I recently was informed by a taxidermist from N.J. that while taking the test for Pa. He was treated very unprofessionally by the testing staff of your state. I've used this taxidemist in the past and personally feel his mounts to be of the highest quality. I think it would be a tragic if the state only allowed home grown residents of Pa. to practice and be licensed taxidermist's in your state. I truly feel that Ernie Kuhn could easily compete, against who you consider to be the top taxidermist's of Pa. Hopefully, your staff will not be biased and recognize this as well!
Respectfully, Robert Michaelson
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Robert, there is not, nor will there ever be, any bias with the PA Taxidermy exam. To even be elligible to take the exam one must be a resident of PA. That being said, how could there be bias to someone from another state when they can't even be there in the first place? When an applicant comes in to take the exam the examiners are given his application showing his PA address. That is it! I suppose some bias might occur should Osama bin Laden or Saddam Hussein show up at the exam but I think those two have more to worry about than taking the PA taxidermy exam.
Finally, its a shame that people can't take the criticism they recieve (after they ask for it) and use it to better themselves and their work. Each applicant receives a critique on their mounts from two examiners. The examiners average 20 years of experience each! That is a 20 minute critique from two individuals with over 40 combined years of experience. And they get critiqued on all 5 mounts for only $50. If an individual decides to just sit back and lash out at being critiqued and not learn anything from it then it is his/her choice (and loss).
Its too bad Ernie (and now you) chose to lash out publicly at the two examiners who gave of their time and experience so that he might learn something. Ernie, as well as everyone that takes the exam, is urged to attend taxidermy competitions and seminars as a way of furthering their educations. Hopefully he will do just that. But if he doesn't that's ok too because there are plenty of people who do appreciate the critique and experience of others and value their opinions and tips. Finally Robert, I'm urging you to attend the PA State Taxidermy Championships next March. Visit www.pataxidermy.com for more information. You won't need to be a member of the PTA to view the competition area on Saturday. For members there is a Question and Answer Seminar with the Exam Board. This has proved extremely helpful in the past and everyone thinking about taking the exam, or even curious about it, is urged to attend. See you there!
One thing I remember was Ernie saying something about his reference and the judges' critique.
He said something about his gray fox with a fat lip. Now, he said he had reference to back up the fat lip. My question is, if you are taking a BIG TEST why would you pick out an ODDBALL mount to take it on? It's like bringing a 6-legged cat to the test. "well I have reference to show that some cats do have 6 legs". I'm sure you do, but the point is to show off good skills and accuracy to a very "Wal Mart" (bottom-line American, the "duh crowd", think eBay here) audience, not to show off your exotics and oddities. Bring the reference along to support your mounts if you are that worried. You can do that in a competition, so I am sure you can do it for a test.
And clean the paint spray off the nose hairs and inner nostrils before you enter. Sheesh. It takes 4 seconds with lacquer thinner and a Q-Tip and makes all the difference in the world. What it does is show you pay attention to detail, and remember at work during your performance evaluations, "attention to detail" is one of the biggies! Your customers are sure going to pay attention to detail, so you should too.
Let's see some pictures of Ernie's mounts. Roll call!
I seriously dought that a fat lip would be the only thing stopping someone from being "Passed". That just don't make cents/scense/scents if it were a skunk with six toes.
The Legendary art of taxidermist.
For 23 year's I have hunted numerous different type's of wildlife in regions far beyond expectation. And was blessed when I met Ernie Kuhn the legendary American Art Taxidermist. I have used several different taxidermist's around and was fortune enough to have quality work with blown away expectations of the highly detailed wildlife mounts that Ernie has done for other's and myself alike.
I place a deer head on the wall next to several others that were done by different taxidermist and the comparison is by far easily detected with highly detailed nose & nostral, to insde the ear's and eyes all looking life like, His art stands out on the wall of fame with the best looking and longest lasting mount ever awarded to me after completetion.
I feel that he is rated #1 in the art of taxidermy work and I would not even think of taking my trophy to another taxidermist for poor quality results and 99% of the time more money for less quality.
Ernie has described to me over my mount's that there are cheaper eyes, & mouth and has pointed out different things like the detailed nose and life like eyes, that I would of never knew about from other taxidermist that just wanted my money and in return I would get the cheapest eyes & mouth and mount quality was alway's poor from other leading taxidermist.
Regardless of where you are from, weather it be NJ, Ohio, or PA. You are who you are, and you only reach that from entry level work, and proceed to professional level throughtout your term on this planet.
It holds true: If you only knew what you know now when you were 3 years old, you would turn back time in a heart beat. And become twice as smart, wise and professional in another 30 years.
SEMPER-FI- And the root's of PA need to be watered on !
Good luck in the art, you are the only taxidermist rated #1
What I don't understand is why he would even need to take the test? He can take in as many Pennsylvania mammals and birds as he wants to do without passing the test. The Game Commission has no reach beyond its' borders - i.e. Pennsylvania cannot regulate outside its' state, or impair interstate commerce. Does any other Taxidermist in the 49 other states need to take the test to do taxidermy for PA residents? Absolutely Not. However if he wanted to move to Pennsylvania he would have to pass the test before he set up shop and began practicing for a profit in the state. Maybe he should just stay in NJ where he has all these people who think he does great taxidermy. If he was that good, he could import animals to mount from multiple states. Lord knows lots of world class taxidermists don't have to go to the customers, the customers come to the taxidermist.
I wouldn't know Ernie if I met him (sorry), but all the glowing accolades from a customer don't carry much weight in this quarter. I find it extremely weird that someone from New Jersey would apply for the Pennsylvania test unless they were moving there OR AS PAUL SAID, already HAVE moved there. If he actually walks on water as "Mr. Whitetail" implies, he should destroy that test. I've heard from people who've passed it and failed it and I don't see any blatant "unfairness" to it, so where's Ernie? Even if Paul does knows the whole story, I doubt he (rightly so) thinks it would be ethical to tell it. So get off the PA test and let Ernie speak for himself.
He is from Jersey, currently living in PA, and commuting to NJ to work. Its in the last PA test post, I think. Hope that clears things up.
I didn't read the other post. In the words of Rossanna Danna "Never Mind"
I have taken many tests in my life. Some fair some not so fair. It is easy to grade apples to apples. But when it comes to art, it is another subject. I have had critics (tops in their field ) bust my nuts. And yes I agree that sometimes you have to take one for the gipper to find out what their nuances are...I have done it my self. You learn from it and give them what they want next time. All of the accolades are worth nothing when it is you and your art on the line in front of the panel. In my humble experience... you do's what's you gota do to make Mamma happy. All said and done, it is the accolades of your customers that pays the bills after you get that precious piece of paper.
I'm glad that Bill Yox cleared up why Ernie has taken the PA Test, but I'd like to know why he failed it. I have several mounts that Ernie Kuhn has done for me hanging on my walls, as well as a few from other taxidermists, and there is no comparison. And that includes the taxidermist that mentored Ernie years ago, who happens to have done my Dad's first whitetail 30+ years ago. And he has a stellar reputation in NJ (where I also happen to be from).
Every one of Ernie's pieces is a work of art. As Ernie told me early on in our relationship: "It shouldn't look like a dead head hanging on the wall. It should look like a live animal coming through the wall." And they do. That might explain what someone referred to as overspray on the nostrils and whiskers. When I take my dogs out during hunting season, we all get some condensation and droplets on our noses and whiskers. That's life. And that's the life that Ernie can put into a piece of dead skin hanging on a foam mount on the wall.
Ernie's experience not just with taxidermy, but with animals in their natural surroundings is outstanding, and he applies his aquired knowledge to each of his mounts to make them look as realistic as possible. The detail that he has put into mouths, ears, noses and eyes is extraordinary, and the finished products are exceptional. I have a lot of friends comment on the quality of these mounts, guys who are used to seeing nostrils plastered closed and painted over. I know Ernie does great work, and is totally competent by any standards.
So I have to wonder... really wonder... why did he fail the PA Test?
His duck head fell off on the ride home, and he admitted himself that
he really only disagreed with 2 comments the examiners made. they were
in regards to his grey fox. The rest were valid.
When I took the exam last april the guideline was that for the general exam you had to do 1 fish, 1 small game ( groundhog,rabbit-cottontail or snowshow,or squirrel), 1 wt buck sh mt, 1 waterfowl,1 upland bird. A grey fox is not considered small game in PA,its is a furbearer. The only time you would have a furbearer in the exam is for the mammals and game heads only specialty liscence. If this guy was taking the general exam,then the grey fox should have been a disqualifier.Is that the crux of the problem here?
Oh and the exam is not that hard,esp if you have been doing taxidermy for some time and know your stuff pretty well. My ugly fish passed,so geeze....
... but no matter how many testimonials we read, it's not going to change his test results. This is not the place to file complaints with the PA State Exam Board. It's also not up to us to say why anyone did or did not pass. If you really want to know (not that it's really anyone's business) how about we... ummm... oh, I don't know... contact Ernie! He'll be the only one who could tell you first hand.
He knew the rules of the game going into it. So he didn't pass.... he's not the first nor the last. The test isn't perfect, nobody's claiming it is. And if you look at the other post he was actually mellowing out right before he found out he didn't pass. He's upset and he'll probably get over it, but it's hard to take back something once you've said it. Live and learn, best of luck next time.
I'll be at your show in march and I will not be a PA resident But I will compete with a fox and a bird Promise also promise that some one else will carry the 2 mounts into your show so I can not be discriminated after all this bull. I said it befor that Paul's critiques on the birds were correct I just do about 6 birds a year and I will learn how to do an exceptional bird by march... AS for the fox I will disagree with not passing forever . Just hope that those judges at your show will know what a gray looks like. See you In March. If I just failed the birds I may have kept my mouth shut and excepted it. Again It's not worth persuing any of the actual challenges as this would put me at a disadvantage with the Game commission here. I have heard the war stories about them. Fortunately the local Co here likes my work also and was very professional when I did speak to him and I need not to have him at my door on a regular basisJust because someone from Harrisburg or the PTA doesn't like me. Good luck to all of you hope one day you can make the exam better and be more open about it. Aragance SUCKS! And I thank those ywho do believe and suport me. Ern
Ernie,
The taxidermy exam in the state of PA has been a bone of contention with taxidermists for years. Regardless of whether you pass or fail the Pa Taxidermy Association does not administer, grade, or determine who receives a taxidermy permit in the state. This responsibility falls solely on the PA Game Commission. Some of the examiners are PTA members who are hired by the PA Game Commission to do a job. Your beef is with the PA Game Commission and its hired examiners not the PA Taxidermy Association or its members.
I hope to see you (Personally) in March at the 25th Annual PA State Taxidermy & Wildlife Art Championships and Annual Convention. The State Exam Board always holds a very informative seminar at the convention where questions and concerns can be asked and answered.
As Competition Chairman for the Convention if you have questions on how the competition will be run please contact me.
In regards to the Fox...I took the test with a Gray and I passed. It is a furbearer that's true but also a small lifesize animal which is what the test calls for.
~Becky
All I know is that Ernie has been doing this for 15 years and for someone to tell him he cannot do his work in PA is nutts. To have a standard for a state is great! But if the test gauges experience, there is no reason why he did not pass. I know his family and now they have to pick up and move because April is not going to come soon enough. It is heart breaking when someone moves his family to better themselves and their childerns lives.We all know how beautiful PA is.