Whats an acceptable time frame on getting your animal back

[blackveltbowhunter]

Nice rug Kuduman! The work looks quality and the color of the bear is awesome!

[BOWHUNTER45]

Once I get all that I am doing for myself complete I will show ya .... Working on a wood duck I shot yesterday ....and I done a few pheasants BUT my next project is my COUGAR .... That will be fun 

[GameEater310]

sounds good. i would like to see pics of your cat when your done, that will be cool. Have fun!!

[NWBREW]

As much as I would like to follow this thread more, I'm afraid I am done with it. It seems there are some who are using this thread to get a reaction and I do not believe this is the RightPlace to do that.

[Kuduman]

Newbrew:
 After reading your post I went back and reread the entire thread and I have to say that I completely missed the underlying digs that were pointed at a particular taxidermist on this site. I can assure everyone that I have witnessed first hand " at his shop " the amount of damaged to the capes that Charlie has gotten back from his tannery. The mere  fact that he was able to mount these skins without any evidence of that damage is testimony to his skill and abilities.
 I realize that clients get frustrated but to take a dig at a site sponsor, respected artist and fellow sportsman is not warranted.
Charlie..... Not that you need it but you have my support on this one.

Jeff
A.K.A. Kuduman

[BOWHUNTER45]

  it takes alot of time if you want your mounts done with perfection , like charlie does... He takes serious pride in his work and WHEN YOU GET REALLY GOOD EVERYONE WANTS YOU TO DO THERE STUFF... But the taxi only has 2 hands and if you want it done correctley then be patient   ....We have some good taxi s on here and we need to support them all !!!!

[sirmissalot]

Newbrew:
 After reading your post I went back and reread the entire thread and I have to say that I completely missed the underlying digs that were pointed at a particular taxidermist on this site. I can assure everyone that I have witnessed first hand " at his shop " the amount of damaged to the capes that Charlie has gotten back from his tannery. The mere  fact that he was able to mount these skins without any evidence of that damage is testimony to his skill and abilities.
 I realize that clients get frustrated but to take a dig at a site sponsor, respected artist and fellow sportsman is not warranted.
Charlie..... Not that you need it but you have my support on this one.

Jeff
A.K.A. Kuduman

The only digs I can find are about a female...

I know Charlie is a great guy and is doing the best he can, when its done its done, and I'm sure it will be worth the wait.

[RightPlace-RightTime]

I was just trying to emphasize the communication.  Thats all.  How far do you have to go and what do you have to do to get feedback sometimes? Well you still have this thread read about 2000 times.  Thats alot of people to make their own judgement and work with the ones that will call/email back etc. I know Quality is worth the wait.  No bashing Intended.

[buckhorn2]

Well my friend I recommended a taxidermist has waited almost 17 months and he e-mailed the person at noon today and no reply yet. I hear all the things about how nice and worth the wait but any way you slice it 17 months sucks.

[summit creek]

I agree that if you want it done right it takes longer. But I have a freind how turned his into a "well known taxidermist" and he told him 12-14 months (which soounds fair.) But its been 15 months and he still has 15-20 amnimals in front of his. I think that a taxidermist should be responsiable enough not to take on too much work. Once he takes on too much work what he already told his clients are now lies.

were not lying were stretching the truth we need the work and want the work if a taxidermist tells you one year for the most part its 18 months not cause were lying but sometimes work starts pyling in and now we get backed up more and more and now were rushed but most of i do good work i know its frustrating but be patient i have a 289 bull i killed in 08 and a mt goat and several b tail bucks of my own i havent mounted yet due to puting clients first

[engelwood]

I had a very good taxidermist from MT tell me during a hunt last fall that anytime it takes a taxi more than 12 months to get your animal back, he is working backwards. Never thought of it that way, but it makes a lot of sense really. I have been watching this thread to see where I stand with all of the rest of the people commenting on here. I think there are a couple conclusion to be taken from the opinions posted.

First off, people who do quality work need to charge more if they can prove that they can do the work and it's worth the MONEY, not TIME. A good quality taxi makes up the money on their mounts by charging more and thus being able to attribute more time to the work. This results in mounting less animals, but making the same or more than other "less quality" taxi's out there that are churning out quick and cheap work. It's a supply and demand problem that the taxi's aren't good at it seems. Charge more and less people will come, but then you have less animals to do and a whole lot less unsatisfied customers. It won't take long to find the price point that keeps you busy, keeps quality up, and gives you that 12 month window you (and we) are looking for. Next, the main issue that people seem to be having is COMMUNICATION!!! I completely agree with this. If I take something to someone and they say 12 months, I expect 12 months. No more no less. If it gets to 10 months and they know they can't get it done in the next 2 months, a simple call will earn them an easy 3 additional months in my book to get it done (15 total). I have emails from a taxi from last May that said they were beginning to mount my animal that week. Here I sit, Feb. 1, 7+ months later (23 months since handing over my animal), and I haven't even heard a word. WHY WOULD THIS BE THE CASE? IS IT THAT HARD TO PICK UP THE PHONE??? The big problem is this, when you have something (or multiple in my case) at a taxi, the last thing you want to do is piss them off. Cuz they are the ones who solely determine the outcome of the mount. It's ridiculous that it comes down to this, but it is what it is.

Taxidermy is a service industry. If a taxi were a home builder let's say, and the homebuilder quoted a 12 month time frame on a new house construction, and it took 15, 16, 20, say even 23 months to get the house done, do you think that the people waiting to move into the house would be happy? Do you think they would recommend them to friends and family? With the amount of information on the web these days, you would think that ones name can be slung in the mud pretty quickly with little effort. If I was that home builder I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. I understand that taxi is different than a house, but it's the concept and standard business practice for the service industry that I'm getting at.   

Communication is key. Learn how to run a steady business. Keep customers happy and your name stays clean (even if this means discounting the cost for taking so long). Simple business practices to get and stay successful for the long haul. Obviously this is just my 

[turkey slayer]

Eagelwood,

Very well said

[C-Money]

The last deer I had done took a year. It was done with great quality. Most of the time involved on mine was a slow turn around from the tannery.

[Ranger91298]

I have been watching this thread for a while now and finally decided to put my  in. I don't think the quality of a taxi should be based on how much time it remains at the taxi's shop. In 2009 I shot a wolf in Idaho and I got my full body mount back in 9 months. To me the work was average when several people said the work was the best around (Coeur d'Alene). The taxi stapled the hide shut along the stomach w/glue to help.  You can't see the staples unless you flip it upside but I am not a fan of the staples. In 2010 I came on the forum and asked about getting a deer mounted for my dad. I had numerous taxi's reply with their prices. I understood that there were others on the forum with 10/12 years of experience but with that experience comes higher costs. I decided to give the guy with 2 years of experience because he was alot cheaper and have not regreted it since. My taxidermist is Joe; AKA "Blkbearklr". There are numerous reasons why I decided to go with him:

1. He is a fellow brother in arms
2. He is not out to nickel and dime people for repairs/modifications due to negligence on the hunters part
3. He is a very smart businessman. 100% of the money he earns from his business is put back into the business and NOT used to pay household expenses. This is important because when it is time to order the form for the mount he takes in; he is not being held up for weeks/months because he had to pay a bill or provide something else for the house that month.
4. He is user friendly. He understands that everyone has different issues/circumstances in their lives which is why he requires no money down. This helps hunters preserve their trophies and allows them time to adjust their finances to be able to afford their mounts/rugs that they might not have been able to afford. Even though he requires no money down it does not put a halt to the progress of the animal because he has a business account that has funds set up specifically for those individuals.
5. He does not raise his prices to stay competative with the "Going-Rate"
6. Joe is his own worst critic; if he feels that he needs to improve on a certain area he will spend the money to get better (i.e. attend a school hosted by the well known Rick Crain).
7. He truly cares about the product he puts out. He is in no rush to get an animal out the door to put money in the pocket. He will tell all customers it will take a year but it's more like 6-10 months. This brings me back to my opening remark; "I don't think the quality of a taxi should be based on how much time it remains at the taxi's shop." My wolf came back after 9 months but I am not completely happy with it; shortcuts were taken. I have seen Joe complete an animal in 6 months and the hunter was extremely happy with the outcome. To me it is more about the quality of the person that you bring your animal to. Everything revolves around money but there has to be a little bit of ethics & morals involved.

In response to Kuduman's posting he has had to deal with the worst in people.  The guy posing as a returned vet from overseas...well I personally would like to rip his arm off and beat him with it; if not for me for the friends that I have lost overseas. As far as the guy trying to become a friend to reap the benefits...that is such BS! I can honestly say that I have never asked Joe to give me any sort of discount because we have become great friends. I have no issues seperating friendship from business and in no way should I expect to get a discount. I have seen the work that goes into taxidermy and it's a hard way to make a living. Lucky for Joe he has a sugga mamma... 

[summit creek]

I've had an animal in the shop since August of 2010 and was given a 1 year date give or take a few months.  Very exceptable turn around.  I'm willing to wait for a great mount.  I emailed numerous times and no returns back.  I finally called and was told that in 2 to 3 weeks I would be able to come out and select my mount style and to pick up my skull back in July of 2011.  I waited for my call back and nothing.  I assumed with the new season starting up they were busy so I was not pushy about anything.  I waited til november to email again and still no response back.  Also sent one in December.  Is 16 months of waiting and not even being able select a mount worth it?  Is waiting this long worth the wait if communication from the taxidermist is pretty much non existent.  I want the best mount possible done and don't want to pressure anyone just to get crappy work.  Just a phone call or email back might calm my nerves a little.

they should be in close contact with u and let u know whats going on