cyclone

Well PROTEX is the "state of the art" as of now, has been for the past decade. We used to be able to get a product called "Edolin-U". It was the best non-tox bug proofer available but the EPA banned it.

If I'm paying that kind of money to have a head mounted you can darn well bet that I'd want it bugproofed.

Care of the mount once it leaves the taxidermist is another matter but a point well worth bringing up DBB..

~Will Hunt For Food~

tealboy

Well, a lot of great advice. Based on your feedback, particularly cyclone, i called the $225 guy and asked a few questions. If i were to follow cyclones advice, I would run like hell. lol

My guy works a regular full time job but does taxid on the side. He uses the dry tanning procedure and does not use the bug treatment as he says the drying process includes borax, which handles the bugs. He said something about alkalide treatment vs. ? . Not sure what he was saying. Regarding contracts and backlog, this guy does it on the side, so it will be ready in 6 weeks. Said it takes him 12 hours to do a mount. Regarding adhesive to form. He said no glue is required as the skin will shrink so tight and strong, glue is not necessary. He also said his ears include a plastic insert and they will drum a little but you can't tell by looking at them.

Anyway, I still don't know the lingo so I can't elaborate too much on my converation with the taxid, but the above is a summary. Generally, I like the guy and he has been doing mounts for 30 years. Seems to know what he is talking about and says like a lot of things, certain people prefer certain things, but his process has been successful.

cyclone

Tealboy, You're kiddin right? Tell me you're kiddin....You ask for and get some great advice from more than one person and what do you do? The opposite....You sure you ain't my wife?

Dry preserve, no bugproofing, no glues, no contract, 6 week turn around....whew...remember this post teal....you'll be lookin back on it someday....<img src=icon_smile_blackeye.gif border=0 align=middle>

Striper Phil

Tealboy LISTEN to Cyclone !!!!!!!!!!!

Where are you from, your profile is blank. If in the North East E Mail me and I will give you a few namea, One at $300 new in town but did a great job on this years 10 Point. Have a second guy who did a 8 point a few years ago, one of those state champs type he is backed up and about $350. Going to try to attach a pic of this years mount.

M.Magis

PLEASE listen to Cyclone! He actually told you that he has drumming in the ears? That alone should tell you to go somewhere else. It's not an uncommon problem, but the fact that he knows it and has chosen to just ignore it should be a big red flag. No hide paste? That means that the ears won't be the only place that has drumming. There are a lot of taxidermists out there that have been poor work for a long time. There will always be people looking for the cheapest mount they can find. And that's exactly what they get. If nothing else, follow Cyclone's last bit of advice and print out this post. That way you'll be prepared the next time you have a deer you want mounted. I think by then you'll understand what we are trying to tell you. What area are you in? Maybe we can steer you in the right direction.

DamBigBuck

This guy is a hack ... I wouldn't trust him with my trophy, no way. Now call the $300 guy and see what he says...

cyclone

Just to show you how prices can vary....I used to charge $325, a nice solid wood oak or walnut panel was included in that price. I never let one go out of my shop without a panel, my preference...

I charged $325, that was 12 yrs ago....and I had plenty of business.

I think tb was kiddin with that last post..

~Will Hunt For Food~

nhten

Hello all,that was some of the best advise I've ever read,thanks Cyclone.After 25 years of hunting,I finaly shot a buck that made me want to hang it on the wall.I've shot well over 50 deer,but last year I shot a beautiful 10 pt,with a very symetrical rack.It was easily my best looking deer and I am very proud to put it on my wall.It being the first &quot;wall hanger&quot;I decided to look for the best taxidermist I could afford.I talked to guys that had their mounts done by taxidermists from Maine to Michigan and I caled quite a few.After all was said and done,I used a guy in Nh that charged 300$ and used the techniques that Cyclone recommended.I could not be more happy with the guys work,it looks &quot;alive&quot;.The guy I used was not even close to the most expensive,but I saw some of his older work and some of his new work.I saw his shop and talked to him for 4 hours at his kitchen table over more coffee than I needed.I would recommend him to anyone.So if you ask me TB,you should listen to Cyclone,his recommendations sound perfect to me.Good luck

Noleball

Tealboy, I would advise easing over to taxidermy.net and go to their message boards and ask the same question. If you have questions about taxis, it would be best to ask the taxis. They will also tell you how long before a dry-preserved deer mount will last before you can throw it in the trash and it is not long. Also, if the guy is not glueing the hide, did it ever occur to him or you that as the hide dried, it would begin to slip off of the form and the lips would come unwrapped? Spend the extra money for the tanned hide and enjoy your trophy for life instead of a few years. That does not necessarily mean the $300 guy either. There are probably more guys around so keep checking. It may seem like a lot of work but imagine how much work you went through for years to get that trophy.

I am paying nearly $150 just for a rack mount without the rest of the head but the guy is an award winning taxi and I have seen his work for years. You have to ask if the trophy is worth it and I'll bet that if it is worth mounting, it is worth mounting right.

But hey, look at the bright side, you can go cheap and pay $225 for the mount. Then, every few years, you can order a replacement cape for about $125 from a tannery or another taxi and have it remounted every few years for the same $225. That is always an option as well.

cyclone

While you're over there at taxidermy.net do a search for my handle...you'll find I'm still active there...

~Will Hunt For Food~