Taxidermy Issues....HELP!

[Kamo2112]

Hey, everyone. I am in a very weird situation with a taxidermist and I'd love some input on how I should proceed.

On October 17th, 2023 I shot my first bear. Not a huge bear by any means but a respectable bear with a beautiful chocolate brown coat. Really the first bear kill I had truly been a part of so it was all new to me.

I decided I wanted to get it rugged to hang on the wall, so I started some research. In the previous years I had followed a taxidermist pretty closely, so they were going to be my first option. Looking at their stuff and reading reviews, this taxidermist was a no brainer. Great reviews all over the place and even fantastic reviews here on this site.

I ended up in communication with this guy soon after and decided to bring my hide out to get the process started. I dropped it off with him on October 20th.

I was told the rug would take between 10 and 14 months. Totally good with that time frame.

The communication levels were fantastic and he was a huge help sending me some pictures of previous work to give me some ideas of what to choose. Mouth open or closed, felt colors, etc.

Got all my details lined out and the waiting began.

I waited and waited. 10 and 14 months both passed by, but with my previous taxidermy experience, I understood.

On January 10th, 2025 (15 months passed) I reached out requesting a simple update on where we were at in the process. He replied the next morning telling me that my bear was at the rugging company and that it shouldn't be much longer. He also mentioned that my skull was done.

No other communication from him, so I reached out again on April 27th again asking about the process. Assuming 3 months was enough of time in-between requests since the rug was almost done.

No reply.

I again reached out on July 10th thinking maybe my last message was missed. Another 4 months should be plenty. Again a simple request for an update on my rug.

No reply.

I had made a few phone calls here and there while I had time at work with no answers. Left a voicemail but never heard back.

July 12th I reached out again. Text message and a message on their online platforms. I finally got a text back. Not the update I was looking for.

"Hey there, we have received all your messages. Sorry for the lack of communication. Unfortunately we ran into some issues with your individual project and we don't yet have a solution. We will update you soon but there is going to be further delays."

Again, with my past knowledge of taxidermy I understood, but wasn't happy with the lack of communication. So I replied "Can you please let me know what the issues are?"

No reply.

I have since reached out via phone call and text 2 more times asking what the issues are with zero response. Completely unacceptable in my opinion. I want to know what is going on with my project 1. because it means so much to me as my first bear and 2. because I have a pretty penny tied up with this guy. The lack of communication has me assuming the worst. I just hope my bear is still around.

For a taxidermist that, again, has great reviews all over the place and especially on this site, I am uncertain what to do next.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Am I being too pushy? Do I need to be knocking on this guys door? What do you think?

Thanks,
Kamo

[MADMAX]

I’d be going for a drive
Face to face would be best IMO

[Rainier10]

Pm sent

[JWBINX]

I’d be going for a drive
Face to face would be best IMO

[BKMFR]

I’d be going for a drive
Face to face would be best IMO

Definitely Face to Face, not worth the stress. You are not being unreasonable, and what a BS answer with no follow-up from him.

[jrebel]

Any taxidermist that says they can do a bear in under 18 months....would throw a huge red flag. 

That said, face to face would be the best way to handle it.  Lots of factors that could delay a bear rug.  Last couple I had done took 18 to 24 months, which is fast for a quality job. 

[dreadi]

Who is it?


Black Hammer Arms
www.blackhammerarms.com
The Guy On HuntWA Selling Suppressors
@blackhammerarms

[Skillet]

No excuse for the lack of communication.  Face to face at this point.  Demand real answers.  You're a big boy and can take it, but this behavior tells you the taxi doesn't think you are. 

It's frustrating just reading essentially the same story over, and over, and over...

Why do taxidermists in general seem to be so bad at basic business? 

Entrepreneurship 101- Customers can deal with bad news far better than they can deal with no news.

[EnglishSetter]

No excuse for the lack of communication.  Face to face at this point.  Demand real answers.  You're a big boy and can take it, but this behavior tells you the taxi doesn't think you are. 

It's frustrating just reading essentially the same story over, and over, and over...

Why do taxidermists in general seem to be so bad at basic business? 

Entrepreneurship 101- Customers can deal with bad news far better than they can deal with no news.

Or being lied to/BS'd.

[teanawayslayer]

I’d be going for a drive
Face to face would be best IMO

 

[bearpaw]

If you are still having issues and want to send me a message indicationg who or even what county your taxidermist is from, I may have more details to help your situation, if its one of a couple taxidermist that I know of that have had recent issues and are quitting the taxidermy business?

FWIW: Neither of these two taxis are taking any new business, but they are working on finishing mounts they have taken into their shops in the past.

[blackveltbowhunter]

No excuse for the lack of communication.  Face to face at this point.  Demand real answers.  You're a big boy and can take it, but this behavior tells you the taxi doesn't think you are. 

It's frustrating just reading essentially the same story over, and over, and over...

Why do taxidermists in general seem to be so bad at basic business? 

Entrepreneurship 101- Customers can deal with bad news far better than they can deal with no news.

    My working theory is that the majority of Taxis especially the very good ones have artist personality traits more than business savvy. Combine that with often a rapid increase in orders once word gets out, (due to demand ) trying to find balance between creating art and fulfilling orders, real world problems of supply chain issue often on top of a fragile infrastructure and I doubt its an envious place. Add in, that these folks also have personal lives that are often tied into the business so they bleed into one another and you get the recipe for the story we see play out over and over and over.

   The fact that typically the guy who is quoting a 14 month timeline, is also the guy answering the phone when I call seems crazy to me.
   
    The OP, FTF is the best way IMO. Be prepared to ask for whatever you can get returned, pay for their time and cost up to that point and make a decision with that data. Maybe its just an oversight or mix up at the tannery and your bear went out later than they thought, maybe a rugger quit delaying production, perhaps he simply overestimated his work output.


   

[2MANY]

"No excuse for the lack of communication.  Face to face at this point.  Demand real answers.  You're a big boy and can take it, but this behavior tells you the taxi doesn't think you are. "

Go get it done.
Let us know how it goes.

Positive report or neg would help others here.

Choose wisely folks.

[passman65]

I've been waiting for over two years for two bear skins and 1 skull, I'll never see them + the $700 deposit I left with the crooks! 

[MADMAX]

Reminds me of the Michelle Nelson taxidermy thread


https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=148106.465