Taxidermy Collection Upon Retirement

[rodell]

Unfortunately, I'm faced with what to do with my modest collection in the not too distant future. My son has no interest, although he has a couple of his own.

I'll likely be moving soon and the collection isn't going to fit in any reasonable way. I have about 12 shoulder mounts, including one very big elk. I have only one full mount, a Himalayan Tahr on a rock base.

Have any of you contemplated this scenario? What are your thoughts/ideas?

(I'll still be hunting and fishing, but for the freezer.)

[full choke]

I would say to sell them or donate to some organization or lodge who could display them.

[Mulie87]

My wife’s uncle has a collection that We’re wondering what to do with when the time comes. The wife and I have contemplated selling first and then donating to local sportsmans clubs. You can attempt to sell to big box sporting good stores as well.

[Pathfinder101]

Rodell,
I am a high school ROTC Instructor at Walla Walla High School.  Part of my curriculum includes certifying all of my Cadets in Washington Hunter Safety Education, so I teach Hunter's Ed for about 50 new students each year.  My classroom is actually an Olympic Style 10 Meter, 8 lane rifle range (we have a nationally competitive rifle team that I coach as well).  If you are looking for someone to donate mounts to, I would be glad to have any of your shoulder mounts of animals that are found in Washington State.  My class has 15 foot ceilings, so I can accommodate large animals like elk.  I could label the animals with your name and the year they were harvested, and they would live in perpetuity in our program.  We are one of the oldest Junior ROTC Programs in the United States ( one of the 5 original programs certified in 1918), so we are not going anywhere.  I have trophies and photos hanging on my walls from the 1920s.  Currently I only have whitetail and mule deer mounts that I use for teaching animal identification.  I have a pickup truck and would be willing to pick up donated mounts. Post or PM me if you would like to talk.

[257wbymagkiller]

Donate sell maybe try to trade them for something 

[TVHunts]

Rodell,
I am a high school ROTC Instructor at Walla Walla High School.  Part of my curriculum includes certifying all of my Cadets in Washington Hunter Safety Education, so I teach Hunter's Ed for about 50 new students each year.  My classroom is actually an Olympic Style 10 Meter, 8 lane rifle range (we have a nationally competitive rifle team that I coach as well).  If you are looking for someone to donate mounts to, I would be glad to have any of your shoulder mounts of animals that are found in Washington State.  My class has 15 foot ceilings, so I can accommodate large animals like elk.  I could label the animals with your name and the year they were harvested, and they would live in perpetuity in our program.  We are one of the oldest Junior ROTC Programs in the United States ( one of the 5 original programs certified in 1918), so we are not going anywhere.  I have trophies and photos hanging on my walls from the 1920s.  Currently I only have whitetail and mule deer mounts that I use for teaching animal identification.  I have a pickup truck and would be willing to pick up donated mounts. Post or PM me if you would like to talk.

Wow, what a perfect potential solution!

[Mulie87]

Rodell,
I am a high school ROTC Instructor at Walla Walla High School.  Part of my curriculum includes certifying all of my Cadets in Washington Hunter Safety Education, so I teach Hunter's Ed for about 50 new students each year.  My classroom is actually an Olympic Style 10 Meter, 8 lane rifle range (we have a nationally competitive rifle team that I coach as well).  If you are looking for someone to donate mounts to, I would be glad to have any of your shoulder mounts of animals that are found in Washington State.  My class has 15 foot ceilings, so I can accommodate large animals like elk.  I could label the animals with your name and the year they were harvested, and they would live in perpetuity in our program.  We are one of the oldest Junior ROTC Programs in the United States ( one of the 5 original programs certified in 1918), so we are not going anywhere.  I have trophies and photos hanging on my walls from the 1920s.  Currently I only have whitetail and mule deer mounts that I use for teaching animal identification.  I have a pickup truck and would be willing to pick up donated mounts. Post or PM me if you would like to talk.

 
Perfect, right there. Pathfinder101 has the perfect home for a noble cause.

[bornhunter]

Rodell,
I am a high school ROTC Instructor at Walla Walla High School.  Part of my curriculum includes certifying all of my Cadets in Washington Hunter Safety Education, so I teach Hunter's Ed for about 50 new students each year.  My classroom is actually an Olympic Style 10 Meter, 8 lane rifle range (we have a nationally competitive rifle team that I coach as well).  If you are looking for someone to donate mounts to, I would be glad to have any of your shoulder mounts of animals that are found in Washington State.  My class has 15 foot ceilings, so I can accommodate large animals like elk.  I could label the animals with your name and the year they were harvested, and they would live in perpetuity in our program.  We are one of the oldest Junior ROTC Programs in the United States ( one of the 5 original programs certified in 1918), so we are not going anywhere.  I have trophies and photos hanging on my walls from the 1920s.  Currently I only have whitetail and mule deer mounts that I use for teaching animal identification.  I have a pickup truck and would be willing to pick up donated mounts. Post or PM me if you would like to talk.

 
Perfect, right there. Pathfinder101 has the perfect home for a noble cause.

 

[rodell]

Interesting ideas. I've not known anyone who had any success actually selling their mounts, unless they had dioramas or huge collections. Even then it seems to be pretty hit and miss. I'm involved in a couple of communities of hunters and everyone reports about the same thing. People who have rhinos and lions have some success.

I did think about doing a stack mount, reconfiguring several of the shoulder mounts to be on the same pedestal. I've seen a couple at SCI done that way. I could at least keep a few. Since the mounts weren't designed that way from the beginning I don't even know how feasible that might be.

I've enjoyed them tremendously, but what WAS I thinking?

[NRA4LIFE]

If I recall, Teacherman on this site was looking for some items to dress up a classroom of his.

[Mark Brenckle]

I've seen a few at equipment auctions, they all sell but you may only get a couple hundred bucks for them.

[birddogdad]

when your son has no interest in your guns.. we are here for you ~~

[highside74]

when your son has no interest in your guns.. we are here for you ~~ :t :IBCOOL:up:

 

[Whtlhunter170]

I can say I personally know that ROTC instructor, my son along with 3 young ladies made up the rifle team that won a national championship under his coaching. If those mounts were donated to that program I can tell you they would be treated with great respect. Hanging them in a box store would a disgrace to the animal. It’s a bummer your son isn’t interested in them, we have probably 30 mounts at our house, when I look at anyone of them I relive the hunt again, most of them were taking with either my mom, son, or dad being the hunter, there great memories.

[LDennis24]

Can you maybe post up some pics of them and prices you were thinking of asking? Another idea is somewhere like the taxidermy museum in Ritzville. A guy there has built a large showroom full of specimens from all over with several from Africa. 

[bugs n bones]

Lolli brothers auction back east will buy them

[rodell]

Well, it is now time. Unfortunately, for our friend in ROTC, these are not Washington Animals.

Everyone can take a look here https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/yqG26hOmSJKaVD4vSUJ5rQ.fTMFgTwVlsxwdObY1dCScZ

I will gift these, but someone will have to come get them in the Woodinville area of WA. The Tahr is a two piece, so it isn't as hard to move as it looks. The elk is BIG, it barely fit in the largest U-haul trailer when I bought it home from the taxidermist. It would have to be covered somehow to move it to prevent hairslip. It is currently screwed to a piece of plywood to make moving it easier.

I'm keeping one animal from each continent - they aren't in the pictures.

I would prefer they be displayed and enjoyed as I have for some time.

[brew]

Wow...those are some cool mounts.  Looks like a lot of good memories there.  Congrats to you

[Magnum_Willys]

Big elk gotta be worth $300 just for antlers?

[rodell]

Big elk gotta be worth $300 just for antlers?

Yeah, probably. I could never do it. I had no trouble taking him down, but I can't cut him up!

[Rob]

Love the blackbuck-they just look classy in a Den

Wonderful mounts-sorry you cannot keep them.

[nwwanderer]

You could visit them in Walla Walla, decent place if you avoid the tasting rooms.  Would help with a stock trailer hauling party if you go that way

[Pathfinder101]

You could visit them in Walla Walla, decent place if you avoid the tasting rooms.  Would help with a stock trailer hauling party if you go that way

Very kind offer nwwanderer, thank you.  I think he indicated that none of what he had remaining were Washington wildlife except the elk (I would be using it for a WDFW Hunters Ed Class).  If I can manage a trip over to the west side I may contact him about the elk if it is still available.  Thanks again for the offer of help though.   

[h2ofowlr]

I was able to get rid of my uncles collection several years back.  He passed away and his widow decided to move into a condo and wanted to get rid of all the mounts.  I sold what I could and donated the rest.  Donated the cougar to WSU.

[LDennis24]

@rodell I sent you a PM a while back with no response. What are you doing with these mounts?

[builtfordtough]

I'd take a few too... if offer still stands

[rodell]

I apologize to everyone; we've been finalizing the requirements for the downsize, and, it turns out we have to move from the Pacific NW at the same time. It is a bit much.

All of the mounts are available. I may have found a couple more small ones, too. I would like them appreciated and not thrown in the trash and I'm not looking to sell, but give, them. If some would like to get together and come get them all to split among yourselves i'm ok with that. I have so much to do I can't deal with them 1 by 1.

I will be able to watch this thread now and respond to any inquiries. It would be best if they all found a new home by the end of July.

[Caseyd]

Pathfinder, pm sent.

[HAGEMANIAC]

Sorry for your loss.  Lot's of beautiful trophies of fond memories to give up.  Hope they find the right home.

[Caseyd]

Rodell can I come take a look at the elk.

[rodell]

Rodell can I come take a look at the elk.

Did you see it https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/yqG26hOmSJKaVD4vSUJ5rQ.fTMFgTwVlsxwdObY1dCScZ/gallery/lJZsLnZ-R8OSNGQeqOmDYQ?

It's big. When I brought him home from the taxidermist I had to have the largest U-haul trailer to fit him in. It cost me a fortune.

[rodell]

Thanks to everyone, all of my collection has found a home with some who will appreciate them. I was sad to see them go, but I knew the day was coming.

Now on to the other things I can’t move.