I'm thinking about going to a school but most offer 3 to 8 week or maybe 10 week courses. Is this actually enough learning time to start up your own business. Some schools say yes but it seems that just because you mount 10-12 species, I can't see where that would be that comfortable. Some insight would be greatly appreciated. Jerry
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as long as you keep up on your studies: join your state association, go to all the semminars you can, do some one on one with someone good,go to all the state shows you can along with Nationals and World your work will improve. If you just go to school and do nothing else you likely foget many aspects of your work. Also get any trade magazine you can which also helps out in continuing your education. Remember try yo always learn never think your the best and no it all cause we never do. And if you get that way you become God and I then want to know what are you doing here LOL.
Jerry, I don't know what school you are looking at but eight weeks is not long. It also depends what you already know.If you are starting knowing nothing it is going to be hard. If you are talking about mounting 10 t0 12 animals in 8 weeks they are moving preety fast.That is a lot of imformation you have to learn some times less is better. What I mean less animals more time learning (get a good foundation).It also helps if you mount more than one animal(two or three fish not just one fish ) If you are wanting to go to school and get out and open up your shop and be making a good living NOT GOING TO HAPPEN does not matter what school you go to are for how long. It takes time you can be a good taxidermist and it still takes time to biuld up a good customer base. I am not tring to talk you out of going to school but its a lot harder than most people think.
Thanks for your response on time wise on schooling,school I'm looking at is in western pa., says 2-3 of each ( birds, ducks, mammels, fish, and 1 turkey ). I feel I'm average intelligence but was not sure if it was long enough. Would like to start my own business someday, I'm sure it will take awhile. I don't want to be just another taxidermist, I'd like to be an artist at it. Thanks again--Jerry
I attended P.I.T. it was 920 hours six or seven months ( I can't remember ) We mounted 4 or 5 fish ; 1 turkey ; 1 squirrel ; 3 ducks ; 1 fox ; 1 pheasant ; 1 mink ; 1 rug ; 1 bear ; 1 antelope; 2 whitetails I think thats all. I went in not knowing much and it was tough ,but it has worked out for me. I came out with a good foundation a improved on it. It took my third year to really make a living, oh I was busy the first two years but not like I wanted or needed to be.It also depend where you are to. One thing beginners don't think about how much money it really takes ; to build a shop buy all your tools and supplies. And some advertising to it cost money to get your name in the phone books.Also opperating capital.