures of deer , elk , and moose when I was in school  . I didnt get much work done. In fact one of my teachers was walking around lecturing while I was supposed to be taking notes and I was drawing, he stopped dead in his tracks right behind me and was super quiet. He grabbed my drawing , picked it up and showed the class and told me to kkep drawing because some day that is what I'll be doing for a living. Well art is what I do for a living, He was probably one of 2 teachers I ever had thqat ever "Got" it 

   I learned the hard way, from another Taxidermist that took shortcuts . It wasnt long before I realised that there was way more to Taxidermy than what he was doing. Needless to say I had to relearn what I learned from him. It was a good experiance , and got my foot in the door. The thing is I knew that guy had it in him to do some really good work too.

   I wish I could go back and do it over and take classes from the elietest in the industry, learn from the best and you'll be the best. Theres so much to learn its not funny. I havent gotten into Birds or Fish because I want to go into it the "right way"  Nothing wrong with learning yourself, trust me . But I want to start without bad habits and too much trial and mainly error if you know what I mean. In the next couple years I may be heading over to see Rick Krane, one of the best fish Taxi's out there. Ive met and talked with him while he was Judging in Boise, This guy is one heck of an outstanding teacher. I look forward to hopefully learning from him. I may take some classes for birds from a guy in Walla Walla, not sure yet on that one though. I have to do a little more research.

 Anyway, I forgot to say I have been messing with taxidermy since about 1994 and started buying a Taxi liscense in97 , 98 and taking  a few things in for friends. This is my second year full time and it has not been easy. Just when you think you have the buisness aspect of it figured out I have to go back and rethink pricing and how I do things. I think I am finally getting there now, except for the fact my shop isnt finished yet 

[boneaddict]

at least you can get into yours.  You have an eye for the natural.  Thats a compliment!

[bowsandhose]

I was always the kid that drew pictures of deer , elk , and moose when I was in school  .

i thought you drew pictures like the fat kid in superbad 

[Elkstuffer]

I started messing with small game and birds in 1974 at the ripe ole age of 9. I learned some basic stuff thru mailorder instructions. After collage and working for Ford Motor Company for too many years I decided I was really missing something that brought me so much joy when I was younger. I decided that if I was going to do this for a living a charge people there hard earned money that I was going to do it right.

 So in 1999 and after a lot of research I decided on The Missoula School of Taxidermy located in Thompson Falls, MT. I was taught by then owner Steve Fundom who is now a sculptor for Rhinehart Taxidermy. Steve has many national and state awards to his credit. Like bow-n-head said, I've learned alot more on my own than I ever did in school. It takes alot of repetion to get good at anything and taxidermy is no exception.

After school I came home and started out of my garage and after my first yellow page add things really took off. Three years ago we bought 2 acers, built a new home and moved to the country. I've been building my new 2100 sq ft shop/showroom for 2 years now. I am not afraid to dive in and try new things so that's what I have done. I mount all N. American game, African, Exotics, birds and I love fish. Mainly reproductions.

Taxidermy can be tough to make a living at especially with part timers and do-it-yourselfers popping up all the time. Alot of people like to choose cheap over quality. I've been lucky and have a very supporting wife and my job has allowed me to stay home 3 days a week and watch my 3 year old. So this profession has definitely had it's perks.