taxidermist wait - what would you do?

[kpk]

This will be the 4th whitetail I've had done by the same guy. Time to get them returned has doubled on every one. The last one that I took there has now been there for 2 years. I sent him a message a couple months back asking if he'd ever get it done, all I received back was "yes". Starting to get pretty irritated about it. He's done a great job on my other mounts and I'm kinda concerned that if I really start pressuring he'll do a crap job just to get it done. I've also considered taking a drive over and offering to pay for what he's done and just take it to another guy.

 

[rileybassman]

That's a long wait... my guy is usually 6-8 months... and he does a fantastic job

 

[tipsntails7]

This will be the 4th whitetail I've had done by the same guy. Time to get them returned has doubled on every one. The last one that I took there has now been there for 2 years. I sent him a message a couple months back asking if he'd ever get it done, all I received back was "yes". Starting to get pretty irritated about it. He's done a great job on my other mounts and I'm kinda concerned that if I really start pressuring he'll do a crap job just to get it done. I've also considered taking a drive over and offering to pay for what he's done and just take it to another guy.

2 YEARS...... he obviously has to much work for what he is capable of doing. That's way to long, and that's when capes and antlers start getting lost or mixed up.


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[elkyinzer]

My experience and read of the market around here is that the good ones are worth the wait, to an extent. Two years is getting pretty long to wait.

I'm guessing one-man shop and that he probably does it on the side in addition to another job? That is what my guy does and he does the best work I have ever seen, anywhere. He takes a year plus just to have the time to cycle through his customers, and he turns people down every year. All word of mouth. I also know of a guy around my hometown that didn't turn anyone down, and his work turned into 2 and 3 years wait and people started getting antsy. That's where communicating with the customer comes into play.

The bigger, highly advertised shops around here employ multiple artists, most of them just starting out, and it's sort of a roll of the dice what you are going to get. Kind of like when you go to some restaurants and certain cooks reliably crank out better food than others. I would imagine there's a bit more incentive to rush your work in that kind of environment as well.

 

[JPHuntingAUS]

You can't rush art!

My normal taxi is considered One of the countries best and he's usually a two year wait before he'll even receive your heads into his shop!
Ive used some quicker turn around guys 5-6 months and neither came anywhere near the of my main guy. To the point that I can't put those heads next to his or they just look terrible.

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[Nick Muche]

I've had a Sitka Blacktail at a taxidermist since Nov of 2013. I don't use him any more, but his work is good. I'd like it back sometime soon, not sure if that'll ever happen. One can hope.

 

[N2TRKYS]

You should find another taxidermist.

 

[tipsntails7]

I've had a Sitka Blacktail at a taxidermist since Nov of 2013. I don't use him any more, but his work is good. I'd like it back sometime soon, not sure if that'll ever happen. One can hope.

Stories like this make me wonder how many taxies lose shit and attempt to cover it up. There is absolutely no way it should take that amount of time, for any mount.


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[tim tarras]

Why not stop in a ask to see the progress on the mount? If he hasn't even started ask for it back and any deposit. At least you would have it and less chance of it getting lost or mixed up. Then you can take your time and find another Taxi.

 

[AdamW]

About a year is my cutoff. In my experience most good taxidermists will also be a human being and consider the customer. When the wait has approached 18 months plus it might be time to take a season off from taking new work IMO. My euro mount this year was supposed to take 3 months due to the number he gets. I waited 6 months before even calling. It was done about a week later. It was either 1) done sitting there and he had never called or 2) he did it over the course of that 2 final weeks. I don't call pestering but the squeaky wheel gets the grease. If a guy calls at 3 months and 1 week and I don't call for 6, whose mount is getting done first?

Our preferred taxidermist got over a year + so he stopped taking new work until he was caught up. My dad went to guy #2 with a great buck. Guy #2 dicked around and took almost 2 years. Instead of being honest and saying he was never going to finish it he rushed it. A memorable buck, probably of my dad's lifetime.

That said my friend is a full time knifemaker and just finished a 4 year long wait list.

 

[tommy1005]

6 months for my local guy on my whitetails. 12-18 months was the quote from the taxi we use in Colorado.

 

[Trial153]

I find it comical how everyone thinks they have a World renowned taxidermist. In any event I stay clear of any taxidermist that's isn't working as a taxidermist it full time. To many horrible stories about waits and work with guys that do it part time, getting behind and never seeing day light. Secondly I stay clear of anyone who's prices are below average. With the two different shops I been using, one local and out of state shoulder mounts and run of the mill stuff it's been -6 months to about a year.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Wait for it and find a new taxi.

 

[Zbot]

The good one are worth the wait.

Think about it, if this mount is supposed to last the rest of your life and more, does waiting an extra year really matter at that point? Why rush it? Another way of thinking about it is demand. That taxidermist is backlogged for a reason....they produce a mount that is in demand and folks are willing to wait in line for it. People go to him or her because they are proven. If a taxi is available and can get you a mount in under six months, why do they have that kind of time? Why isn't there a line of folks ahead of you? What have other folks seen that you haven't? Sure, a few only take a set number of animals per year, but not all do that.


I just got back a pair of deserts on a rock pedestal after 18 months. I would have happy waited more for an animal I might never shoot again.

 

[mtswampfox]

Feel your pain. Sent a superposed to Browning inJune 2015 for complete restoration. Was promised for March 2016. Still waiting

 

[tipsntails7]

The good one are worth the wait.

Think about it, if this mount is supposed to last the rest of your life and more, does waiting an extra year really matter at that point? Why rush it? Another way of thinking about it is demand. That taxidermist is backlogged for a reason....they produce a mount that is in demand and folks are willing to wait in line for it. People go to him or her because they are proven. If a taxi is available and can get you a mount in under six months, why do they have that kind of time? Why isn't there a line of folks ahead of you? What have other folks seen that you haven't? Sure, a few only take a set number of animals per year, but not all do that.


I just got back a pair of deserts on a rock pedestal after 18 months. I would have happy waited more for an animal I might never shoot again.

The reason he is backlogged is because he took on too much work. If your wait is over 2 years, there is an issue. He could either A) be a professional and stop taking work until he is caught up, B) let customers know what the realistic time frame is.

18 months for two deserts is pretty damn good I would say. 3 years for a Sitka blackmail shoulder mount? Probably not. I mean what is the cutoff at that point? 5 years? At that point stuff starts getting lost.


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[kpk]

Well, figured I would update this. I saw a post on facebook from a "pro hunter". He took 8 deer into my taxidermist. I thought ooooh, that's why its taking so long. Then I went to show a friend the post of the 8 deer that the pro took in and had to do a search to find it again. The search came up with a few results, the first being when the pro picked his deer up. The next search result was when he dropped those 8 off.....6 MONTHS after I dropped mine off. So to sum up....he drops off 8 deer 6 months after me and gets all 8 back before me!

The pro and my friend got into a bit of an argument over the way this has worked out (friend is also waiting on a deer taken in 2 months after mine). The pro made some pretty A*hole comments IMO. "business is business and 8 deer times his price is a lot of money" "be happy I didn't take all 32 I needed done to him" The entire conversation was deleted the next day.

The possession tag for my deer is now riding in my truck with me. If I happen to stop by soon and not see my deer close to being finished it'll be going elsewhere.

 

[tipsntails7]

Well, figured I would update this. I saw a post on facebook from a "pro hunter". He took 8 deer into my taxidermist. I thought ooooh, that's why its taking so long. Then I went to show a friend the post of the 8 deer that the pro took in and had to do a search to find it again. The search came up with a few results, the first being when the pro picked his deer up. The next search result was when he dropped those 8 off.....6 MONTHS after I dropped mine off. So to sum up....he drops off 8 deer 6 months after me and gets all 8 back before me!

The pro and my friend got into a bit of an argument over the way this has worked out (friend is also waiting on a deer taken in 2 months after mine). The pro made some pretty A*hole comments IMO. "business is business and 8 deer times his price is a lot of money" "be happy I didn't take all 32 I needed done to him" The entire conversation was deleted the next day.

The possession tag for my deer is now riding in my truck with me. If I happen to stop by soon and not see my deer close to being finished it'll be going elsewhere.

Who's the pro that's acting like a pecker?


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[ben h]

The Taxi I use for ducks, does it on the side and he takes several years, but he's pretty up front with the time expectation. I really like his work and he's won several competitions, so I'm okay with the wait. He has several of my birds from last year that I'm waiting on.

I think giving priority to someone who brings him more work, just makes good business sense and probably isn't anything personal. Increasing your communication with him might speed things along better, but like you said don't push it or your quality might suffer as a result.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

Before I took my mount to him I would have discussed how long it would take to complete. Now that you are in it a simple phone call asking how long to completion should be in order. If the timeline is acceptable leave it there, if not pick it up and take it to someone else.
Whether or not someone else gets in front of you in the queue should be asked as well.