Is this the same bear?

[DieJager]

An acquaintance received an average trophy from the taxidermist instead of his nearly Boone and Crocket Dall sheep...

Thanks this is really helpful. I'll bookmark it.

Regarding the dall sheep, maybe I'm a bit slow, but you mean he didn't get his own trophy? If so that is just criminal.

 

[Hunt anything]

I always try to make a note of some imperfections or unique characteristics of horns I turn into a taxidermist. I write them down and compare when the trophies arrive. Not sure what to do about a skin other than remember where and how many bullet holes are in it as others have suggested.

 

[Altitude sickness]

None of my bear rugs are or were ( I gave most away) smaller than the original animal. The head dimensions are correct. I would not pay for it otherwise. Yes during the tanning process they shrink. But they should be hydrated and brought back to original size.

 

[Foxi]

Thanks this is really helpful. I'll bookmark it.

Regarding the dall sheep, maybe I'm a bit slow, but you mean he didn't get his own trophy? If so that is just criminal.

yes,but what can you do when your trophy is lost ?
And what if it's allegedly a mistake?
Filing a lawsuit in Alaska from Europe is a waste of money.

@altidude s.
My bears have shrunk a little.
Always different taxidermists.

 

[Hunt anything]

@Foxi , agree about the law suit but you can get on every forum available and put the taxidermist on them that they are unreliable at best and a crook at worst.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Here is an example of duplicating the actual animal. This deer is 30” wide but only 170” ish. The trophy is the cape.

My favorite thing is his scarred up Roman nose. I was adamant that it was duplicated. The nose on the form had to be built up a lot to look like the original. So the huge neck and nose were duplicated.

Don’t accept the excuse given. That they all shrink.

 

[Foxi]

@Foxi , agree about the law suit but you can get on every forum available and put the taxidermist on them that they are unreliable at best and a crook at worst.

When the Dall sheep trophy was given back, there was no internet at that times.
Today, it's much easier to build up pressure (and, admittedly, to spread slander).
But with the Alaska bear, it's still ongoing; it happened this year.
Since I'm not directly affected, I don't want to say anything about the company in Alaska.
But it's in work.

 

[UKHunter]

Looks like the same bear. Different lighting - indoor white lights versus outdoor playing a few tricks on the eyes, but the same bear I think. Just badly mounted.

 

[Safari Dave]

I think it's the same bear, but poor taxidermy.

(The taxidermist used a skull form that was too small)





A good taxidermist will either make it look exactly right (I give mine several pictures (and he asked for them)).

Some good taxidermist will even make them appear larger (truth be told, I don't mind that approach either...)

I like skulls, so I have good rug, but also the actual skull, if I need to point out a problem.

 

[Safari Dave]

I once had a deer mounted, that did not turn out as I expected.


Because taxidermy is an art, and art is subject to interpretation, I took the mount to an experienced friend. When I took it inside his place, the first thing he said was "I don't think I would have paid for that!"

I called talked to a very reputable, but very expensive taxidermist, he suggested two options:


1. Have the trophy examined by 2-3 licensed taxidermists, and get them to write a brief statement on why the trophy is substandard and get ready to go to "small-claims" court.

2. Explain to the taxidermist who did the sub-par work that you have had their work looked at by other taxidermist who agreed that the work was not up to standards. Offer to pay for the materials used by the taxidermist who did the sub-par work, but nothing more.


I took option 2 and he reluctantly gave me back half of what I paid.



I have since taken better deer, so the mount now resides in my "man-cave".

When I have buddies over, I sometimes clap my hands when I'm near it hoping it will start singing!

 

[coreydb]

Agree with Firebird. Much smaller head and different color. The taxidermist could have been more specific about the head dimensions when he ordered the head mold. Also, the color doesn't change during the tanning process.

 

[washington867]

Does not look like the same bear. The same thing happened with my black bear taken last year.

 

[Scott CWO]

@Scott @Green Chile - that is some BAD taxidermy and Scott CWO got it right “too small a form used by taxidermist” and that resulted in your Very nice large skulled bear —-looking like a 2 yr old 100 pound sow ! Also, good taxidermist will add “clay” to build up the skull and form that “muscle crease” that runs down the center of the skull on large boars. Until I saw your photos I thought that I was the only person this happened to: arrowed a nice 276 lb male Black bear in NY that had a nice large skull with clearly defined “crease” running down center of skull and a look of ‘small ears’ laying on side of head. I made the mistake of using a different Taxidermist then I usually do to “save a few $100s”. When I got the 1/2 life size mount back - I thought it was someone else’s bear but the distinctive White chevon on the chest was proof it was mine. Now, my “trophy” looks like any average 125lb bear with “small narrow head”. If - IF I ever get another bear mounted I will discuss the head in detail and make my expectations clear, also look at photos of his work…its worth paying extra to get Quality

This is exactly right. Happens with rugs and full body mounts too often. It’s more work to stretch and sew up the tanned hide on a properly sized form so some taxidermists order smaller forms and hope the customer won’t say anything. The headset on the OPs bear is too small and the taxidermist did not place the ears in the correct position. This happened to me with a brown bear once and I’m still disappointed in the mount.

 

[Green Chile]

I'm still waiting for more photos and have only received the one poor photo so far. It's the holidays so some patience is required. Depending on how the taxidermist made a big bear fit a smaller form, there might be some things we can do at another shop to fix it. How to get it picked up when so much is wrong is a little messy.

 

[Paul Homsy]

Maybe it’s the angle but the mounted bear looks significantly smaller, the width between the ears is way off as is the ear size relative to the overall head and lack of a forehead cleft. Maybe best case scenario he didn’t stretch it over the form but most taxidermists over-stretch so your bear looks maybe a bit larger than what reality was. And I agree the color is off too. Guessing he lost your hide and the alternative he found is the usual small bear

To me it's the same hide/same bear but the form used for the skull is too small. A taxidermist used a grizzly head form for an archery black bear I shot to fit the size of the skull. The difference in color is due to the different lighting. The angle of photography adds size to the skull that seems to increase the space between the ears but the ears are identical and it's not a substituted hide. It's clearly the same.

 

[dgr416]

Bad Taxidermy they put the wrong size skull form .