Taxidermy?

[Mike]

One of my many hobbies is taxidermy. I know there are some sly taxidermists in my area but I dont think they are members here. I specialize in birds but also do European mounts. We have a big buck goat here that is agressive and looks very tasty. When I took some pics of him I noticed the long beard and then noticed how nice he would look on a wall with his muscular neck. I like taxidermy because when I get an odd bird mutation or when a friend shoots one then I can preserve it forever for future generations to see. For example I had a bird come from my show salmon faverolles. The bird that came from them had clean legs, 4 toes, yellow legs, and really odd color. It should have feathered feet, 5 toes, white legs, and be black and yellow. When he became too mean I killed him and mounted him so I can show what can come from well established lines. It is interesting and takes up my time that would have been wasted watching tv. Another advantage is that I can do a deer shoulder mount and sell it for around $500 which it only costs me about $40 in supplies and about 2 weeks time.

[MagmaBabe]

uhm.. well I'll give you one thing, that is definitely a pretty unique hobby you've got going on there 

question... what made you interested in taking it up?

[JDog]

I'll be honest, I find taxidermy very disturbing.


Having the head of a dead animal mounted on your wall doesn't sit real well with me, but what ever fills your sails I guess.

I suppose it is inherent human nature to show off trophys of their kills. They do it in the animal kingdom. Many species attract mates by showing off the carcasses of the animals that they have killed. I believe Predator also took the spines and skulls of his victims in the 1988 thriller starring Carl Weathers.

[Mike]

My dad got me into it. When we would go hunting he would always take it to a friend to get it done and then when it got too pricey he started doing it himself. I always helped him out with it, then when he stopped hunting and all I just kept doing it, mostly on birds.

 That is kinda creepy about Predator, I dont think I have heard of it.

[Jer]

Definitely is an interesting hobby.  As a hunter myself I prefer just the simple mounting the rack on a plaque.  I have seen two really interesting things though that may interest you.  The first was a cribbage board made from a deer antler.  it was a very nice large 6 pointer that stood perfectly on all 6 points and the top was shaved down smooth and had the hoes drilled into it for the board.  I don't know if you can picture that from the description but it was cool to see.  Another great one that some people find really weird but I think is a great idea, was a gun rack.  Two deer were used and it was just the feet angled up mounted on  a plaque across from each other.  Definitely unique!

[Mike]

That would be interesting, I have seen chairs and tables made with cow horns for the legs and arms, I would love to do one of those some day.
 I have done many leg gun racks. I do the normal gun rack with the two front legs or make a coat hanger with all four legs. It is pretty easy to do. When we butcher cows or goats I keep the feet and make coat hangers with them. I can take them to the feed store and when they sell them they tell me and I get the money for them, many people buy them because they arent that common. Another thing I do with bird feet is I dry them at a 45* angle and mount them on a board for a coat hanger, I got the idea from an old field and stream, they used turkey feet. When we butcher meat birds I keep the feet and do that with them then take them to shows and sell them, it seems that I cant make them fast enough, lol.
 One thing I saw on ebay one time was a turkey foot dried so that the middle toe was up and the other two down so it was 'flipping the bird'.

[Tyler]

That's awesome Mike!  I have my first pheasant mounted in my parent's garage. 

[Marz]

I believe Predator also took the spines and skulls of his victims in the 1988 thriller starring Carl Weathers.

Yeah! Predator rules! One of my favorite villains of all time.

I wouldnt care to have any animals but do you do fish Mike?

[Mike]

I have thought about doing fish but they seem kinda boring, and most people just do a cast of them. My wife is thinking about doing fish skin baskets. You basically make a rough basket shape out of old branches, then take the fish skin and stick it on the branches and stick it near the wood stove to dry, they look kinda odd when they are done.