Just curious !

[1tigger]

Just curious to see how many of you are taxidermy enthusiasts !
Just took on the hobby this fall and I'm loving it !
I'm not one that's known to have much in the patients department but this is a hobby that I really do enjoy and Don't mind taking the extra time .
It's so cool to see the fish come back to life with each coat of paint and very rewarding to to see the end result !
This should be another thread  !!!

[Pikeguy]

I think it would be a great thing to do and would be alot of fun...I just think I'd be terrible at it!!!   

[1tigger]

I think it would be a great thing to do and would be alot of fun...I just think I'd be terrible at it!!!   

I thought the same thing until I tried it !
It really is no big deal . It's a lot easier than most people think .
If I had known how easy it really was I would have started a long time ago .
The initial investment for the equipment can be costly but once you have the tools of the trade as long as you keep them clean and maintain them they will last a long time before you have to replace anything .
The key is take your time and don't cheat any steps to the process .
There is certainly an art to it though .

[Slimechaser]

I gave it a crack when I was about 19. It was cool, but I got a little tired of killing the local wildlife just so I would have something to practice on. I did one of those school by mail deals. They did a good job of teaching, I just wasn't into the waste it would have required to get really good. No dis on you however, it really was fun. And a truly gifted taxidermist is worth his weight in backstraps to anyone who can afford to have the work done.

[1tigger]

The nice thing is you don't have to rely on local wildlife any more ! There are companies the you can buy specimens from now . I hooked up with a local D.E.C. officer and he will call once in a while to see if I can use a roadkill or fish that was confiscated .

[bassjunky]

A program like that is a great idea....My former father-N-law use to stop if he saw roadkill and it if was not to bange dup he would take it how to have it stuffed, he was a non hunter but loved animals and had a house filled with wildlife, you would have never been able to tell they were roadkill

[Eye Hunter]

There should be enough road kill to supply anyone who wants to learn. any size from a chipmunk on up. I had a cousin learn the art that way.  Good Luck

[Pikeguy]

There should be enough road kill to supply anyone who wants to learn. any size from a chipmunk on up. I had a cousin learn the art that way.  Good Luck

Ya'll gotta remember that the yocals in some parts consider them some good vittles and it'd be hard to get someone to give em up. The only stuffing they want them for is stuffing their bellies 

[Fishingking]

Haha I know a guy that eats roadkill

[flockshot]

ive eaten a roadkill deer....i hit it...does that make me a yocal???

[Pikeguy]

ive eaten a roadkill deer....i hit it...does that make me a yocal???

Nope.

You guys know I was just jokin..& maybe pickin on the PA boys a little after AdkRoy's post a while back

[bwalleye]

Haha I know a guy that eats roadkill

Now you know two------ and so........ 

[OTIS]

ive eaten a roadkill deer....i hit it...does that make me a yocal???

If you hit it, you can eat it.   If not, ya er ah yocal!

[flockshot]

ok..thanks for clearing that up..i thought maybe that would be the last time i ever admitted that .lol.


my buddy tans all his hides himself...its pretty cool..he'll pick up dead foxes every now and then but for the most part just stuff he shoots..its great for me being a fly tier and all...i get tons and tons of materials from him.

[bassjunky]

Here is another good use for roadkill .....Mepps pays 16cents to 26cents for squirrle tails and 25cents for whitetail deer tails, they will double your payment if you take payment in lures instead of cash.

http://www.mepps.com/mepps/information/squirrels/

I found this a few years back, it's good link, they explain how to properly dry and ship the tails/