Author Topic: Cascade Taxidermy in Puyallup (Read 16824 times)

Gobble · « **on:** August 29, 2009, 02:10:21 PM »

Has anyone used this Taxi before? I usually don't bad mouth anyone but in this case I feel I have to in order to save someone else from a bad mistake.
My brother had taken 2 animals to this guy for mounting last year and both had turned out horrible. The first was a 5 bearded turkey that would certainly be in the top 5 non-typ. My brother wanted to get a full body mount done on this bird. My bro froze the bird as soon as he got home and took it down to the taxi. He asked the guy to call him on 4 or 5 different occaisions throughout the year to make sure and remind him to call him after he thawed it out so we could measure the beard length and weigh it for official scoring to be recorded as wash state record. This taxi never called and mounted it without getting a hold of my brother to get it officially scored, then never mounted it on base that my brother paid for. He mounted it on a piece of driftwood. To make matters worse the bird looked terrible and the back of tail fan is bare and has a 3" or 4" area that is bondo, no paint to match or any attempt to blend it in, Just pink bondo exposed, very shotty work and to think he paid $600 for that.

Second animal is a 9 pt Whitetail that was my 13 yr old nephews first buck. My brother took this animal to the same guy 2 days after harvesting it (frozen) BTW. The guy calls and says it's ready to pick up so my bro goes down to get it and when he gets there its missing a significant amount of hair in the throat patch area, has 1/4" - 3/8" holes in each ear from nicks in the cape that were never sown up and a small hole in the nose from fleshing . The mouth looked terrible with holes exposed and not sewn up. Also the back of one ear has a chunk of bondo on about 1/4" x 1" long or so. The eyes look terrible, paste on the eyeball and virtually no fill around the eyelid area. Very shotty work to say the least. This guy makes a living from Taxi work and made no attempt to call my brother to say he was having trouble with the cape or to ask if he wanted another cape. My brother actually brought him the entire cape back to the tail so he had plenty of cape to work with. Very amatuer work to say the least

I just wanted to let everyone know to save them the grief from this happening to their trophy's.

I will be posting pics as a follow up so you can see for yourself

Ridgerunner · « **Reply #1 on:** August 29, 2009, 02:27:44 PM »

Good info to know, thanks for the heads up.

Bean Counter · « **Reply #2 on:** August 29, 2009, 02:43:56 PM »

He never finished my 5pt whitetail I dropped off there last year. Some dummy (this guy

) didn't cut the cape long enough

I made a $100 deposit up front when I dropped it off. He called me to let me know, and mailed me out a check for a full refund, even after taking the time to thaw it, measure, and make the determination--no partial charge for partial work.

I can't blame him for that. I'm not saying its what you or your brother did but this was my experience and I have to put the blame where it belongs, on me. I did look around at the rest of his mounts and they looked pretty good.

His office/work area looked very clean and professional. I haven't been to many taxis but I would guess taht due to the nature of the work that it doesn'ta lways turn otu that way.

Gobble · « **Reply #3 on:** August 29, 2009, 02:50:32 PM »

Quote from: Bean Counter on August 29, 2009, 02:43:56 PM

He never finished my 5pt whitetail I dropped off there last year. Some dummy (this guy ) didn't cut the cape long enough I made a $100 deposit up front when I dropped it off. He called me to let me know, and mailed me out a check for a full refund, even after taking the time to thaw it, measure, and make the determination--no partial charge for partial work.

I can't blame him for that. I'm not saying its what you or your brother did but this was my experience and I have to put the blame where it belongs, on me. I did look around at the rest of his mounts and they looked pretty good.

His office/work area looked very clean and professional. I haven't been to many taxis but I would guess taht due to the nature of the work that it doesn'ta lways turn otu that way.

My brother took a full cape back to the tail to him so that was not an issue. I wouldn't be bad mouthing someone based off one experience but with 2 mounts in 2 months that looked terrible I felt I should save someone else the grief of going through that. He obviously has taken on more that he can chew and is rushing through them just to get done by performing shotty work

Gobble · « **Reply #4 on:** August 29, 2009, 07:28:03 PM »

Here are a few pics of what you will get from this taxi. Sorry about the pic quality but you will get an idea of the crappy work.

Gobble · « **Reply #5 on:** August 29, 2009, 07:29:21 PM »

Some more

Gobble · « **Reply #6 on:** August 29, 2009, 07:30:52 PM »

More pics

Gobble · « **Reply #7 on:** August 29, 2009, 07:34:15 PM »

Its hard to see the eyes on these pics but he did little to no fill on the eyelids

Michelle_Nelson · « **Reply #8 on:** August 29, 2009, 07:40:17 PM »

I don't usually comment on threads like this but those mounts are unacceptable! No excuses for any of that.

littlebuf · « **Reply #9 on:** August 29, 2009, 07:46:09 PM »

he's expensive also, i called him once on a black tail shoulder mount and he wanted like 900 bucks with a 16 to 20 month wait. i hung up

bobcat · « **Reply #10 on:** August 29, 2009, 07:46:48 PM »

Do you have a picture from a little farther back and more in focus so we can see the entire mount?

Gobble · « **Reply #11 on:** August 29, 2009, 08:08:20 PM »

Here are a few more pics with better focus

Gobble · « **Reply #12 on:** August 29, 2009, 08:10:07 PM »

A couple more, better focus

Gobble · « **Reply #13 on:** August 29, 2009, 08:18:40 PM »

Quote from: bobcat on August 29, 2009, 07:46:48 PM

Do you have a picture from a little farther back and more in focus so we can see the entire mount?

My brother took all the pics, I'll see if he can send a pic of the entire mount. I tried to steer him to Michelle or Charlie but he doesn't use the site very often and went with this guy who is closer. Hopefully he will go to either of you this year if he gets something big enough to mount.

bearpaw · « **Reply #14 on:** August 29, 2009, 08:25:07 PM »

looks like hair slipped on the neck of the deer....

BLKBEARKLR · « **Reply #15 on:** August 29, 2009, 08:34:22 PM »

I like Michelle usually do not comment on threads like this. That is not the only turkey that he has screwed up, I had one gentleman come to my shop with a turkey that he mounted. It looked exactly like your brothers bird did.

When I got within about 5 feet of it you could smell it, actually smelled rotten, the smell was all coming from the wings, so it was obvious that he never cleaned the meat out. I even called WCTaxidermy to see if there was something that could be done.

It is a shame that happened to you, I know it sucks on the deer the cape can be replaced even though it's not your cape, but a bird once it's done then it is what it is.

Gobble · « **Reply #16 on:** August 29, 2009, 08:36:22 PM »

Quote from: bearpaw on August 29, 2009, 08:25:07 PM

looks like hair slipped on the neck of the deer....

Yep, apparently so. Don't know why, it was frozen within 2 days of kill.

ICEMAN · « **Reply #17 on:** August 30, 2009, 06:22:24 AM »

All I can say is Wow. Taxidermy is usually artwork. I am shocked.

washingtonmuley · « **Reply #18 on:** August 30, 2009, 07:15:12 AM »

Your brother should be refunded his money in Full. The taxi I use guarantees you will like the work or he will either fix it or return your money.

Curly · « **Reply #19 on:** August 30, 2009, 08:26:53 AM »

I'd look into filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. That work sucks........

Gobble · « **Reply #20 on:** August 30, 2009, 10:36:05 AM »

Quote from: Curly on August 30, 2009, 08:26:53 AM

I'd look into filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. That work sucks........

I beleive he is going too. The guy didn't even say anything about the problems to my brother, he just handed him the mount. Like "Here you go" my brother was in a hurry (little one's back in the truck) so as he was walking out he saw all the problems with it went back in and started yelling at the guy for such a crappy job. The guy didn't offer to fix it or offer a refund or anything.

RightPlace-RightTime · « **Reply #21 on:** August 31, 2009, 06:20:52 AM »

here is my buddys from Cascade.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,31428.0.html

Gobble · « **Reply #22 on:** August 31, 2009, 06:49:36 AM »

Quote from: RightPlace-RightTime on August 31, 2009, 06:20:52 AM

here is my buddys from Cascade.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,31428.0.html

It looks good, that is how my nephews should have looked. One thing I notice that really stands out is the neck size. The neck on his avatar looks to be huge 25" or better(and rutting) , the pic of the mount looks maybe 22" or so at best, alot smaller than the avatar pic, I could see maybe and inch smaller for shrinkage but it looks alot smaller in the finished pic

? makes you wonder if he used the same cape

BLKBEARKLR · « **Reply #23 on:** August 31, 2009, 07:55:46 AM »

If tanned properly you will not get shrinkage only stretch

Joe

Gobble · « **Reply #24 on:** August 31, 2009, 08:02:19 AM »

Quote from: BLKBEARKLR on August 31, 2009, 07:55:46 AM

If tanned properly you will not get shrinkage only stretch

Joe

As long as its thinned correctly. What do you think. Doesn't that deers neck look alot smaller than the pic in his profile?

Armadillo · « **Reply #25 on:** August 31, 2009, 08:21:25 AM »

wow that is really horrid work! and it cost your brother 600 for the turkey! with taxidermy you should get what you pay for

Michelle_Nelson · « **Reply #26 on:** August 31, 2009, 09:32:22 AM »

Gobble which 2 pic's are you referring to? How can anyone determin neck size of a deer from a 1" x 3/4" avatar pic? Post the avatar pic and a pic of the entire deer.

As far as shrinkage goes. A raw cape will stretch a lot more than a tanned cape will.that is why most taxidermists take a carcass measurement when it is possible. Once tanned and the cape stretched it will be the same size if not larger than the original measurements. Once dry and on a 20" form as long as the cape is the proper size the neck is not going to keep shrinking.

Gobble you said it took approximately 2 days to get the deer head in the freezer. Was the head still in it or was it just the cape? If the head was it it did the hide get wadded up into a ball and the head placed on top of the hide? How long do you think it took for the hide to freeze right under the skull? It took at least another 2 if not 3 days. When the taxidermist thawed it out it took atleast 24 hours if not 2 days with the head in it.

The bacteria doesn't stop working on a hide until it is either completely frozen or the moisture content of the hide is below 15% after salting. The slipping could have been a direct result.

As far as the taxidermist going through with the mount and not informing you that the cape had slipped. . . No excuses!! He should have contacted the hunter before proceeding with the mount.

Gobble · « **Reply #27 on:** August 31, 2009, 09:44:07 AM »

Quote from: Michelle_Nelson on August 31, 2009, 09:32:22 AM

Gobble which 2 pic's are you referring to? How can anyone determin neck size of a deer from a 1" x 3/4" avatar pic? Post the avatar pic and a pic of the entire deer.

As far as shrinkage goes. A raw cape will stretch a lot more than a tanned cape will.that is why most taxidermists take a carcass measurement when it is possible. Once tanned and the cape stretched it will be the same size if not larger than the original measurements. Once dry and on a 20" form as long as the cape is the proper size the neck is not going to keep shrinking.

Gobble you said it took approximately 2 days to get the deer head in the freezer. Was the head still in it or was it just the cape? If the head was it it did the hide get wadded up into a ball and the head placed on top of the hide? How long do you think it took for the hide to freeze right under the skull? It took at least another 2 if not 3 days. When the taxidermist thawed it out it took atleast 24 hours if not 2 days with the head in it.

The bacteria doesn't stop working on a hide until it is either completely frozen or the moisture content of the hide is below 15% after salting. The slipping could have been a direct result.

As far as the taxidermist going through with the mount and not informing you that the cape had slipped. . . No excuses!! He should have contacted the hunter before proceeding with the mount.

Michelle,
Here is the pic I was referring to, if you go to the thread posted by Right place Right time and click on his buddies profile you can see the deer I was refering to. I will attach the pic for ref. The neck looks to be at least a 25" neck or bigger and rutted up. The mount is not rutted up and appears much smaller.

As far as when it was frozen. My nephew shot the deer on opening day last year (sat) and the deer was in the freezer by sunday night, skull attached.

stickhunter · « **Reply #28 on:** August 31, 2009, 11:38:31 PM »

The deer in the pic has the same cape as it had when killed I caped it out for my buddy and noticed a cut in the hair from a fence or bullet wound or something, when he received it back from the Taxi it had the same mark on the neck, it does look smaller after being mounted from when the day he killed it though. Its looks good in person, must say I would not be happy with that whitetail, he should have gave him the option of getting a new cape or something sorry to hear about your bad experience with this guy.

Rob · « **Reply #29 on:** September 01, 2009, 03:23:45 PM »

I'm not a taxidermist, (I play one on TV though), but I had hair slip occur on one of my African mounts. My animal was caped out within a couple hours of being shot (it was shot in the late afternoon and taken directly back to a skinning shack).

The hide was then packed in salt and taken by truck the next day to our main camp where it was laid flat and buried in salt.

My taxidermist said that the slip looks to have been caused by the skin being folded prior to cooling, and after removed from the head and inadequately salted. My assumption was that this occured betweenthe caping and the arrival at the main camp.

Slip will happen if errors are made prior to getting the skin tanned (could have been your error, could have been his-hard to tell), but here is where a good taxidermist wins over a poor taxidermist:

First, I was notified about the slip as soon as it was discovered, and prior to the start of the mounting process. I did not find out about it when it arrived at my house.
Second, he went above and beyond to repair the damage even though it was not his fault. See the photo below. There is almost no hair on the cheek at all. The white spots are suppose to be white colored hair, but are actually painted on. You cannot even see there is an issue unless you get close and know what you are looking for (granted it is easier to cover a thin haired animal than a long haired one like a deer).

The main thing to point out about my expreiance though is that there were no surprises. As soon as an issue was noted, I was brought in on the problem and reviewed options on a solution.

Accidents happen. Anyone can provide good service when things go well, but its when things start to go sideways that true good service is achieved.

(and that turkey butt is unforgivable!)

Rack Hunter · « **Reply #30 on:** September 01, 2009, 09:04:05 PM »

All I can say is that if this is all true I'm sorry about the turkey and deer. I used Cascade and I will use them again. I'm very happy with my mount. The neck does seem smaller but in the picture the deer is dead slouched and I'm not holding his head up and stretched. On the mount he is stretched out. When I dropped him off I really looked at everything in his office, work area and web site. I saw nothing like the pictures. If I did I would of been gone. He gave me a 11-12 month window and to my surprise got it back in 7 months. When I went in there were a bunch of deer waiting to be picked up. Everything I saw I would of been happy to take home. As for prices I think he is very fair. This is just my opinion...

Rob · « **Reply #31 on:** September 02, 2009, 10:25:41 AM »

Pretty sure size of the neck on a mounted animal has more to do with the form selected for the mount rather than either the actual size of the deer's neck or the shrinkage of the skins post tanning. I think you can rehydrate and stretch a skin around a rutting neck form or a normal form. But again, I'm not a taxidermist...

KimberRich · « **Reply #32 on:** September 02, 2009, 11:16:11 AM »

That sucks. A good Taxi is like a good Mechanic.. Once you find one you'll use them the rest of your life.

hunter1971 · « **Reply #33 on:** September 18, 2009, 02:13:36 PM »

I have had alot of animals mounted by Cascade Taxidermy and they all have come back in mint condition. Nathan does very good work and I would recommend him to everyone. I have never had a problem with Cascade Taxidermy. Its to bad that there are people out there that like to slander people's name for pety stuff. Nahan does great work and alot of mine friends use nathan and they are very happy with his work.

huntnphool · « **Reply #34 on:** September 18, 2009, 02:17:09 PM »

Welcome to the site 1971. Always good to get another perspective, not sure I would have brought a negative thread for him BTT rather than starting a positive one yourself though.

testar77 · « **Reply #35 on:** September 18, 2009, 02:31:14 PM »

Man that sucks about those two mounts!!! Absolutely NO excuse.

And 1971, Petty?

I would hardly consider this situation petty lol!

ICEMAN · « **Reply #36 on:** September 18, 2009, 06:40:36 PM »

Quote from: hunter1971 on September 18, 2009, 02:13:36 PM

I have had alot of animals mounted by Cascade Taxidermy and they all have come back in mint condition. Nathan does very good work and I would recommend him to everyone. I have never had a problem with Cascade Taxidermy. Its to bad that there are people out there that like to slander people's name for pety stuff. Nahan does great work and alot of mine friends use nathan and they are very happy with his work.

Slander for petty stuff? You are kidding....right? Look at some of the pics....

Michelle_Nelson · « **Reply #37 on:** September 19, 2009, 11:33:36 AM »

Quote from: hunter1971 on September 18, 2009, 02:13:36 PM

I have had alot of animals mounted by Cascade Taxidermy and they all have come back in mint condition. Nathan does very good work and I would recommend him to everyone. I have never had a problem with Cascade Taxidermy. Its to bad that there are people out there that like to slander people's name for pety stuff. Nahan does great work and alot of mine friends use nathan and they are very happy with his work.

Are you saying you would be happy with the Turkey and Whitetail if you had gotten them back in the condition that the pictures show?

No one on this site is saying that Cascade Taxidermy isn't capable of producing quality work. You look at his site and other peoples mounts they have posted on here and 99% look good in my book.

We are making statements on the Whitetail and Turkey Mount. Nothing else. I have seen a few mounts done by cascade and it does suprise me that he would let something like that leave his shop.

Buckkiller · « **Reply #38 on:** September 20, 2009, 07:15:05 PM »

All I know is Cascade Taxidermy does fine work. He has done a bear, deer, and a bobcat for me and a couple of elk for my friends. The bear and one of the elk he took to one of the taxidermy compitions in Idaho last year and placed 2nd on the bear and 3rd on th elk. I don't know what happend with gobble mounts but I'm still going to use Natan.

ThePascoKid · « **Reply #39 on:** September 20, 2009, 07:35:55 PM »

It's great that he has done good work for you and 1971 but your opinion doesn't have much clout when it's your first post. Just getting on here to defend your buddy is pretty obvious, and so are the pictures of the terrible work.

ICEMAN · « **Reply #40 on:** September 20, 2009, 08:44:14 PM »

I agree Pasco.... Hunter and Buckkiller may have good points, but may need to share a bit about themselves so we can get a bit more comfortable with their posts. Not saying they are not accurate, just that members seem to have more "weight" in my opinion, the more they share with us, and we get to know them.

Buckkiller, can I ask how you heard of this particular thread?

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Author Topic: Cascade Taxidermy in Puyallup (Read 16824 times)

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