Why I haven't been on much "What a heck of a ride Update 13 May"

[Sarge]

Just for all of you that were so kind to take the time to try and help, I have been denied my VA VOC REHAB, due to what the VA Calls poor statistical outlook for employment according to the National Employment Database.  Basically that means we don't use State job Services to let them know we have openings and for them to support me as a self employment and start my own shop I would need to be a Level One disability which means missing a body part or and eye and I don't think anyone would make a really good brand new Taxidermist without a hand and I really don't wanna poke myself in the eye with a stick so I am on my own.  I am going to try the State Vocational Rehab folks and see if they will help.  If that doesn't work then it is lots of Videos and trial and error on my part until I get my shop up and running.

I will be looking into short courses and seminars that I can afford to get to but as it stands I will be just like all the Old Timers here, make a mistake and figure out how ta fix it.  Right now I have 2 XXL coons, a 52lb. female beaver, two WT does and three WT Bucks to  work on as well as what I will be purchasing through out the summer to self teach on.  Anyone that has any spare grouse, partridges or pheasants, they would be willing to help out with for learning specimens let me know in the next couple weeks I will be interested in purchasing some.

I am also looking for advice on who has the most current videos and books on Upland game birds, mammals and Waterfowl.  I have the break through mamel, bird and WT manuals but portions look pretty out of date compared to what I have been reading in the tutorials here.

So now you know the rest of the story and that is why I haven't been on much.  I have been really depressed and am getting ready to get up and start swinging for my hopes and dreams again but it really has been a rough few weeks for me.  Thank you again to all that filled out those forms for me we had a total of 62 of them.  Thank you to JJ as well for the letter from the board of the NTA.  I gave it my best shot, now just have to find another way.

Sincerely

Jeff Herdebu
High Plains Taxidermy

[RDA]

Well,  kraaap on em then,,,,,,just keep pluggin,  between  vids  here  and shows   youll be a dermist  soon~~keep on keepin on Sarge!



ps.,,   so much  for  "change"    you would think theres a ton of money out there for new business and re-education!!!    Oh,,,    thats  right,,,,,,your not  "tan"  enough.....

[Sarge]

It isn't skin color Ron it's the fact that I want to be a small businessman.  Didn't you here we are the evil ones we make a living by feeding our kids Bambi's Mom instead of asking for food stamps, and when we try to donate part of his Auntie to a shelter we are accused of trying to kill people with lead poisoned meat.

I am just tired of being labeled as a Bad Guy.  I don't free drug dealers that pedal to kids because the jail is over full, and I don't let murders run free cause they cost to much to keep locked up.

I am seriously thinking of becoming what they classified me at my VA Physical when I got out.  An Antisocial non conformist that has problems re-associating with those without a military background.   That is what Readjustment Disorder means and that is what they call non-PTSD.

Jeff 

[joes-taxi]

cant you get one of them sallie mae voc loans you dont have to pay it all back i think under obamas new plan they give you the money try that but theres nothing wrong with trial and error and this site and a set of them break through books .that is how i learned then for birds there is a site called old heritage online course for i think 40.00 dollars .but the main thing is never give up now my customers are regular i see alot of them every season it is awsome. and you will learn something new every animal you mount just start with family and freinds that is what i did now i have regulars good luck (check the archives if you get in a jam) joe

[Sarge]

Thanks Joe I just wish the big orange button stayed within the Archives it likes to jump to the new forum and then I have to search through the search

[Eddie V.]

sarge i think i have a chucker and maybe a pheasant in the freezer and you are more then welcome to them just pay shipping to your door. just let me know. Eddie V.

[psycho]

Sarge, where are you located at?  I can tell you this there are guys that have received vocational rehab in different states for taxidermy.  I don't know all of the circumstances but I can tell you a very good friend has done it and has been in business for years now and is successful!  Keep on their, um REAR!  Don't give up and don't forget to answer me and tell me where you are!  Later, Dan

[Sarge]

Hey Dan I am in Bismarck ND.  I know there are and I have tried that route and this guy just won't budge.  I have been working on getting this approved since Nov. I have to get on with the learning and learn as I go I have been buying tools and equipment and am getting ready to pour a new over coat in my shop floor to fix the cracks and settled areas in the floor that was done in 1959.  Then I will be welding up my stands and getting busy.  I originally planned to learn on my own and get it done.  I am sick of the FEDS they wanna brag how they are there to help the Vets and then they try to tie our hands.

Hate ta tell them I have fought tougher fights than this.  BUT I can do it on my own and after all the hoops they have been making me jump through I intend to do it on my own and then put it in my advertising that the VA told my they wouldn't help and see how that helps them.

DISABLED US ARMY VET THAT WAS REFUSED HELP BY THE U.S. VETERANS ADMINISTRATION VOCATIONAL REHABILITAION. WOULD APRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT IN BUILDING HIS NEW BUSINESS.

PLEASE COME HELP US CELEBRATE OUR GRAND OPENING BRING THE KIDS AND SEE OUR GALLERY HAVE SOME COFFEE AND COOKIES AND GET TO KNOW US.

That is what I plan to run in the local paper and the hunting fishing magazines based here Aug. 2010

Can't bust me for slander every word will be true and I may send the Ad to Glenn Beck just for fun.

I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO WAIST ANY MORE OF MY LIFE GROVELING TO A bureaucrat
Jeff

[psycho]

I hear ya Jeff.  I hated it when I had to go to the VA for medical care and when they look at the test results they  get another doctor involved and then when you ask them if there is something they saw.  They turn and look at you and tell you they can't tell you!  What kind of crap is that!  I know your feeling though.  They rated me at 0% for three categories and a buddy of mine was in the Air Force and they gave him 10% for his back problem and he doesn't have near the problems I have.  Just doesn't make sense sometimes.  Jeff PM me. I have an idea to help a little.  Later, Dan

[Uncle Harley]

Sarge, You are married right?  Open the business in your wife's name,  there is all kinds of grant money out there for women and minorities. 

[breeze]

Sarge,
  Too bad you don't live a bit closer.  I would be happy to walk you through a couple of mounts.  It wouldn't take very long to teach EVERYTHING I know.  Is there anyone up there you could apprentice with?

[Sarge]

I am working on some local help but will have to wait and see what happens.  I have never failled a mission and I have this one at the top of my list.  My uncle used to be a dermist but quit 15-20 years ago.  Nice thing about this business the basics don't change just the products we use to do them.  Positioning, tax stuff into the proper body positions to me is the hardest part since I am so new.  Stitching is still the same basic few tyypes of stitchs, reading the holes is the hard part there if you can see it in your head you can do it.  I learned the lay-up method for eyes at the State Convention and a pile of other things to numerous to mention.

Right now I am still recovering from quitting the smokes 27 days in and still doing fine.  Spending the week-end getting the last Skull and antler work out the shop and then gonna pressure wash all the smoke off everything and fix my crappy old cracked up caved in floor.  Then I start building and welding my stands and then i'm gonna get busy thawing and skinning out what I have in the freezer the nice thing about this is what I planned to be future projects for myself and put off until I have time are gonna be my learning tools and these I will do for myself.  By the time I get through the ones I have and the ones I have lined up I should have all the kinks out of my work stations and the flow in the shop should be a breeze.  If it doesn't work the way I want, change it cause it's MY SHOP.  That is the thing that I loved about finally running a shop in the Army.  I can do what I want and find what works best for me.  I love to read the tutorials and watch the videos then put it together my way.  Somethings I see in the catalogs for stands and tools have points I would change because I don't do things exactly the way they do.  Rick Cranes video shows eye tucking I like lay-up it's a smoother cleaner finishand not as messy with your clay work.

I learned a lot of mistakes I made on my first and won't repeat them, I asked judge what the right way was and he explained it to me and then told me why.

I beleive this is just the get off my Butt and get back to living I needed and intend to use it for just that.

Jeff

[SteveP]

Jeff, I'm an "Antisocial non conformist". At least you can associate with those that come from military.

It was nice meeting you and your sons at the ND show. Keep at it and you will have your own business before you know it. And, you can say you did it without government help. PM me later this summer. I plan on attending the NDTA summer event, and I can bring you a couple practice birds.

Thank you for your service to all of us, although, many of whom don't deserve it.

[Becky P]

Danny Owens has a new video out on pheasants, it's excellent. I'm not sure who's carrying it, I got mine from Danny and Kim at our mini-seminar. Contact Kim Owens here, she can tell you.

[seabee]

I am sorry to hear about yor situation. I was in the same boat a few months ago, however I found a way through it
Short story: I am a veteran, was deployed to Iraq where I was wounded in combat. I knew nothing of any disability or Voc. Rehab benefits when I got back. I heard about an organization called the Military Order Of The Purple Heart from a friend. They have proven to be huge help.
I found out that I qualified for Voc Rehab. I looked into it and was not all that interested in going back to college and was having a difficult time deciding on what career path I wanted to follow that I would be satisfied with and actually could do considering my disabilities.
I got frustrated along the way . I was'nt getting along with my assigned counselor (I am not a touchy feely person and don't really get along with people that are.)I got mad and walked away from the whole program.
Now the good part. I happened on a taxidermist that also has a school. He already had a VA vendor no. and had 1 vet enrolled at the time.
I re enrolled in Voc. Rehab. and was getting the same run around until I just took it up their chain of command (The VA). I am now enrolled in this taxidermy school and have been for awhile and will continue for some time. (this is not a couple week course).
It is completely doable. Remember to never surrender on your own free will.   

Semper Gumby