Trying to decide where to start...

[Satyr]

Hi there!

Before I get into what I want to do with taxidermy, let me talk a little about why I want to do it.  Taxidermy has been a hobby that I've long admired, and for as long as I can remember something I've wanted to get into.  Ever since I was a young girl, I was one of 'those' kids that always wanted bones and stuff, and was happier with a cat skull than a barbie.  Now, at 26, I find myself able to finally pursue my hobby more seriously but the problem is that in the area I live (Western North Carolina) there are - literally - no places to learn Taxidermy!  Well, at least not for any reasonable price, that is.

So, I thought I might just have a go at teaching myself.  The worst thing that could happen is that it comes out horribly and I just pretend I never tried it and go back to admiring how great everyone else is at it, right?

The thing is - I have no idea what I should start with as my 'first' - really I have no clue about anything!  I thought maybe a squirrel or something small, but gosh it's hard to find those and they're small, that could be fiddly and come out a mess.  Then, I was thinking and came up with a coyote or fox, and that feels more 'right'.  Maybe some of you guys would have not only a suggestion, but a pelt/cape/skin to offer up for sale as well!

My other worry is about tanning.  I would prefer something already tanned/turned - as I said, I really don't know what I'm doing so the less work I need to do to it, the better - BUT I am willing to go the extra mile with it, so green skins are really alright too, and even a frozen animal would be alright in the extreme case and I could just figure out how the heck to skin something along the way.  Maybe that's too ambitious, I don't know - but you don't learn until you try!  I just never see anything for sale already tanned, so I feel like this is basically something that I need to worry about learning as I learn everything else since buying already-tanned pelts is going to be super expensive, otherwise.

Anywho!  Maybe you guys could offer some insight, and tell me what your first mount was and what helped you start your learning experience?

[ginevive]

I can relate to a lot of what you say here. I don't have anyone readily available to teach me, so I really learned everything that I know on this forum. I started with a squirrel; it is pretty difficult (I found later) in comparison with other things, because the toes are very small and it is just smaller in general and easy to cut the tail short or make a mistake w/the toes.

But as I learned, your first mount won't be perfect! You should not lose heart if you mount something and it turns out funny, or off looking. My first mammal mount has lots of flaws.. I plan on doing my second and third very soon. I think that it is always great to learn from a person, in-person, but I am doing it solo now to make sure that it is something I truly want to invest in before considering school.

Most people here are totally supportive and helpful. It always helps to Search the archives first, because sometimes, your question has already been answered a few times. But yeah; to learn from honest people online, you are in a great place I would say!

[Lone Wolf AK]

Given your constraints,  I'd suggest ordering (they're free) catalogs from the major suppliers.  McKenzie, Research Mannikins, WASCO, and Van Dykes are full of many "how to" videos, manuals, and "starter kits". There are also a fair number of "YouTube" videos that show some basics.

I got my start as a pre-teen (that was a loooooong time ago  ) in Illinois with the occasional road kill such as racoon, possum, and squirrel.  Pigeons and pheasant were also a "target of opportunity".  Of course, that was in the 1960s, and taxidermy has come a long way in terms of quality materials availability.  As far as tanning goes, if you tackle a small critter such as a squirrel, you can just use "dry preservative" such as the "old school" 20 Mule Team borax and avoid the need to tan.

No matter what you do, there will be some up-front supply costs.

Best of luck!

[Satyr]

But as I learned, your first mount won't be perfect! You should not lose heart if you mount something and it turns out funny, or off looking.

Oh - I can assure you, I have no delusions at all that my first one will come out anything but lumpy and probably looking nothing like it's meant to! But, the proof is in the pudding as they say, and I figure that if it's at least a semi-recognizable thing I should be alright!

Did you tan your squirrel yourself?  Or did you manage to find one already done up?  If you did it yourself, how hard was that process from basically doing it with no foreknowledge?  

Given your constraints,  I'd suggest ordering (they're free) catalogs from the major suppliers.  McKenzie, Research Mannikins, WASCO, and Van Dykes are full of many "how to" videos, manuals, and "starter kits". There are also a fair number of "YouTube" videos that show some basics.

I actually have a VanDyke's catalogue!  I've bought eyes from them in the past for art projects, so they send them to me, but gosh they're so overwhelming.  I do have a little 'wishlist' going on there, though, that includes a few of the 'small mammal' starter kits that basically have the form, tanning powders/liquids and all that stuff in them.  I just haven't found the 'right' pelt/animal yet so I haven't bought one because I'd hate to say, buy the fox one and then find a beautiful bobcat.. you know? =)

[ginevive]

I tanned the squirrel at home, using something called Rinehart Tanning Cream. It worked good. I did try my hand at tanning a few years back with what's called Rittel's tanning system; it worked better and produced a whiter leather with more stretch, it seemed. But the tanning cream is easier for something small like a squirrel; just brush on and leave overnight, then rinse. I did everything short of killing the squirrel; but I do admit that I practiced skinning on a few other squirrels before the actual one that I mounted. I made some boo-boos with the first two; mainly, not removing enough toe meat, and cutting the tail short (thin skin there.)

The website of Van Dyke's Taxidermy is where I shop for supplies; they have given me fast service with correct orders every time. They have helpful "suggestions" of what others have bought with the item you are looking at (for example, when I bought my squirrel body form, it suggested some good eyes to buy for it.)

I'd do lots of research and study the steps in the Tutorials section on this site; it is very helpful.

I know that some will argue against starting with squirrels, but you can often find them in perfect condition for a low price.

[Keyda81]

I started with the white tail doe I shot, lol.  I did the skinning of the head, all the turning of the lips, eyes, etc.  Tanned the hide myself, and just finished mounting her today.  It is quite a bit of work, but I enjoyed it.  It took me about 7 hrs to get her mounted.  I don't plan on doing it professionally, more for myself and friends.  There's plenty of useful information on this site, so your in the right place! 

[Matt]

Before I would try and pick an animal to start with, I to would encourage some good reading(Breakthough), and some good DVDs. You will also find alot of good reading on this site. Absorb everything you can(almost everything on this site!(LOL)) and learn from it. Between some good DVDs and reading, you might find something you are more interested in starting with first. I love this industry and wouldn't trade it for the world, but we all started somewhere and chances are, there were some no so good days. Still have those atleast from time to time, but it's part of the business. Good luck in your adventure.

[RageofAnath]

I had similar motivations and thoughts and I started by learning to skin with a chipmunk because they were only $5/each, made a few miserable mounts with those even after I tore off paws and tails by inevitable accident. Next was a VanDykes Squirrel Kit with a squirrel to match. Used dry preserve for these basic specimens too, since its hard to screw up, inexpensive, and not time consuming at all. Also when bits of my early specimens broke (my fault) I didn't feel too bad about it since I hadn't invested any time or money in tanning.

Now I am able to invest more in each specimen because I made a lot of early mistakes with few repercussions.

[Old Fart]

When I started there were no tapes or DVD's, only old books with "antiquated" methods. By today's standards, it was almost the Dark Ages, but it got me started. Before you spend a lot on tools and materials, I would recommend that you try to get a squirrel mounted by using the old methods. Why? Because you will actually learn anatomy and how to "make do".

Squirrels are the "best' and the "worst" critters to start with. They are readily available and have tough skins that makes them great for a beginner. BUT they are a very complex little critter from the anatomy standpoint and tough to really get "right". But you shouldn't worry about "right" and concentrate on getting something....anything......done. That will tell you if you want to proceed or if taxidermy is not for you.

[Satyr]

Wonderful advice, guys! =)

One of the things I didn't mention in my introductory post, in regards to anatomy is that my 'primary' profession is as an illustrator / artist.  I love studying animal anatomy, and actually when people ask me about my 'weird' skull/bone obsession I just play it off as anatomical references for artwork so the 'normals' don't get too freaked out!   Luckily, my family is mostly supportive of my crazy habits - my husband thinks I'm a little nuts but generally as long as my little dead things stay in my office he's alright with it.  I've even had my mom call me before and say things like, "I just saw the most beautiful bobcat hit on the highway, do you want me to go back to get it for you?"

I've just been talking with watershed wildlife on here and am going to be getting an ermine from him, as well as a gray fox cape and hopefully a squirrel as well, so I can sort-of pick which I'd like to go after first and freeze the other two for later.  I really appreciate everyone being so helpful!  I've been wretchedly shy about posting here because I wasn't sure how people took to 'amateurs' going at taxidermy, but I guess all my fears were misguided.

[Keyda81]

Wonderful advice, guys! =)

One of the things I didn't mention in my introductory post, in regards to anatomy is that my 'primary' profession is as an illustrator / artist.  I love studying animal anatomy, and actually when people ask me about my 'weird' skull/bone obsession I just play it off as anatomical references for artwork so the 'normals' don't get too freaked out!   Luckily, my family is mostly supportive of my crazy habits - my husband thinks I'm a little nuts but generally as long as my little dead things stay in my office he's alright with it.  I've even had my mom call me before and say things like, "I just saw the most beautiful bobcat hit on the highway, do you want me to go back to get it for you?"

I've just been talking with watershed wildlife on here and am going to be getting an ermine from him, as well as a gray fox cape and hopefully a squirrel as well, so I can sort-of pick which I'd like to go after first and freeze the other two for later.  I really appreciate everyone being so helpful!  I've been wretchedly shy about posting here because I wasn't sure how people took to 'amateurs' going at taxidermy, but I guess all my fears were misguided.

I'm the black sheep in my family, lol.  Hubby tolerates pretty well, and just considers me weird.  My mother on the other hand as called me sick, lol.  I guess I am a little weird, a do have any 8 point buck skull mounted to the grille guard on my truck, and a tanned deer tail shoved under the tailgate liner, lol.

[WV Outdoorsman]

The breakthrough manuals are all great and you can find them for a reasonable price on here sometimes and ebay. Just watch the price because you can buy them new from Breakthrough or the taxi suppliers for what some want for them used on ebay. I just subscribed to Breakthrough magazine as well and I am very pleased with the first issue. Also I noticed you are from NC, they have a mini course at the Surry Community college every year as well. I have never been but I have heard good things about it and always wanted to go. Here is the link to thier site

http://www.surry.edu/taxidermy/mini-course.html

Good luck,
WVO

[Haffs]

Not sure what the laws are in NC but I would suggest looking into the roadkill thing. Not for mounting specimens neccessarily but just for skinning practice. Don't plan on your first skinning/fleshing adventure to produce a mountable specimen. I would suggest picking up and skinning everything that you can get your hands on the isnt green and stinky. You'll do much better when you do finally mount something if you don't have fifty holes that need to be sewn.

[yoder519]

i found the videos on helpinghandhangers.com very helpful. there free to watch on there website. they have step by step from skinning to fleshing to the final touch ups on whitetails.  i watched them awhile back, but forgot what they were called. then another member on here mentioned i watch them. Also, check ebay, dont know about squirrels, but the have pre tanned white tail capes on there from 50-90 bucks. you can also find people on there selling WT horns. i seen a 6pt 8pt and 9pt for 30 bucks. just a thought

[ginevive]

Not sure what the laws are in NC but I would suggest looking into the roadkill thing. Not for mounting specimens neccessarily but just for skinning practice. Don't plan on your first skinning/fleshing adventure to produce a mountable specimen. I would suggest picking up and skinning everything that you can get your hands on the isnt green and stinky. You'll do much better when you do finally mount something if you don't have fifty holes that need to be sewn.

This is a really good idea. I think back to my first small animal, non-deer skinning forays years ago (a groundhog that my husband shot; a few rabbits) and to say that they were Swiss cheese is an understatement. I knew basic skinning from the deer hunters of my life, but small animals are a lot different; much thinner skin.