first snake mount What do you think

[rorrer]

That looks really good! It looks a lot better than my first snake.

[Redwolf]

Also, I'm not trying to sound like a prick, but why would your first snake mount be for a customer?

Not to be a prick, but a lot of my firsts have been for customers. You can't practice every species before trying customer work. If someone brings me a Cape Buffalo tomorrow am I supposed to order a couple extras to practice on first? I've never mounted a snake, but if a customer brings one in I think I could probably handle it. That's my take on the issue.

Apples and oranges Cole.
I've never done an antelope, but I wouldn't turn it down because I've done game heads.
Are you suggesting if a customer brings a duck to someone who has never done one they should make their first one a customer mount?
Doing a different species is one thing, doing the a different genus is another.

[Cole]

I had a customer call about a gator last year. I didn't send them away, I quoted a price. I've never done a reptile of any kind, but I'm confident enough in my abilities that I could pull it off and at least do a respectable job. I'm not trying to speak for everyone, there was a time when I would have turned a snake down, but I think I've done this long enough and met enough of the right people that I could handle a reptile.

As for the duck...my first duck was for a customer. (so was my first deer, pheasant, turkey, antelope, lifesize mammal, and the list goes on.) My situation was a little different than others. I guess my point is, never say never...

[Dc taxidermy]

Cole I agee, alot of my first were customers. I'm getting ready to mount a skunk for a customer, I've never mounted a skunk, I have one in the freezer, but mine don't pay the lightbill....

[justme3275]

Looks sweet!









www.buckeyewtp.com
Imagine the possibilities

[wyandot42]

That is an excellent mount.  Great job.  Looks very realistic.

[George Roof]

I had a customer call about a gator last year. I didn't send them away, I quoted a price. I've never done a reptile of any kind, but I'm confident enough in my abilities that I could pull it off and at least do a respectable job. I'm not trying to speak for everyone, there was a time when I would have turned a snake down, but I think I've done this long enough and met enough of the right people that I could handle a reptile.

As for the duck...my first duck was for a customer. (so was my first deer, pheasant, turkey, antelope, lifesize mammal, and the list goes on.) My situation was a little different than others. I guess my point is, never say never...

X2

[Randy Miller]

Also, I'm not trying to sound like a prick, but why would your first snake mount be for a customer?

Not to be a prick, but a lot of my firsts have been for customers. You can't practice every species before trying customer work. If someone brings me a Cape Buffalo tomorrow am I supposed to order a couple extras to practice on first? I've never mounted a snake, but if a customer brings one in I think I could probably handle it. That's my take on the issue.

Apples and oranges Cole.
I've never done an antelope, but I wouldn't turn it down because I've done game heads.
Are you suggesting if a customer brings a duck to someone who has never done one they should make their first one a customer mount?
Doing a different species is one thing, doing the a different genus is another.

I guess it depends on your confidence as a taxidermist. You know your limitations better than someone else.

[Redwolf]

And if you want that customer to come back. If you screw that thing up and the customer gets it home, not only him but anyone else that sees it will think your a bad taxidermist.
Yes some can toss just about anything together. I've been lucky, all of my firsts have come out good (all but that damn turtle ) but NONE of them were customer mounts because I realize they are all different. Reptiles are a lot different than game heads, and fish are a lot different than birds. Just because you can do great on one doesn't mean your first one of another will be too.
I see it on here all the time, someone says it's my first such and such mount, and people say the same thing I said and everyone agrees. Why not this time? Maybe it's because it was ME that said it

[George Roof]

Bob, you just aren't the type to gain pity. That's why.  Get over it.  LOL

You simply can't gamble with scared money.  When I get a tahr, an nyala, any of the wild sheep, or game not native in local areas, they ALL give me reasons for concern, but at some point you have to step back and say, "Hey, I can do this." If you don't have faith in your own talent, then you could be in trouble doing a B&C deer.  Most times worrying about what MIGHT happen tends to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

[buzzbait]

 not really a critique so i will just complement on it  - Awsome job!!!

[woods to wall taxidermy]

Thanks all on response

[supdavetax]

I take in stuff that I have never done but would never do it with out letting the customer know. I do guarantee good results. If it don't work out its on me. Its his decision from there. But if at all possible get one of the same for practise. I did turn down a white beaver. to many things to do as a newbee to try get a brown for practise. And felt it to be to rare to Chance.

[Kerby Ross]

Unless someone is new to taxidermy............................

But if you've done taxidermy for awhile, then you don't have to wait on a "first mount" to be a practice mount.

Just make sure you learn and get better as you go.  Every mount that I do is better than the last, mostly because of competitions and listening and learning from the judges and studying REFERENCE!

Kerby...

My first reptile reproduction that I molded of any kind.  Desert Tortoise.


My second reptile reproduction that I ever molded.  Cuban Rock Iguana.


My first lizard was a gila monster skin mount for a breeder out of California, my second lizard skin mount was this white throated monitor.



My first ever reproduction largemouth bass. I did a few skin mounts though. 


My first ever skin mount rattlesnake from 1991.

[Redwolf]

I guess it is just a confidence thing. I'm not gonna slam the guy, because his first snake came out OK, but with practice the things I had mentioned in my first post wouldn't have happened.
I think I'm at the point now where I would do just about anything for a customer but it's because I have done something from each genus (not species) and would feel comfortable doing it. But I practiced on each one first.
So peace, go get em, rock on, knock em dead, shake a leg,..... What ever you want to say