hunting out of state. taxidermy?

**bobby7321** · 10-28-2006, 11:52 AM

hello. headed to NM 2A next week.
im thinking of i bag a wall hanger, what would be my best route as far as taxidermist?

should i take it to one there locally where i hunted, or bring it back to CA?
I know the CWD precautions and rules, so one benefit would be not having to worry about that.

I also don't have a relationship with any local taxidermists, so not really partial either way.

any advice?

im hunting NM 2a (aztec, farmington area)
and i live in Visalia (tulare county, fresno area)
so if anyone has taxidermist suggestions, those are welcome too.

thanks.

**Glass eye** · 10-28-2006, 01:38 PM

You can bring it back caped and the skull cap fleshed out. If you don't know how to cape a deer and are afraid to try it, then take it to a taxidermist in NM to cape it for you. I have customers that have done this.
It's much cheaper to have it caped than to pay the freight cost of a mounted buck.
If a taxidermist won't do it then I'm sure that there is a meat cutter who knows how and would be willing to do it if your deer is being processed by him.
Good luck!

**muskeg** · 10-28-2006, 02:39 PM

Sometimes it is best to have a taxidermist of the area you are hunting do your work.

Especially if the animals look a little different there. many times deer (or other animals) look different in different locals.

Some taxidermists are experienced enough to do good mounts from different areas. But I tell all my hunters that come here to pick a Sitka Blacktail taxidermist, instead of taking the cape home to a whitetail taxidermist ...... if you get my meaning.

just a thought ....

**biggameRS** · 10-28-2006, 07:15 PM

[attachment=34881:attachment]bobby7321,

I'm in Madera,

Here's one from NM.

**biggameRS** · 10-28-2006, 07:21 PM

[attachment=34882:attachment]Looks like a Muley to me

**biggameRS** · 10-28-2006, 07:24 PM

And another.

**biggameRS** · 10-28-2006, 07:33 PM

[attachment=34884:attachment]And another.

**bobby7321** · 10-28-2006, 07:41 PM

thanks for the info fellas.

muskeg, that does make a lot of sense in those situations. but i think california taxidermists should be ok doing muley mounts. thanks for the input though, i appreciate it.

i am beginning to lean towards just finding a local guy and starting a relationship. dont plan to only need him one time!! :)

biggameRS, did you do those mounts? if so please PM me your info. just want to compile some local contacts and then go from there.

thanks!!

**biggameRS** · 10-28-2006, 07:49 PM

email sent.

BGRS

**Bwana Turtle** · 10-29-2006, 10:31 AM

I've had taxidermy done locally in Montana and it worked out for me. Even though the crating and shipping were a concern the cost of the taxidermy in Montana was less due to the local economics. Since I flew and carried an overweight cooler of meat back the cape and antlers would have made it a no go and more than compensated for the shipping. Also the turn around time was less than here in the Bay Area.

**Glass eye** · 10-30-2006, 09:01 AM

BT

A lot of guys will leave heads with a local taxidermist in their hunt area because it's easy. If you got lot's of money and don't care what it cost than that's fine, but with a little planning, bringing back animals is not a problem, even on a plane. When I travel by plane I take a large ice chest and put my gear inside. Then on the return trip I put the meat, hide and antlers inside. If the rack is too big, you just cut the skull cap in half in a > shape. Then they can lay flat together. Even if you go over your baggage limit it's still cheaper to pay the airline $50 than it is to pay crating and shipping for a mount.

**Bwana Turtle** · 10-30-2006, 11:54 AM

All in all, I think I paid something like $30 more than if I would have brought it back. Plus I got my mount back about 7 months earlier than the local norm. The last time I asked it was about a year and a half. My cooler was FULL to the top and weighed 82 pounds. I couldn't have gotten jackolope antlers in it. Was it easier ? Yes. Would I do it that way again ? For $30 ? In a Heart beat. I don't have a lot of $$$$. I priced things out before left so I could make an informed decision. But, Thanks for the info.

B

**wildlifedesigner** · 10-30-2006, 09:16 PM

caping the deer yourself is very easy, and so is cutting the antlers off. Print these instructions for next year and take them with you. http://www.wildlifedesignstaxidermy.com/wi...structions.html

**Bwana Turtle** · 10-31-2006, 07:24 AM

Next year maybe. This year starts in five days. I'm actually going to Montana two days early and the better part of one of the days is devoted to hanging out with Daryl my taxidermist. He's a cool guy and I'll get to help out a bit (more like get in the way). I also get to get into the Missouri Breaks and see them since I'll be hunting way to the South.

That's my story and I'm Stickin' to it.

Third times a charm ! This year it's the cover of Eastman's for sure !

Actually, last year I hunted with the brother of the guy who WAS on the cover of Eastman's the issue from last year at this time. (Colorado Monster) He made everybody miserable, jealous I guess. It was one of the worst experiences of my life.

It was like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer !

It feels so good when you stop !

And what's even beter is, I got to use a whole slew of emoticons

Bwana