Webster's Taxidermy: Minot, ND, Selecting a Taxidermist.

Selecting a Taxidermist

You've done it! You have taken that trophy that you have been dreaming about for all of these years! Now what? You will have it mounted, of course, so you can always have a reminder of this special hunt. But how do you choose the taxidermist whom you will trust to transform your trophy into a beautiful piece of art? You will be spending a fair amount of money, so you need to be sure the final product will be something you will be proud to display in your home or business. New taxidermy customers often make the mistake of simply calling several taxidermists, and end up taking their trophy to the guy who quotes the lowest price over the phone. Most people operate within a strict budget, and sometimes the price leader may even be the superior taxidermist. Regardless, it is important to take factors other than price into consideration before selecting your taxidermist.

The first step to finding a quality artist to complete your trophy should begin before you start your hunt. Visit with several friends to get their take on good taxidermists, but don't stop there. Make it a point to visit taxidermy shops, sporting goods stores, wildlife art shops, friends homes, and any other places where you can examine existing work in detail. Look for things like detail around the nose and eyes on mammals, feather positioning on birds, smoothness and paint on fish, and a general lifelike appearance. When you find work that really stands out, inquire about the artist.

When you have your list narrowed down to two or three taxidermists, visit their shops if at all possible. Examine their work in detail. Ask questions on the quality of the forms, eyes, and other materials used, if the exhibited mounts are typical of the quality the average customer can expect, if the work is done by more than one person (quality can vary significantly within a given shop) and details on bases and backgrounds. Does the taxidermist maintain a reference library to help maintain accuracy? Does the work look lifelike and dynamic, or static and "stuffed"? The flying birds should not look like they have just met with a load of #4 shot. Ask what makes their work look good. Finally inquire on pricing and lead time for completing a trophy.

Make your final decision based on artistic quality first, and schedule and pricing second. You should choose the taxidermist which provides the finest quality that you can reasonably afford. Also keep in mind that if a taxidermist promises to have your trophy complete in two weeks, he is likely taking shortcuts with his work and/or doesn't have a lot of quantity going through his shop.

Choose wisely, and you will be rewarded with a beautiful trophy which will look great for years!

WestDakota