Hi, my name is Casey I am a 7th grade student in Redfield, SD. I'm doing a science project on taxidermy if u could please answer these few questions it would be appreciated.
1. What specifically does a taxidermist do?
2. What skills do I need to become a taxidermist?
3. What education is required to become a taxidermist?
4. What high school classes do I need to take to become a taxidermist?
5. What are some positive aspects of your job?
6. What are some negative aspects of your job?
7. What universities offer degrees in taxidermy?
8. If I become a taxidermist, about how many hours a week would I work?
9. If I become a taxidermist, about how much money could I expect to make?
10. Why did you become a taxidermist?
11. Do you enjoy your job? Why?
Thank you for taking your time to answer these questions it will be a big help in my project
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I'd like to see a copy of this interview if it's not posted up here. Being an extreme beginner myself I'd love to hear from the pros in this manner.
Chad
1) "Mount", recreate or preserve the preferred specimen in a natural lookinmg state.
2) Practice, Patience, and artistic ability
3) Practice and knowledge of the anatomy of the desired species.
4) You are your own boss and hopefully you enjoy doing it.
5) Don't know.
6) Depends on gazillion different things.
7) I love hunting, wildlife, and the challenge of making it look alive. PLeasing a customer also makes me very happy....and I get paid.
8) Yes.... Refer to answers to #4 and #7.
Hope this helps.
Jeff
1) Perform art through bringing a life like appearance back to a dead specimen.
2) Patience, willingness to get 'dirty' (skinning a dead animal/bird/fish is not for everyone), ability to detect color variations and understand how colors are created, knowledge of wildlife and wildlife habits and habitats, ability to learn. (Many more)
3) Depends allot on the state you are in. Most states no 'formal' eductation is required, some a competency test is required. I would recommend that you not limit yourself and get as much formal education as you can, the time to do it is when you are young. I would recommend any taxidermist (or any other business owner) Obtain some training in business management. Casey, if you can - try to get an education even if it is outside of taxidermy - you will benefit immensely from it as a taxidermist or not..
4) again none are required but if art classes are an option they can't hurt.
5) I get personal satisfaction at looking at a mount that I have done and seeing how 'life like' it is.
6) I feel that I do not make as much money as I would like, I worry about dealing with the chemicals that I do (potential health problems).
7) I do not know of many, there are some that offer coarse for credit in taxidermy, but I do not know of anywhere you can earn a degree in taxidermy. Chances are if you become a taxidermist you will either work for yourself (running your own business) or work for someone who will hire you based on your ability and the quality of work you have done. I don't think you will find many times that a degree is required (again I still advise if you can get an education - Business Administration Management will help with anything you do)...
8) Many. It really isn't an 8-5 job. Some times during the year (especially during hunting season) you may find yourself working extremely long hours (12- 16/day).
9) Between $1 and $100,000... there is no good answer. But I think if you asked 100 taxidermists you would hear 99 of them say 'not enough' and they would be serious.
10) I have always loved to hunt and it just seemed like a natural connection.
11) I love it. I get to see the results of my labors. I get satisfaction from knowing I did a good job, and I feel challenged when I know I can learn more and do better. If all goes the way I hope my last mount I ever do will be my best mount. If I stop getting better then it is time to quit.
Casey, you should know I am not a full time taxidermist but someday hope to perform taxidermy full time (early retirement to taxidermy), I have been into taxidermy part time for 15+ years. My real day job is an Engineer. My day job is not as rewarding as my taxidermy business however it pays better.
I believe the key to anything you do is never stop learning