taxidermy

[williamtell]

hoping to fill my monroe tag, need to find a good taxidermist if I get lucky, new to the area and dont know even 1, thanks

[BLKBEARKLR]

I don't really know where you are at, I am close to Tacoma. On bear I am 125.00 a foot. That is double padded, double felt and all sewn no gluing. I have a one year turn around. I know there are some closer up there in that area. Some of the other members have used, I dont think there are any on this site though.

Here is a link to some of the bears that I have done.

http://alivingmemorytaxidermy.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=1

Joe

[Woodchuck]

you better jump at 125 a ft, i paid alot more than that on mine 2 yrs ago

[chrisb]

I know nothing about taxidermy but why does it take a year to turn around a rug? how long does it take to do mounts?

[Woodchuck]

I am not a taxidermist so i hope i am not out of line, but i have been told that bears are kind of a pain, takes a long time to get the hide clean and tanned, then they have several forms to be fitted for the feet and the head, where as with deer and such, the head is all. plus fitting the felt, getting the correct fringe ripple, all of which is a tedious process if it is to be done right. if i am out of line, i do apologize to the fine folks that do this for a living

[BLKBEARKLR]

I know nothing about taxidermy but why does it take a year to turn around a rug? how long does it take to do mounts?

It takes a year, because of a few factors involving it. One to get the bear to a tannery and back takes about 5-6 months.
Depending on when it comes in there may be other projects ahead of said bear.
Once you are ready to start on it, then to pull it out and get it measured for the rug shell is about a 3 day process. Then you order the rug shell, takes approx a week to a week and a half to get to you.
Then you mount the shell. It takes about a week to dry, then stretch the bear there goes another two weeks. Then rugging it felting it etc is about another week.So there is about 8 months of time right there, the biggest thing where time is involved is how busy the taxidermist is. If you get in 2-300 animals a year then you may start getting behind and that time goes longer and longer.

Joe

[Michelle_Nelson]

It take around a year because your animal isn't the only one we have to work on.  Plus it is a process waiting game.  We flesh, split, and salt them.  Wait for them to dry and them take them to the tannery.  Than we wait about 4 months for the tannery because our hides are not the only ones they work on and can only work on so many at one time.  When we get them back we wet the heads up and measure for a head.  Than we have to order the head and wait for them to come in.  Mount the head and let them dry for a week or 2.  Than wet the hide up(minus the head) and stretch.  Let it dry for several days.  Trim it up and sew it all together.  Than finnish out the head.

Durring all this time we have approx 150 - 250 other animals we are working on in different stages.

[Typical8]

I made the mistake of going with a taxidermist with Quick turn arounds once....  Once!!!!!






It want happen again...

[chrisb]

Thanks for the info guys. Good to know what kind of work really goes into this. Now i know why they can cost so much. is it about the same lenght of time for just a head?

[BLKBEARKLR]

Thanks for the info guys. Good to know what kind of work really goes into this. Now i know why they can cost so much. is it about the same lenght of time for just a head?

Just a head? are you talking like a shoulder mount or a half lifesize bear? But yes about the same turn around time. Everything would be about the same procedure except the last little part of sewing the backing and the felt on them.

Joe

[chrisb]

Yeah i was referring to a shoulder mount.