The Crooked Taxidermist

[Bodeen]

In another post I mentioned how I got ripped off by a shyster posing as a taxidermist.Here is the story.

I found out about this person from my brother inlaw. How she was a master taxidermist working for Jonas Brothers in Colorado. After her husband died, she relocated here in the midwest and opened shop in Raytown Mo. The mounted critters on display in her shop were beautiful and well done.While the prices were not cheap, they were reasonable for the quality of work displayed in her shop.

I took one of those hybrid Corsican rams to her to mount for me.While I was waiting to get that back, I also took her an 8# bass and a large whitetail.Well...I get the call to pick up my ram head. I was shocked when I saw it in her shop. One of the eyes was crooked(like her), and there was a 1/2" gap between the hair and the base of the horns, in the front. She said she would fix it, so a week later I went back to see that she painted the form to cover the gap. I told her that was totally unexceptable.After arguing with her I informed her I wanted my money and my other critters back,luckily I kept the deer antlers. She would'nt give me my money back, and she wanted $200 for my deer cape, for time spent. To top that, she threatened to sue me for slander.

Anyhow, the ram head is now in the county dump. The bass and deer cape are long gone, and the last I heard about her she was wanted by the authorities.
It seems she managed to con somebody for Fed money to open a taxidermy school.All of her students came from foreign countries,and she was just using them as slaves.

 

[Liv4Rut]

Man that sucks, my dad took a coyote to a taxidermist once, after a year or so he called them and they claimed their freezer had broken and ruined the cape, my dad was under the impression that they just sold the cape

just didnt really make sense why they wouldnt of called him and let him know right away if the freezer broke a long time ago

 

[kansasbowhunter]

Hey Bodeen, sorry to hear about your troubles with the wannabe taxidermist.... I know that you probably have found another one, however, if you have not, I highly recommend a man that lives in Eudora Kansas roughly 8 miles east of Lawrence... His name is Don McDermott and he does excellent work....

Have you had a chance to get out and shed hunt yet???

Take care..

Mark...

 

[meredith]

i know what you guys mean but i dont know about my deer heads yet the first deer i killed is in missouri and the guy the guy ust keeps telling me that its at the tannery for 11/2 its still there. anyone wanna go with me to missouri and take over the taxidermist house.....

 

[lxshooter]

Bodeen sorry to hear about your experience. If your ever in this area and are looking for great taxidermy work at a good price I recommend Derek Hoch in Milo, Ia. His work is excellent and very reasonable priced.

 

[Bodeen]

KB, ya' never know I might be in need of his services. Is he listed in the phone directory?

This incident happened about 14 years ago, so I'm over it. In fact, it's almost comical and definately unbelievable.

 

[Ogz]

The first deer I harvested of any size was a 130 class ten point. I was thrilled to say the least. I took it to a local guy who I knew and left it at that. Several months later my parents got a phone call from the local sheriff. They had raided his house and found our name in his records and on a rack in his basement. He was operating without a permit and was found to have in his possession several animals that he couldn't have without permits. I had to go through a long process and thanks to the local sheriff who was a good friend of the families, I got my head back as well as my money. I guess we need to get references when we go to a new taxidermist! Sorry for your loss. A painful leason learned I guess.