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MtnHtr Offline OP
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A couple years ago I posted about my then taxidermist going sour on me. Had him mount a nice 4pt buck, a black bear to rug and two bear skulls to prep in 2000. To make a long story short, the buck came out nice, the bear rug was ruined and I got the two bear skulls back after many phone calls and efforts by a couple of Gov agencies. Never will be sure these two skulls are the originals. This taxidemist also entered 3 black bears into B&C, one of which I am 100% sure he did not kill. B&C Monkey Business

Now this taxidermist did quite a few mounts for me back in the early 90's and the mounts still look good and are holding up fine, New Method was the tanner for these mounts. However, the buck he mounted (actually I'm about 99% sure he farmed it out) in 2000 and delivered in 2001 for me has gone south. I was dusting the shoulder mount off and noticed dermestid pupae casings all over it. Took the mount outside and noticed patches of hair coming off near the antlers, the ears are turning a tan color inside too. A bare patch of hide is now visible with dermestid beetle evidence starting to show. This mount is less than 2.5yrs old! I suspect whoever mounted it did not tan it properly (or have it tanned) and maybe dry preserved it? Rotten SOB taxidermist, he's from Northern Utah so stay away from him!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Pics to follow............................

MtnHtr

Last edited by Mtn Hunter; 12/06/04.



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most likely dry preserved and improperly fleshed and degreased,or not degreased at all.In this area dry preserve works fine,but you have to flesh and degrease thoroughly.

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I'm afraid I'm showing my ignorance here but do taxidermists actually "tan" the hide? I have no experience but have heard that their are products out where they scrape fat and meat off the hide, treat, and pull over the mount. How should it be "tanned"?


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Yep ,thats pretty much what we do.Flesh,salt,pickle,nuetralize,tan,and oil.Sounds complicated,it really isnt.Just hard work especially on big bears which are fattier than a stick of butter.A "tan" is basicly a chemical that bonds with the fibers of the skin and takes the place of the natural oils in the skin that make it soft and pliable and at the same time it preserves it.Not an ignorant question,although my explanation isnt that great.I bet hunter that throw all their deer skins away would feel bad once they tan their own.You need water,salt,a skin,some time,and a $20 kit from www.vandykestaxidermy.com

Last edited by DIXIEBANJO; 12/06/04.
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The mount, looks okay from this shot but all is not well. Tiny gremlins are inside happily munching away on their holiday feast:
[Linked Image]

A closer look, the hair just fell away. There is a tiny hole where a gremlin drilled thru:
[Linked Image]

The ear, it has changed to a lighter color and the hair is slipping. There was alot of pupa casings here before I hit em with compressed air:
[Linked Image]

The hair is starting to slip on the forehead, a tiny gremlin is visible in this shot:
[Linked Image]

A 2.5yr old shoulder mount ready for the trash can! Taxidermists can go sour just like grapes! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

MtnHtr




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Wow,thats too bad.I would not be happy with the taxidermist.

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I sent these photos to another taxidermist who knows the ex-taxidermist and sees alot of his work. He wrote back:

"Your right!......Every mount that I have seen that {name deleted} has done looks exactly like yours........The beetles are there because there is something for them to eat...."red meat".........The beetles will spread to your other mounts, if they are close by.....also, he does not glue his ear liners in the ear and he does not use a very good...if any, hide paste...that is why the ears are drumming and will eventually crack and fall apart....he is lazy and in my opinion, a very poor Taxidermist....He only cares about fast turn around and making a quick buck....I don't believe that cape was commercially tanned....he tells everyone they are...but it looks like he has put a dry preserve on it. I know he has ruined allot of once in a life time trophies for a lot of people.....sad, but true.....but least you still have the antlers and you can always get a new cape.....but in my opinion, there is nothing you can do with that mount, but start over..... your right!....he is a jerk!!

Any how, hope all is well,

{name deleted}

The ex taxidermist had not done a mount for me before this since 1992, so this shoddy work was not expected. All I can say is pay close attention to your long-time 'smith or taxidermist. Is his repeat customers still around? Does he still have alot of business?

MtnHtr




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That really makes my skin crawl!This guy could get into big trouble for lying about them being tanned.Does the skin feel hard like a piece of rawhide?Actually,I just got the picture too load better,and I can see the color of the skin where the hair has slipped.That coloring in that patch gives it away.The skin is rotting.I would put the mount in a bag and spray some bug fumigater stuff and let it sit for a day or so.If they just are left like that,that mount could get pretty nasty.Anyway,it doesnt really matter what I guess happened,although I think Im right,It can be easily pruven true once the mount is oppened up.Thats pretty easy to do.Are you going to take the antlers off yourself?I think you probably should.What a loser taxidermist!

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DB,

What is sad is this ex-taxidermist was fully capable of doing great work. I could post pics of his personal mounts outta of his home and most would be impressed. Back in the 80's and early 90's this ex-taxidermist was very respected and had quite a few big name and wealthy clients. Here is a shot of his work, the client is/was a well known hunter/antler collector. The ex-taxidermist mounted all of these in the pic:
[Linked Image]

MtnHtr




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Amazing how lazy people can be.He must have just been trying to make a BUCK.I guess he was into taxidermy to make some DOE.

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