Hunting Washington Forum

Community => Taxidermy & Scoring => Topic started by: bowhunterforever on January 24, 2009, 12:23:38 AM

Title: Taxidermy school!
Post by: bowhunterforever on January 24, 2009, 12:23:38 AM: Hey guys, I am looking to go to taxidermy school someday and i was wondering if any of you know of any good ones that i should look into? Is there any acredited ones? Thanks
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: Elkstuffer on January 24, 2009, 09:28:27 AM: Google Taxidermy schools. There should be a bunch of them to research.
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: Houndhunter on January 24, 2009, 10:59:16 AM: i would call around and find a shop that might take you in as an aprentice type thing
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on January 24, 2009, 01:51:01 PM: I would Register on www.taxidermy.net. They will be able to answer your questions a lot better.
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: gasman on January 24, 2009, 04:23:16 PM: Rogers Taxadermy in Lakewood offers a taxidermy class.

Roger has done a few things for me, and i have a head out at "Critter Corner Taxidermy" in "Vail" right now, and Crystal, the owner learned from him.

I have even considered taking his class.
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: Elkstuffer on January 24, 2009, 10:04:58 PM: I've been trying to hire someone partime for the last 2 years. Can't find anyone serious enough to hire. Everyone want's to start out mounting animals and doing finish work. No one is willing to start out fleshing hides and preping forms. I guess anyone that can gut a deer can do taxidermy. LOL
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: gasman on January 24, 2009, 10:11:59 PM: Quote from: Elkstuffer on January 24, 2009, 10:04:58 PM
I've been trying to hire someone partime for the last 2 years. Can't find anyone serious enough to hire. Everyone want's to start out mounting animals and doing finish work. No one is willing to start out fleshing hides and preping forms. I guess anyone that can gut a deer can do taxidermy. LOL

To bad I am not in your area, I would jump all over the opportunity.............
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: bucklucky on January 24, 2009, 11:38:53 PM: Quote from: Elkstuffer on January 24, 2009, 10:04:58 PM
I've been trying to hire someone partime for the last 2 years. Can't find anyone serious enough to hire. Everyone want's to start out mounting animals and doing finish work. No one is willing to start out fleshing hides and preping forms. I guess anyone that can gut a deer can do taxidermy. LOL

Everyone wants the glorry :chuckle: People that want to learn Taxidermy have to realise that fleshing hide properly and form prep are some of the most important steps in the process . If they aint willing to start form the bottom and work there way up there not going to learn right IMO. Wish I had more stuff so I could hire some help :chuckle:
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on January 24, 2009, 11:51:20 PM: :yeah:

Though not sure about hiing someone. I like beig able to control everything that goes on in my shop personally.
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: bucklucky on January 25, 2009, 12:01:56 AM: Quote from: Michelle_Nelson on January 24, 2009, 11:51:20 PM
:yeah:

Though not sure about hiing someone. I like beig able to control everything that goes on in my shop personally.

Its called growth Mich :chuckle: Thats why you train them to do the best job possible . You trust the guys at the tannery to tan the hides properly right ;) ANd if they dont you have to whip them into shape :chuckle:
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on January 25, 2009, 08:11:20 AM: I understand the tannery thing. I still like all the control over mouting. If I need extra time I will hire a kid to clean my shop.
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: Elkstuffer on January 25, 2009, 09:11:31 AM: Wait till your taking in 200+ heads a year Michelle. You'll be begging for some help. If you hire someone now part-time you'll be ahead of the game when that growth occurs. Don't make the mistake that I did and try finding someone after. It's not that easy. Like I said before, Everyone that can gut a deer think they can be a taxidermist. There is just a little more to it than that.
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: bucklucky on January 25, 2009, 09:18:24 AM: Mich is stubborn :chuckle: You make a good point Stuffer.
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: boneaddict on January 25, 2009, 09:41:55 AM: Alot of guys have looked at these cute little magazine articles, you kniw the ones with 12 pictures that take you from the dead bird to finished product and think its easy. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: bucklucky on January 25, 2009, 10:05:04 AM: Quote from: boneaddict on January 25, 2009, 09:41:55 AM
Alot of guys have looked at these cute little magazine articles, you kniw the ones with 12 pictures that take you from the dead bird to finished product and think its easy. :chuckle:

It is easy , isnt it ? :chuckle:
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: boneaddict on January 25, 2009, 10:07:29 AM: You shlould try it with one hand tied behind your back, or in a cast. Make sure its your dominant hand too. LOL
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: Elkstuffer on January 25, 2009, 01:11:10 PM: LOL
Quote from: boneaddict on January 25, 2009, 10:07:29 AM
You shlould try it with one hand tied behind your back, or in a cast. Make sure its your dominant hand too. LOL

Bone, are you still talking about taxidermy? LOL
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: skybusterbo on January 25, 2009, 01:47:51 PM: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on January 25, 2009, 01:53:15 PM: My problem is I don't have the patience to train anyone to help flesh and mount stuff. Eventually it will come down to it I am sure. It will be a few years befor I have to worry about it. Though I will say was hoping to double what I brought in last year. Instead I probably got 5X as much stuff. Threw me off and now I am playing catch up. Next year I will be better prepared.
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: bucklucky on January 25, 2009, 06:25:55 PM: Quote from: Elkstuffer on January 25, 2009, 01:11:10 PM
LOL
Quote from: boneaddict on January 25, 2009, 10:07:29 AM
You shlould try it with one hand tied behind your back, or in a cast. Make sure its your dominant hand too. LOL

Bone, are you still talking about taxidermy? LOL

:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: grizzlygibbs on January 26, 2009, 01:06:33 PM: There were a couple good schools in montana that i saw, one was by trout creek/Thompson falls and The Montana school of taxidermy in Helena. Check out google and Taxidermyschool search
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: grizzlygibbs on January 27, 2009, 02:04:01 PM: I found this other one, this is the one I was thinking about going to! Second Nature School of Taxidermy
@ http://www.taxidermy-school.com/

This looked like the best option in my opinion. Hope this helped you out! Also notice I said was thinking
about going to, just as I dont believe that taxidermy is an option for a career just for the fact that it will
take some time to get a client base and people are pinching their pennies due to the economy and taxidermy
is just not a necessity. I would still like to do something like this however probably wouldnt spend 4500 on it!
Good luck on your search and hope you find the answers you need!
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on January 27, 2009, 02:47:46 PM: I have heard that Second Nature School of Taxidermy is a good school. He is a member on taxidermy.net and goes by that same name. I have sold him capes in the past I believe or to a couple of his students, can't remember which.

Like I said I would register on Taxidermy.net and ask them. You have a lot more people on that site that can point you towards a good school.
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: pjb3 on January 27, 2009, 06:56:00 PM: Elkstuffer
Where are you located as I have been doing taxidermy for 30 years off and on and am looking for something to do.
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: Elkstuffer on January 27, 2009, 10:11:24 PM: I'm just west of Yakima and sit up on the bluff above Naches.
Title: Re: Taxidermy school!
Post by: furbearer365 on February 26, 2009, 08:33:22 PM: I went to Missoula Valley School of Taxidermy, owned and operated by champion taxidermist Tim Wood and his wife Cristi. Unbelievable school and had the time of my life. Don't waste your time anywhere else