Beautiful, your taxidermist did a great job. I like the upgraded eyes with the white to the back and the rolled wet look nose. Ears are perfect. Congrats on a nice buck
I have to ask this. Why does it have to take a year for a "good" taxidermy job? Guys seem to think the longer you have to wait the better. Now granted, I don't know much about taxidermy, but from what I've been told once the hide comes back from being tanned it is about a total of 6 to 8 hours work spread over a couple days. So how does that turn into a year or more? Doesn't that just mean the taxidermist is taking on too much work? By the way OP, yours looks great, and I like the wrinkles too!
It doesn't "have" to take a year to get a good mount done, but in my neck of the woods, the top taxidermy shops all have about a year wait time. I don't think the longer I wait, the better the job. I just know going in what the wait time will be, and I don't have an issue with waiting. I know when it's done, it will be right, and exactly what I want, and that's all that matters to me. The taxidermist that does my work has told me more that once you put the skin on the form, you have to really keep on top of it while the mount dries. That is about a 3 week period from what I understand. How much work is involved during that time, I have no idea. I don't equate the wait time with an indication that the taxidermist is taking on too much work. They are like any other business person, in that they want and need a steady stream of work coming in to be profitable. I guess I am the odd man out in this society of "hurry up, I want it NOW". I don't mind waiting for quality work, and quality work takes time. I am ok with that!
I agree with them having to keep busy year round to make it profitable. I went to drop off my antlers to my guy, and he was working on fish. He said he tries to finish most or all of the fish by the time the deer/animal hides start coming in from the tannery. He said he only takes on the amount of work he can keep up with, but enough to keep busy. He said that there is no benefit to him profit wise in taking on too much work and falling behind. He does not want to farm out the extra work, gotta respect that.
Yeah, that's a good business model to go with so you can keep a decent timeline, and hopefully keep customers happy. The guy that does my taxidermy work is also a professional musician, which has kept him busy for years. He also makes long bows, does flintnapping, and like me, is a beekeeper. Besides all of that, he is also an avid outdoorsman and hunter, like most of us. Paul doesn't farm out any of his work, including the cape tanning. He does it all in house, so he knows exactly what he is working with, which enables him to turn out quality for his customers. I realize the wait isn't for everyone...........but I don't mind.
