One writer recently suggested that we need a Tips Section. Maybe this is one.
Those of us who've been at this awhile sometimes come off as looking down our noses at beginners, but nothing is farther from the truth. Almost every time, such comments are related to a beginner taking on more than they can handle.
Taxidermy ain't rocket science since the caveman did a fair job. But the cavemen took a couple of millinnia before he decided to stop wearing green, bloody skins instead of crudely tanning them. In the past day, I've seen beginners wanting mannikens with jaw sets installed, wanting to know how to mount jack rabbits, and how to save a bundle of money by doing his own bear rug. There's nothing WRONG with any of these things. They just seem a little over ambitious for a beginner.
One of the toughest mounts you'll ever do is a squirrel. It will take you years before you get one that looks close, even if you use the best form. Having said that, it's the best animal to start with. The skin is tough, the forms relatively cheap, eyes are solid black so you can't set them wrong, and if you screw up, you can go outside and get another that looks exactly like the one you screwed up.
For birds, I suggest the pheasant. All the fat can be easily pulled off or scraped off with your finger, the skin is tough, and the feathers are thick enough to give you confidence during posing.
For fish, the largemouth bass would be hard to beat. The skin is tough, the scales are secure, and the forms are detailed enough to take a lot of guess work out of mounting them. The paint schedule is rather straight forward and can be done with even the cheapest of airbrushes.
And remember, it's easier to work on any animal that you don't need tweezers and a magnifying glass on. Stay away from rabbits unless you have a large supply, quail, dove, woodcock, crappie, and fish without scales. Like a good wine, taxidermy can be more enjoyable if you take it in small sips. Gulping it down will invariably leave a bad taste in your mouth.
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Ther you have it, Tip # 1 from one of the most experienced and sharing people on the web.
Keep it up Geo, you're one of my heros.