How long is long enough?

[Irish_hunter93]

What's your point when you're fed up with a taxidermist that seems to always have an excuse for everything? Not naming names, no *censored* stirring here. Shot a bobcat in Nov of 2020, was told 1 year to a year and a half. Almost always the excuse is oh I can't get your manikin, form isn't here yet, oh I'm sick, oh I'm just slammed busy, talked with the guy yesterday and he says "oh still haven't had your form come in yet"

I got ahold of him yesterday and asked if he still has my pelt and if it's still good or not, he says "oh yeah still fine, it's in the freezer "
 I was nice to the guy, wasn't being rude or anything

How long can a untanned hide stay in a freezer before things start getting messed up?

Starting to feel like it is a big run around. Here I sit almost 3 years later, contemplating saying F it and taking my money back and taking the cat somewhere else (if it's still even there?) Then who knows how long that will take? Paid over half the balance due upfront.

1st bobcat period, getting pretty worried at this point.


How long is to long? Do I give it a few more months, give the guy the benefit of the doubt? Picked the mount right out of the RMI catalog


What's the longest anyone here has waited on a bobcat?


Local taxidermist in Snohomish county



I think I have a bad run of luck with taxidermists, caught one in a outright lie (said he was sick but seen him at the bar)
Had one do a meh job on a duck then kinda write me off when I brought up how it looked

Now here I go again with what seems to be another run around..... I know the election flu (covid) kinda messed things up for alot of people but this seems pretty bad to wait 3 years on a form

[jrebel]

If it’s still in the freezer, that means it hasn’t been tanned yet, so unless he is tanning his own hides in house…..that will add another 3-9 months once he gets the form.    This tells me he hasn’t done anything with it.   Go get your hide and deposit and take it to a reputable taxidermist.   No excuses would be acceptable given your explanation. 

[Irish_hunter93]

This guy tans his own hides.  Your suggestion is Kinda the direction I'm leaning towards. Want to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, but *censored*..... Then it's however long for the next guy. Arghhhhh.

If you were to pick any taxidermist in the state of WA for good cat taxidermy, who communicates and is honest, who would you go to?

[zwickeyman]

Sent you a PM

[Karl Blanchard]

Go get your cat like right now!

[boneaddict]

It takes 3 days to get a form.   I doubt thats the problem.   

[LDennis24]

Go get your cat like right now!

 

[jrebel]

This guy tans his own hides.  Your suggestion is Kinda the direction I'm leaning towards. Want to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, but *censored*..... Then it's however long for the next guy. Arghhhhh.

If you were to pick any taxidermist in the state of WA for good cat taxidermy, who communicates and is honest, who would you go to?

I have used one taxidermist solely for the last 10 years, give or take.  He does amazing work.  He is honest and easy to get ahold of.  He is a little more pricey but you get what you pay for.    Jeff reeves from true to life taxidermy in east Wenatchee.   

For every one good taxidermist…..there has to be 3-4 not so great.  This is a very common thread on this forum.   Find a good one and stick with them. 

[MADMAX]

This guy does excellent work

http://www.natureswaywa.com/contact

[zwickeyman]

This guy does excellent work

http://www.natureswaywa.com/contact

      Mike is really good

[2MANY]

I'm a Black River guy but I've heard Natures Way does great cat work too.

Meow.

[johnbmyersii]

I feel your pain and am dealing with a similar situation albeit not quite as long. I've been patiently waiting on my first bear rug for over 2 years now, the original quote says 10-12 months and since that has come and long gone I've been fed multiple dates that also have come and long gone. Very frustrating indeed.

[redi]

At 3 years the cat runs the risk of being freezer burned. Most taxidermists will not order a form until the hide is tanned since they are out the money and it may be months until they actually use the form. Good luck with your cat

[Irish_hunter93]

Thanks all for the replies. Got a hold of the taxidermist who had my cat today, took my hide, skull, and deposit money back. Surprised everything was all still there. I was nice, wasn't mean, started offering more excuses as I was walking to my tuck, said thanks have a nice day. Went and took my hide and skull to a reputable taxidermist within 1 hour of driving away from this guys shop. Much more pricey but I do believe it will be worth it in the long run. Now another year long wait. It is what it is, I'm happy I was able to recover my deposit and my animal. I was frankly worried about not even getting my animal back.

When the mount is finished I will find this thread and post the end result.

Looking forward to it!

[Irish_hunter93]

Hide was starting to get a tinge of freezer burn, savable nonetheless. Seems to have caught it in time. Fingers crossed