What does good taxidermy look like?

[Rider717]

I just got my trophies from South Africa and I'm not sure if the quality is what I was expecting. Could I get some examples of good and poor stitching on the backs of shoulder mounts? Some of mine look lousy and I want to know if I'm being too exacting on the finishing. I don't have a lot of mounts to compare good with bad. I'll post pictures and a review of the taxidermist after I give him a chance to respond to my concerns.

 

[BRICKBURN]

If you are asking this question at all, my guess is you are experiencing some of the "not so good stuff".
I await your pictures to have my suspicion proven false.

 

[MMAL]

To answer your question right if the bat you should not see any stitching! At all! Sorry for the loss and hang them high so you don't see it.

 

[Mekaniks]

If you can see the stitching it sucks....

 

[rinehart0050]

Please share photos and the name of your taxidermist.

I've got some taxidermy getting done in RSA right now and I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

 

[BWH]

Overall..... I would say with Africa, "average"..... by USA standards. I could attach photos of good/bad.... from both RSA & USA.

 

[Rider717]

This is the back of the bushbuck in the crate. The crating was excellent and all the mounts made it through with no damage, The front of the mount looks great. I just wasn't sure if I was being overly critical of the back stitching. It's not visible from the front. I'll submit a report on the taxidermist after he's had a chance to review my complaints and offered a solution.

 

[wesheltonj]

Ugh.

 

[enysse]

It's a beautiful bushbuck, I don't like the ears.

 

[Rider717]

He looks great from the front. I like the overall mount even the ears. What's not to like about them? The photo probably doesn't do him justice. I am having to hang the mounts around the too small house until we move and I get an actual trophy room set up.

Does that stitching look about par for a mount? Does anyone have a similar mount to post to compare it too?

 

[MMAL]

I will post pictures next week but you should not see any stitching at all. Unfortunately from that angle it looks bad. Hang them high and you will forget about it. The animal in itself is beautiful and I do not want to take away from the memory of the hunt. Good luck.

 

[jeff]

Animals with very short hair or very little hair, you are going to be able to see the the seam. Most people know whitetail taxidermy and they judge all others by it. Whitetails have long hair.

 

[Roan]

yea that is definitely not SA's best.

Who did it for you?

I agree with @MMAL hang them high enough so that you don't see the stitching and enjoy the memories of the hunt.

 

[Rider717]

Thanks. The stitching is not visible at all when

Animals with very short hair or very little hair, you are going to be able to see the the seam. Most people know whitetail taxidermy and they judge all others by it. Whitetails have long hair.

Jeff,

Thanks. That's what I was thinking. Since a bushbucks neck has such short hair I wasn't sure if I was being to critical. Other than the neck I don't see anything that looks bad and since it will be on a wall that part won't be visible anyway.

 

[markferrigno]

You should not see any seems regardless of hair length. Seems like it will be ok if you hang it high enough

 

[RogerHeintzman]

Rider717
Welcome to the real world of, "You'll save money getting mounts done in Africa". There's just as bad as taxidermy in the states, "BUT", you have recourse.

Did you do your homework on taxidermy as you did on outfitter to hunt with?

Most African done mounts I see have no ear butts, neither do yours. Looks like skin pulling away from horn base in top of head photo and ear bases are not even, seam is poor. I use 2-6# fireline or spider wire for my seams. Brisket white patch looks off center.Poor workmanship period!

Sorry for the critique, but 30 yrs. of taxidermy, competitions and some judging, I think I'm some what qualified.

Sorry if you do not hear from me again, but I'm off in a few hours to hunt Leopard in Namibia.

















Sorry for the critique.
Foreign hunters are big business for Africa and everyone wants a piece of the pie. Outfitters and taxidermist everywhere.

 

[Ty Howard]

Correct stitching on this whitetail

 

[markferrigno]

Correct stitching on this whitetail

View attachment 176757

I said in a different thread I would avoid getting taxidermy done in SA n Namibia. You have zero recourse and for the most part the taxidermist in the US are much better. I had a great guide in Namibia who told me before I came to
not have taxidermy done in Namibia

 

[BRICKBURN]

There is zero hair on the back of your bushbuck. A lighter "thread" may have hidden the seam better.
Comparing it to a whitetail with hair is apples and oranges.

If you are happy with the mount, good enough.

If we start critiquing the pieces we can find plenty wrong with a lot of mounts.

Hang it up and enjoy the memories.

 

[johnnyblues]

Agree. You should not see stitching. They should have air brushed that. I have the same problem on my Nyala. First and last time I leave trophies to be mounted in Africa. As I ve said in another thread, if it's price your concerned with them leave them there. If quality is your priority as it is mine bring them home.