i am new to this wonderful art and i was wandering, by the opinion by some of the old timers, what do you thing is the hardest animal or thing to mount. i have just been thinking and i would like to know. thanks.
mike
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the ones that dont have a deposite are definately the hardest to do. I have 6 full mounts 3rugs and 4 wall hangings skins with no deposits and the animals have been skinned and preped! I just cant find the desire to do them. This was wholesale stuff so I was'nt in control of collecting the deposit but just goes to show ya.............SHOW ME DA MONEY !! I know this does'nt answer your question but it is a sad fact.
my wife! Seriously though, traditionally fish have been considered the most difficult branch of taxidermy. But, I'm not so sure that still holds true today with all the available materials and such. Besides, every animal/fish/bird/etc. has it's own unique challenges. To say one is more difficult than another is mostly a matter of opinion. Some folks find some species easier than others. While other folks may have major difficulties with the same specie. From what I understand though, squirrels are a good place to start. (check archives) Probably more to do with availability than anything else...
Mor people have trouble with birds. I've tought a lot of people over the years and they have more trouble with birds than anything else. The problem with birds is that the anatomy is well covered with the feathers. Understanding bird anatomy is the key to doing the best birds.
I say fish are the hardest to mount and make look good. They are 100% finish work, no hair or feathers to hide your mistakes. I learned fish first, and everything else seems much easier to me. I do way more fish than anything else , so this may be a slightly biased opinion. It just seems to me that a good fish taxidermist pays closer attention to detail.
Paul
Hi Mike,
I think that a full strut turkey is one of the most challenging of the commonly mounted specimens. Not that they are hard to do, but just very time consuming. It takes many hours of feather preening, over the course of several days, to achieve a quality mount. Not to mention skin preparation and head painting.
Brian
invert them ears!! yeeeeehaaaaaaaa!
We're all different, And I'm glad : )
The most difficult specimin I've done has been one of these little buggers. Birds,fish,turkeys, I've never had so muck trouble. I've even done a chipmunk!
to fur bearers is my vote.....they are so thin skinned and easily tear....and i mean easily....
It's all quite challenging, but then agian I like a good challenge! I would have to say skin mounting a small lizard (baby chameleon all of 3 inches) has been the most difficult to learn(have 8 more in freezer, I will figure it out.) I have no idea on fish taxi that's the next thing on my list for next summer. And like the others have said, each field has it's own areas of difficulty and ease! Ya just have to try some and find out for your self.
Later, Wolf