Taxidermy gone wrong...

Thank you for sharing. Hunters should do a lot of research and only use reputable taxidermists to preserve trophies for a lifetime.

I'm pretty happy with my lion!

I once had a taxidermist tell me to choose one that knows how to mount the animal and not one that just puts it on a form. I have seen rocky mountain elk that looked like a school kid did them and I have seen them look like they are standing in the woods from all the details that the taxidermist put into them.

When I picked the taxidermist to do my African trophies I went and talked to him. I found out that he had been to Africa twice and planned on going again, his wife wants a lion. He then showed me a springbuck that a client had brought to him to repair and make it look right. The hunter had the springbuck done in Africa and it looked like the person that did it had a seance of humor, the springbuck had a grin on his face, totally unnatural. He will also alter a form to get the pose that I want, and while any taxidermist can do this he is one of the few that I have talked to that will do it.

My horns and hides should be on their way now or very close to it so by this time next year I should know if I picked the correct taxidermist to do the job or not, but I think that I did.

I think one needs to look at taxidermy as art, a good taxidermist is an artist. I am currently living in Stuttgart, Germany and we have a great local taxidermist (he spent many years living in Canada) His work is amazing. When I first saw what he charged I thought it was high but the quality of work makes the price worth it. Every time I go into his shop he has several pieces he is fixing for clients who tried to save a buck (or in this case a Euro) He has showed me some crazy stuff that other taxidermist have done (machine screws, bolts, etc) that he ends up repairing.

I am sure Africa has some fine trophies but all the worst examples were from clients "getting a deal" in Africa. When I hunted in Namibia the guide told me directly do not get any work here. I had them shipped back and had the work done.

I can post some pics if anyone is interested...

markferrigno said:

I think one needs to look at taxidermy as art, a good taxidermist is an artist. I am currently living in Stuttgart, Germany and we have a great local taxidermist (he spent many years living in Canada) His work is amazing. When I first saw what he charged I thought it was high but the quality of work makes the price worth it. Every time I go into his shop he has several pieces he is fixing for clients who tried to save a buck (or in this case a Euro) He has showed me some crazy stuff that other taxidermist have done (machine screws, bolts, etc) that he ends up repairing.

I am sure Africa has some fine trophies but all the worst examples were from clients "getting a deal" in Africa. When I hunted in Namibia the guide told me directly do not get any work here. I had them shipped back and had the work done.

I can post some pics if anyone is interested...

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Always lots of interest in seeing the finished article!

UKHunter said:

Always lots of interest in seeing the finished article!

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times two

vinnymbogo said:

I'm pretty happy with my lion!View attachment 48365

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Lookin good Cecil!!!

bluey said:

times two

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Here are a few of the shoulder mounts. Gemsbock, Jackal, Steenbock and Fox

@markferrigno , that has got to be one of the best Jackal mounts that I have seen. Very accurate in the face.

Thanks! Pat my taxidermist does great work

KMG Hunting Safaris said:

Wayne, the problem is that with quality, comes higher costs. The nature of the human being, is to convince himself that the quality is acceptable, just because the price is right.
There are much fewer people who will pay more for taxidermy, because they want exceptional quality, as compared to people who wants lower costs and be willing look at "acceptable" quality mounts in their own house.
Dennis here, is a prime example. He might not be the cheapest, but he is an absolute artist and the quality of his work speaks for itself.

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That is certainly not my case, I didn´t even ask him for a quote, just relied on my Outfitter´s advice. I didn´t think doing two euro mounts and cleaning a set of warthog tusks would be a problem and take him 23 months.
By the way, I don´t believe 1.200 Rand to clean a set of warthog tusks is cheap !

It is too bad the outfitter hung out like that. 23 months is absolutely insane!

Nyati said:

That is certainly not my case, I didn´t even ask him for a quote, just relied on my Outfitter´s advice. I didn´t think doing two euro mounts and cleaning a set of warthog tusks would be a problem and take him 23 months.
By the way, I don´t believe 1.200 Rand to clean a set of warthog tusks is cheap !

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bloody hell, I don't think that's even close to being cheap
to clean , 3 kudu horns,2 sets of spring bok, 1 set of mountain rhebok, and 2 sets of warthog tusk ,for exoport , karoo taxidermy , stung me 90 yankee dollars, all pick ups from last years adventure

When I hunted in Namibia cleaning, dipping and delivery to the shipping agent was all included. Last summer I finished my hunt around Mid-July, I had my stuff by OCT (in Germany) Skulls/horns/tusks were cleaned and skins were salted. Taxidermist commented on what good shape it was in. I guess some of these outfitters have interest in return business or good referrals.......

vinnymbogo said:

I'm pretty happy with my lion!View attachment 48365

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OMG! I laughed for five minutes when I saw this. Then I took it and showed my wife. We laughed for another ten minutes.

On a more serious note: Timt, so sorry to hear and see your difficulty with your taxidermy. That is just a travesty when cherished trophies are ruined like that.

How do you guys feel about the in house taxiderm that some outfitters advertise?

norfolk shooter said:

How do you guys feel about the in house taxiderm that some outfitters advertise?

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I would say it depends on the quality of their work. I try to inspect the work carefully of any taxidermist that I plan to use. Then do some additional research on reputation, etc.

Norfolk
How do you guys feel about the in house taxiderm that some outfitters advertise

I agree with this question on my first Safari in 2012 every building in the lodge was filled with heads from the taxidermy place they sent their trophies to. They all looked real good to the newbie that I was. I didn't go to their shop since I got my last animal the morning of the last day. I had gotten concerns from past customers that they were concerned that it wasn't their cape or trophies were mounted wrong!!! In the year that it took to get mine back the Taxiderest they would not answer emails and finally I sent my concerns to the company that I used that he wouldn't send a picture and then forwarded it to him. The next day I got I got an email from the company and it had a picture. They were working on the ears so it was almost done. About a month before they shipped them. The head was looking to the left it was saposto be looking to the right.

The day they were crating it they discovered that it was looking the wrong way. I got a call in Colorado at 10,000 feet since we had phone coverage in camp at the top of the mountain we were hunting on. He wanted to take it apart and do it the correct way I said I would rather just have it sent. He talked to whom I don't know but I should get some compensation for the mistake. I thought that was a good sign. When I came and I took it out of the crate looked good but the ears were not indented they were as flat as a plate. I contacted him and he said that is what they should look like????
The point is all the examples of his work made think it would be good but they said he had gotten real big, I don't know if he even did my trophy.

Big shops have LOTS of taxidermists working for them , If any of you had some things mounted in 2000 and 2001 at Animal Artistry in reno, you most likely have some of my work on your wall. Who's doing your work IS the BIG QUESTION ????
Are you just a number on a job ticket? Even promises from an owner that they will do your work not an employee is not guaranteed. The only way you know is to know the studio and it's inner workings. Nothing in my studio gets mounted by anyone but myself. I don't have another taxidermist to GIVE it to mount to put together. Jamie does all the finishing and Paul preps hides and work my custom forms to completion after I design and compose the piece.

I would find a good local taxidermist, look at his work, ask for references and then get my trophies sent there. My taxidermist here in Germany spends about 25% of time fixing botched taxidermy (mostly from Africa but a fair amount here in Europe also) The outfitter I hunted with in Namibia specifically told me DO NOT get the trophies mounted there. Plus, from what I read here it takes forever and a day plus there is a hug risk of damage when shipping. I shot my last animal in July of last year (in Namibia) and by October I had my skins/skulls at my taxidermist office.

I would also suspect some of the outfitters are getting a cut from the places they recommend....