REPORT: Walker Taxidermy In Galax VA

[bilmcc]

When I went to Zambia in 2015, I looked around at various taxidermists. I found Jesse Walker's website, and thought he looked pretty competent, having won a few prizes in competition, and being local (In the state of Virginia, anyway), I decided to give him my business. This weekend, I drove out to Galax to pick up my African heads and a tahr from New Zealand. I took my middle son, who recognized an opportunity to chase some trout. Here are some photos. I apologize for my bad photography.

That is just a taste of the Kudu. I will get him up on the wall before a take a full picture.

 

[bilmcc]

Hmm, kudu picture did not come thru? I will try again later. Lots of hanging to do.

 

[cpr0312]

Congrats, its like Christmas morning isn't it!

 

[bilmcc]

Yes it is! And others get to share. My son was amazed by the tahr and the kudu.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Get them on the wall!

Glad to see a hunter that is happy with his trophies.

 

[bilmcc]

Get them on the wall!

Glad to see a hunter that is happy with his trophies.

Yes, I am happy, but I found I have a limit in tahr presses and buffalo skull presses! I will hit the rest again in the morning, after I get my truck fixed. This has been an active, stressful weekend. Two are on the wall, four to go. They are here and I am happy.

 

[bilmcc]

Everything is up, except the kudu, which is causing me to rearrange a lot of what used to be storage space, and the buffalo skull, for which I will have to engineer a better mount!

 

[johnnyblues]

Congratulations. Always great to get back taxidermy.

 

[CAustin]

Like someone mentioned it's like Christmas!

 

[bilmcc]

My wife suggested future trips to Africa should probably focus on the "tiny ten."

 

[LivingTheDream]

My wife suggested future trips to Africa should probably focus on the "tiny ten."

She doesn't realize how expensive that can get.

 

[bilmcc]

She doesn't realize how expensive that can get.

From what I have seen, most areas will yield 1 or 2 kinds, if you can bag them.

 

[enysse]

The most expensive thing about the "tiny ten" is the taxidermy.

 

[PARA45]

Congrats, can't wait to see your trophies displayed on the wall.

 

[Edgar DeHart Jr.]

It looks like good workmanship. What was the turnaround time? Would you recommend this taxidermist? Will you use his services again? I ask because I will be needing a taxidermist for my upcoming hunt in Namibia and he is not far from where I live. I looked at his website and prices seemed very reasonable.

 

[bilmcc]

I liked his work. I am sending my mouflon to another shop only because I have no standards for comparison. I wanted to see what a "big box" store would do. Otherwise, any of my future work is going to Jesse. Especially if I get a black bear.

 

[Edgar DeHart Jr.]

Thanks. I'm going to call him.

 

[bilmcc]

It took over seven months for my African heads to get out of Africa. I do not know how much time they spent in NY customs. Then they went to the tanner in NC. My tahr zipped by the African line and straight into the goat tanks. He was the first one completed! I waited till all work was done before going to pick them up. I mixed in some trout fishing on the trip, too. So I really cannot answer the turn around time. Lots of moving parts.

 

[bilmcc]

Okay, everything but the kudu is mounted in a room that I am in the process of converting from storage into a library/ lounge. Here is the chobe bushbuck.

, followed by the tahr

, then we have an old puku,

, an impala ram,

, and a 39.5 inch cape buffalo.

I am not sure why some of these are rotated 90 degrees. It is taking me a while to make space for the kudu. He is a LOT bigger than I remembered.

 

[Britt Beck]

Having to make space is a good problem. Lol. Congrats