I dont know the person that e-mailed me a nasty letter, almot cut and copied it here.
So please read this post it may fit more than one beginning taxidermist, its short and will explain a few things.
Why do I tell beginner to get the blankty-blank Breakthrough MANUALS? Well the way I can best relate it to you people is this. You dont go to church without you bible, do you?
You dont tear a firearms apart without the instructions, do you? You dont jump into a computer without a guide book, do you? You dont do first-aid, without having read about it do you? You dont fish without sometype of instruction first, DID YOU? (nope someone some where gave you a few lessons) You dddont do electrical wiring, without a lesson do you? You dont jump on a bull dozer, without lessons do you? You dont jump in a canoe, with out, lessons do you? You cannot read a topograghical map, without lessons do you?
I think you can see where I am coming from, we all love to help here and our many years of experience is free for the asking. You have to help yourself first, really get the books, they are very good, the beginner must have them, after 22 years in this business I set down and read them again every once in a while, You will be very suprized at what you forget in six months time. I even buy a video tape once in a while to see if there is anything I can learn from it.
What I am telling and saying to you inexperienced beginning taxidermist is, We the older than dirt bunch, the rusty, crusty old farts, either age wise or experience wise, can read a question and most of the time tell your level of experience and that you dont have anything to guide you thru what your doing, except to ask a question here.
To help us better help you, please star building your library of reference materials now, today!
If you have that book, it will help you, it will help all of us, the more experienced taxidermist can ossibly give you a better understood answer to the problem you are having.
All of us older taxidermist have received instructions from one source or the other, we did not learn taxidermy by just picking up a knife and starting, we read a book about it first, J.W. Elwoods's Northwest School of Taxidermy, Then even the Breaktrough books when they were first published, gosh I ordered Newmyers book on Waterfowl last week, Ron Renyolds new Fush painting book, I am looking for Wings Over the Prarie, on ducks (hum a certain student last month needs it worse than I do, but thats ok, I will hopefully get another one. My reference libary is not large by some I have seen, but beats others badly. I am still building and will always be building. John C
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There is a trend going on and its not good. I see alot of post asking
the same questions and none of them taking the time to research it
themselves. We also have alot of people asking for free stuff.
Free is good but not a reality. We had to pay for things or get them
ourselves when we started. I also started with the Northwestern
School of Taxidermy although I am only 31 years old. I do not mind helping
at all but it is the repetitive questions that bug me.
Todd B
for using a computer! But, I must say I have "blown-up" a few computers in the past! And fyi, I don't do anything electrical - even IF I had YEARS of training let alone a lesson!
As far as beginners go, I think another good piece of advice would be is to learn how touse the archives and the search button!
The besta dvice I an offer to new taxidermists that use this forum as their primary source of training is to rethink your strategy. These forums are invaluable as a resource for assistance in dealing with problems you've ALREADY encountered and are trying to solve. But, it's impractical to think for one moment that you can gleen an entire training course from the hit and miss delivery of solutions to other people's problems. If you're here, then chances are that you hope to learn taxidermy well enough to turn your (hopefully) hobby into a money-making venture someday. This site should be ragraded as only one part of a multi-disciplinary approach to learning taxidermy. Come here often, if not every day, and peruse the areas of interest to you. Go to the homepage and use the links there to request as many calatogs as you can get your hands on and use them to order videos, manuals, and so forth. Review the catalogs so you have a good idea of what's out here available for tools, supplies, etc. Be bold enough to acquire a few animals to practice on and be realistic enough to know that they're going to look pretty bad, because everyone here remembers their first (hunred) mounts with a wince. Nobody started out being the greatest. Strap on a pair and wet your feet at doing a mount. If you encounter a problem, post an inquiry here and get your answer. Study the manuals, videos, and watch and read them over and over again. The points you recognize from reading before will be positively reinforced and you'll know them that much better. And you'll discover a lot of good information you overlooked the past twelve times you read it. Thos, too, will be reinforced. As an adult, you learn things differently than you did as a kid. The key is repetitive exposure. If possible, enroll in a scholl that provides hands-on training with the instructor over your shoulder. If that's not feasible, be friendlya dn develop a workiong relationship with an experienced taxidermist who is willing to help you along. They are out there. John C helped me immensely on deer several years ago and through his generosity, he saved me ten years or more of trial and error. He continues to offer me constructive criticism of which the value cannot be measured in dollars and sense. Here's one last piece of advice - get an experienced taxidermist to judge and review your work, as good or bad as it may be, and then to offer you criticism. Nobody ever got better by getting nothing more than pats on the back and attaboys. It's those people that told you what you were doing wrong that helped you to identify how to do it right the next time. SOmetimes it's not easy to have your pride and joy ripped to shreds, but in the long run, you'll be better for it. Also, listen to the crusty ol' farts - you're not the first one to make mistakes around here and if they're willing to show you the shortcut, you're an idiot to refuse their help.
I know that the same questions are asked here a lot but if you look at the heading of this section it is called beginners! Yes, the answers are below and one should take the time to look. But, I have looked there before for a certain item and not real sure what to look under as far as the title of the posting. I am in education and the amount of times I get asked the same question after just going over that same topic is huge! I can explain it to one person and then a few minutes later have the same questions asked. I can't tell them to check below for the frequently asked question section. Sometimes we need to relax and not be so up tight. How many times did your moms answer the same question over and over and over and over when you were young and learning. That's what we are young and learning.
Not to be a smarta$$ here,BUT most of us are neither anyone's mom nor teacher. Most of our time is consumed by the art in which we love and enjoy so much. Alot of good people here take time out of their busy schedules to answer questions no matter how rediculous some may sound to a seasoned taxidermist. Now, understand that I'm not fingerpointing, just making an observation, I also have seen a trend in laziness over the past couple years, alot (NOT ALL) beginners are wanting something for nothing, and some are just to sorry to bother looking or researching a question that has already been asked "repeatedly". Redundant to say the least. John and Lance both made some excellent points as to building a good reference library. Look people, sooner or later your gonna definitely need one, if you're looking at this profession seriously, without a doubt it's as important as cape thread. None of us mind helping a beginner, hell we all had to start somewhere, but for those of us that have been around the block, don't think for a moment we had everything handed to us on a silver platter. Bert, when you went for your teaching degree, did you just go around to other teachers and learn your trade for nothing? Without having any formal training or schooling? I think NOT! I venture to say you had to register for classes, buy books, and pay tuition, not to mention room and board. Was any of that free for the asking? In summary all I'm saying to the new folks, is take the time to learn some of it the old fashion way, trial and error can be your best teacher. You'll only gain wisdom through experience and research. Ask a question here if you need help, just don't get your shorts in a wad when someone says "ARCHIVES" or use the "SEARCH" button. You'll only gain experience through dedication, practice, and good reference material. For all the beginners out there. If you have trouble finding a topic with the search feature that Ken has so generously provided, then post a question as to where it might be located. If after you've done your research and your still having problems, then ask, hell e-mail me or JC or anyone else for that matter. I don't care if you even want to drop by the shop with a problem. I'd be more than happy to help you out. Best of luck people. Marc
to write that lengthy letter, marc! cmon lighten up on the beginners or dont answer at all. smartass comments and put downs aren't what's needed here. i dont get the deal with pro stuffers, i've gone into shops with the taxidermist just sitting around and started talking to him, asked a few questions and he got all evasive and avoided the questions! are all you so called pros worried about competition?
beginner
I always MAKE time if I think it might help someone! Not for the sake of getting in a pissing contest with you, but reread my post. I think your misunderstanding my underlying point. I have not nor will I ever, turn my back on someone that needs help! I am simply stating that with the convienence of computers, it seems that everyone is getting lazier. Alot (once again I did NOT say ALL) of the beginners don't seem like they want to put forth the effort to learn much on their own. For instance, something as simple as reference material. None of us can build you YOUR reference library, and I understand that when your first starting out money may be tight, but I bet most of us have umpteen different hunting and fishing magazine subscriptions. These are a start if someone can't afford reference albums from suppliers. If you never believe or listen to another thing I say, please believe me when I say start building your reference library NOW. It will be the most important and used piece of equipment in your shop (unless your John C. then it'll probably be your autotanner :-)I still use reference all the time and I think everyone should, there would be alot less shabby looking work around if more did, also you need to learn how to interpret what your looking at. I guess what I'm saying Beginner is that I'm not trying to down ANYONE, I like to think of it more as a wake up call or maybe a kick in the a$$, to get some folks to do a little more on their own. You will never learn a thing if you don't do it yourself! One more thing,my e-mail address is posted above, I did not see yours or I would not have wasted Ken's space here. If you have a question e-mail me anytime. I'll help anyone at anytime, and if I don't know the answer, I know plenty of others who would. Anytime you want to stop by my shop, it's always open. Hell, I don't hide a thing, and for competition, I thrive on it! It makes me work that much harder, and learn even more to be competitive. God bless. Marc
Marc, John C, George, Lance, Don W, Marty, I'd like to take up a little of Ken's space here to say thank you. Although I have been in and out of taxidermy (as a hobby) for about fifteen years, I am very much a beginner. I am at present taking a very serious shot at doing tthis for a living. With any luck I'll be finished getting my ducks in a row and will be ready by fall 2001.
As for the letter that John C received I don't know who it was from or what it entailed. What I do know is that I found this website less than two weeks ago, ( that's cause my picture is next to Computer Moron in the dictionary) and when I first found it I spent two solid days doing nothing but reading the forum posts in regards to birds. I have just recently started to venture into other areas of forums. I have seen alot of the same questions asked, several of them have been questions that I have had. I have been quite surprised that some answers or advise or whatever have actually been the same thing that I have used to answer the smae question.
I haven't gone into the archieves as of yet, I haven't tried the search button, yet. That's because I'm still trying to injest all the knowledge and information you boys have already given out.
As for the taxidermists that have gotten evasive or have avoided questions, I know what you're ( the questioner) going through as I've had this happen to me. My thought is that I asked questions of people that were more than a little insecure about their work or their capabilities. You've got guys here that are willing and able to help, but as they said use your head for more than a hatrack.
I have manuals on order as we speak, my biggest problem now is that I've suddenly found so much information that I can't get to it fast enough.
I hope to read more from all of you soon, I gotta go read some more posts. Thanks again guys.
sorry for taking the space ken but I had to say this. As for as no one being able to adford
manuals but your pennys in a jar for a mounth and wammo you got the money.I'm a beginner(first year)
I have ask two question on this forum(so far) and let me say that if it was not for all of you
i would have had I lot of sleepless nites. The search button is so easy to use and alot easier on the
guys who respond to our questions. I think as far as the search button goes there is something
about seeing your question up on the screen. I'll will end this now with a very big and heart filled
THANK YOU to each and everyone who does take the time to answer all our(sometimes repeated)question.
No comparison with getting paid to be an educator and helping guys in here. You expect to be asked repetitive questions in grade school. This is a forum, and needs to be run as such. Otherwise it looses its efficiency. I tire of writing the same thing over and over. Rather than keep suggesting the archives, I finally just stopped answering those types of questions, my choice. Heck, I dont bother those folks, either!