Deer at Taxidermist for 2 years. What to do now?

[sage5907]

I do taxidermy work, I was a member of our State taxidermy association, competed in the professional competition for deer mounts several times, and won several 3rd place ribbons in the professional division. In 1999 I became a taxidermist after I retired from my profession was because I had a similar experience as yours. Now, if the guy has had your antlers and cape for 2 years something is wrong. I would bet that this year he is taking antlers and capes today from the 2021 season and promising other people he will get them done. I always do my own tanning because I only do a small number of deer each year and I am nervous about the tannery getting the capes mixed up, loosing them or ruining them. Preparing the capes is the big part of mounting a deer and he is sending the capes to a tannery because he wants to save time. t takes me about 20 hours work to mount a deer and about 10 hours of that is preparing and tanning the cape. Once the cape is tanned and the form is prepared it only takes about 5 hours to finish the job. If I were you I would make a surprise visit to his shop and ask to see your antlers. If the antlers are mounted on a form, the eyes set and the form is ready for mounting I would leave it with him. If the antlers are stacked in the corner your best bet is to get the antlers in your hand and then ask for the cape. Odds are he won't be able to find it. That's the time to take what you have and walk out the door.

 

[ReedTX]

A bit of an update. Still nothing, we called the game warden again who offered to take a trip with us to the store and collect whatever has been done, if anything.

First though I am heading to the store myself. Hopefully this coming week.

 

[Axis II]

A bit of an update. Still nothing, we called the game warden again who offered to take a trip with us to the store and collect whatever has been done, if anything.

First though I am heading to the store myself. Hopefully this coming week.

Honestly, i would quit messing with this guy, take the GW with you and get your mount before its too late.

 

[ACES&8S]

My best friend is a taxidermist and has had 2 deaths in his family during the past 6 months but he informed
all his customers about the setback, which is the right thing to do.
He has done 11 deer for me and other stuff, you can see he started good but has become excellent.
But without any other problems, he is common to take ALMOST a year to get a deer back now, compared
to when he would bring everything to my shop and we put it together right there an I would do the
details as it dried, he is the best around.
As for your situation:
Should always be less than a year unless someone is taking in money and the head then preparing to
face the music someday or ignoring the fact people know where they live and who took their money.
Some people don't hire any help and take on way more than they can EVER handle.

 

[Axis II]

Well what happened?

 

[Captcurt]

I had a 8# Rainbow and a heavy 11 point whitetail that I never got back. Different taxidermist, but both closed shop and moved. The 11 pt. was my second largest buck. Don't think that I even have a picture of him.