Taxidermist etiquette question

[ReinertsonTaxidermy]

This is the first time I am getting a buck mounted. My questions are :
1) Do you tip if it looks good? How much?
2) What if I am not happy with the way it looks? Do I pay the set price and have to deal with it, or do I tell him to fix it?

Thanks, it seems like I either hear someone loves their mount or hates the way it was done.

 

[iowabruce]

Do you tip....no. You need to do your homework on any taxidermist. Go look at his current work....ask them for references. Cheapest guy in town with a 2 week turnaround and you are going to get burnt. You are pretty much stuck with a mount once it's completed, so choose wisely. Good luck.

 

[iowabruce]

By the way, what part of the state are you in? I'm sure the gang here could have some suggestions for a good'un in your area.

 

[jkratz5]

Like iowabruce said, go meet the guy, look at his work and get some info. from others that have had bucks mounted with him. I personally opted out of one taxidermist because he was such an ass to me when I was in his showroom, glad he ended up treating me liek he did because I ended up finding a good one after that.

Kratz

 

[doublerack]

Although I was pleased with my taxidermist work last year, I decided to give a new guy a try. He has been doing mounts for 17yrs. I heard good things about him and he is even a little cheaper. Based on his previous mounts and the racks in his shop waiting to be mounted, I think I will be very pleased.

 

[femoralman]

I agree.. definitely do your homework and if the taxidermist tells you a quick turn around time.. that's your cue to turnaround your self and go somewhere else.. look at current work, how many deer he takes in and weather or not he does mounts other than deer.. for some deer heads aren't a priority.. how many people work for him or help him? you may like the work he does but will he really be the one doing all of the work? A nice personality helps but make sure he's not bull sh***ing you too..

 

[dc240nt]

Best advice I can give you is to look at the guys OLDER work. Just about any taxidermist can make a mount look good when its first completed. The big difference will show up 5-10 years down the road. This is where the best get seperated from the rest.

If you are in north central Iowa check out Craig Christanson in Freeborn,MN. He's alittle slow (expect a years wait), but he is certainly one of the nations best whitetail stuffers.