Whats an acceptable time frame on getting your animal back

[cedarriver]

At a certain point in life, (when you have alot of gray hair) you wonder if you are going to see them again. I say if the more gray the closer to the front of the line!!!

 Ha, Ha, crnbndr, I do get people that tell me that. Gorgeous goat too!

[cedarriver]

The taxi I use doesn't ask about poses and background scenery until he gets the hide back from the tannery as well, he said he'd just forget all the details anyways so he just waits until its closer to actually mounting it to ask specifics about the mount.

To me that just doesn't make any sence. That's what a pen and paper is for. I took care of all the details and background scenery when I dropped my whitetail off with a taxi from this site. I know what I asked for and he knows too. It is all written down on the reciept form that I have a copy of. I just find waiting to tell them what you want very strange.  Seems easy enough to take care of it all in the same trip when you drop it off.

Whether it is 12 months or 15 months....I am willing to wait for quality.

[sirmissalot]

The taxi I use doesn't ask about poses and background scenery until he gets the hide back from the tannery as well, he said he'd just forget all the details anyways so he just waits until its closer to actually mounting it to ask specifics about the mount.

To me that just doesn't make any sence. That's what a pen and paper is for. I took care of all the details and background scenery when I dropped my whitetail off with a taxi from this site. I know what I asked for and he knows too. It is all written down on the reciept form that I have a copy of. I just find waiting to tell them what you want very strange.  Seems easy enough to take care of it all in the same trip when you drop it off.

Whether it is 12 months or 15 months....I am willing to wait for quality.

  He's in wyoming, I have no way to fill out a reciept, seems simple to me

[BuckHunter23]

Well, Got Deer? and I went out and visited Michelle Nelson, said female taxidermist in this thread, this past Friday so he could pick out his form for his bear.  Michelle had setup the appointment, shortly after this thread got going.  It was nice getting to meet you and seeing your shop, by the way! Always cool getting to meet people from the site.  We all had the opportunity to discuss what happened and why things took so long.  Sounds like some issues with the tannery really put her and a few other taxis behind.  This sucks for both the taxis and their customers

I guess the biggest thing that came from this whole situation, in my opinion, is a lack of communication of the issues that were happening.  I know when you take your animal in, you are given a relative time frame on when you can expect your mount back, which is fair.  I think that if there are issues that will push that date back considerably, such as what happened with the tannery, then a simple phone call or e-mail out to your customers letting them know it might be a bit longer than anticipated would be appreciated and not too much to ask.  I also advocate the customer calling and e-mailing if there are questions or concerns, which were both done in this case.  I think posting and responding to the issue on this site was a last resort effort to get some communication going.  And while it may not be the most effective or tactful way of going about it, it had the intended final result.  Some of us are working with a taxi for the first time, so fully understanding the time it can take is a bit mind boggling.  But I am the fist to admit, quality work takes time, and I can appreciate that.  Probably the main reason why certain taxis were selected over others.  Several of you come highly recommended by many members of this site, hence the decision to bring these animals to you.  I don't expect to become your best friend and chat every week about my mount, but if there are delays that are going to push it out further than the expected time frame, I do expect some sort of communication giving me a heads up.  Just seems like common courtesy and good business practice.  Hopefully not too many feathers got ruffled here.  I know Got Deer? is excited about his mount again, and I too am looking forward to my mount in a few more months.

Thanks again to Michelle for setting up the meeting and inviting us to her shop, and ironing out the issues explaining what had happened.    Can't wait to see the bear when it is done!!!

[Got Deer?]

Thanks BuckHunter23 for the update to all.  Michelle was very informative about everything that has gone on with all the delays and in getting back to me.  With my first animal in the shop nerves were a little high but quickly calmed down after the meeting.  My skull was ridiculous nice looking and got to take it home!!!  As for the mounting part, hopefully Michelle works her magic and I'll be one happy client.

[buckhorn2]

Charley also sent my friend some pictures of his elk that he is having mounted and now he is happy. He did;nt know about all the issues going on about the tanners so was getting anxious to see his mount. And now that he has seen it he understands what Michelle was trying to explain to me and knows that quality work is definately worth the wait he will have something to be proud of for years to come. Glad we are all on the same page we have some great people to take out trophys to on our site.

[CoachNemo]

I know right now, if I end up with an animal worthy of a shoulder mount it is going to Charlie.  Have I ever met him? Nope, but by the testimonies on this site and the pics of the work he has done my decision would be easy.

And if I ever end up with a bear, the same will be said for Michelle doing a rug.  All because of this site...

Keep up the good work you guys!

[cedarriver]

 Yup, that is what's real cool about this site. Hopefully we all have learned somethings about both ends of the issue.

[money794]

my ducks take 3 weeks lol

[sirmissalot]

Here is a picture of my 2011 fall bear that my taxi just sent me, he just has to finish the habitat. It's going to be standing on rocks and eating berries, just like it was when I shot it. Can't wait to hang it on my wall.

[NWBREW]

That's going to make a very nice mount. Worth the wait in my book. 

[massivehunter]

Ok I found this site a while back, and I have been reading and learning a lot.  I stumbled across this site by doing a Google search to get some idea and answers about taxidermy.  And I found what I was looking for.
I know this is my first post and I will more than likely make some enemies. I hunt with two other people, and sadly one of them has an animal in there also.  So it is not like we are going to be sitting around a camp fire and talking every night anyways.
I am posting on this because I am having the exact same issues as I see some other people are having.
I brought a bear into Michelle Nelson’s taxidermy studio back in 2010.  I was required to give a deposit of 50%, I was required to sign a contract saying all kinds of crazy things, if I don’t pick it up in 30 days I get charged extra. ARE YOU GOING TO DO THE SAME??  DO I GET A DISCOUNT PER EVERY MONTH YOU ARE OVER?  If it falls apart during the process she is not responsible.  I also signed it knowing that I had a 12 MONTH time frame of getting my bear rug back. To me this is a legal binding contract, I have parts of the agreement that I had to do and guess what so did she.
Since then, no return phone calls, no return emails, nothing that will make me understand what is taking so long to get something done. I did read her blog saying her grandmother passed away, for that I am truly sorry, I also read that she did not choose a tannery until September?  What does that mean?  I dropped my bear off in 2010.  Did it take a year to get it to a tannery?
I read a lot of comments and blogs in here saying that it takes time, what about 19 months?  I simply will not understand this.  I am tired of waiting, I want to go pick it up and bring it somewhere else, but I am quite sure my deposit would just be taken from me and I would have nothing to show for it.
I am truly wondering if myself and the other ones that posted in this thread are not the only ones that have been waiting this long just to get an animal back.
Please give me some insight, I am not going to say my name, I would regret doing that and getting an email or phone call saying that my bear did not make it through the entire process.
If there are any more people having these issues please include them here or send me a message, to be quite honest I am tired of waiting and moving more towards legal actions. I have a signed contract/agreement between us and I feel that it has been grossly nullified.

[sirmissalot]

I spoke with Michelle last week, I called her and she answered the phone and was great to talk to, and fully explained what has happened to set her back this year which is not the norm. She's a great lady and a great taxidermist, I understand your frustration but I also can't hardly believe she is ignoring your phone calls. I am also waiting on a bear rug from 2010, and at the same time I am going to pick up a half lifesize bear from 2011 this weekend, but stuff happens, we all know and understand that and I think the taxi's in this thread are doing their very best to make things right.

[Whitelightning]

Michelle was the Taxidermist on my Bear. Did it take longer than she intended yes, did she answer my calls, emails, Pm's yes including after hours and weekends. Will I take my next animal to her YES no question in my mind.

[Michelle_Nelson]

It's hard to repond to someone when you don't know who they are.  From the sounds of it your not going to tell me?  How am I supposed to contact you to answer your questions?

I just spent the last 5 hours calling, playing phone tag, and recieving phone calls from all the customers that I still have Bears (Rugs, Shoulder Mounts, 1/2 Life Size, and Life Size) for in 2010.  Of the ones left all but 2 have denied having posted any messages about me on this site.

Of the 2, One I talked to in January at the Sportsman Show and have been in contact with him several other times before.  The second I still have not been able to get ahold of but have left a message.  He has already selected everything he wants on his Rug (felt colors etc).  So there has not been a need for as much contact.  I am also unaware of receiving any E-mails, or recieving any phone calls or being left any voice messages from this individual.  Neither individual has given me a 50% deposit.

At this point I still have no idea who you are.  I have done what I can to figure out who you are and to make contact with you, inorder to answer the questions that you have.