I want to learn how to mount deer heads and full body mammals (no fish at all). I am one of those people that likes to learn new stuff and tinker, and have been considering a dvd set. This is how I got started building custom rifles, and just kind of picked up stuff and learned from there, but I had a good and informative video. I have seen several video's out there, but have no idea which is better or best, or if any of them are worth the money. Could someone out there please give my a little input on the quality of these videos and what I should expect from them. I am a complete neophite and know absolutely nothing of taxidermy, so I would need to start from dead scratch.
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Taxidermy isn't quite the same as custom rifles. I once built custom flintlocks and that takes as much mechanical skill as it does artistic. Mounting a deer, however, have very little mechanics involved. You need to start much lower on the food chain to begin with. Start with a squirrel as John Bellucci has a few good tapes on that out there. Once you get the technique of skinning and sewing and setting eyes, then move up slowly. Dennis Behn has a couple very good tapes on this and they're done in a studio where the background is a little better and the camera work is a little clearer. Most of the tapes out there are live seminar instructions and they're not going to do you as much good as a detailed "beginner" set.
OR, you can jump right in. Just don't expect others to be beating down your door on your first dozen or so mounts. You'll find that artistic talent will take you much farther than mechanical skills.
Thanks for that info George. I am figuring to start at the bottom, and screw my way up the ladder. I was hoping that within a year or so of tinkering that I may be able to complete a mount that is decent enough to display on my own wall. I am definitely not interested in getting into the business. We are building a new den on teh house and the whole room is planned to be hardwood timber and wildlife mounts.
THanks for the suggestions George. If anybody else has ideas to share, please do. Very interested.
we have some excellent training videos that come in either dvd or vhs format. you can sample them at americantaxidermyonline.com
You will learn more from the your State Ass. than any video buy far. You don't have to compete to be a member either and at most state shows if not all you will find plenty of live seminars and most of the copmetetors are really nice folks and are willing to share their secrets to other members. When I joined my States Ass. my work started improving right away and I now compete and do quite well at the shows.
The first thing I ever mounted was a deer shoulder mount. I had no desire to mount small game, and only now after 10+ years do I feel the urge. Still no desire to mount a bird. Mount whatever animal intrigues you.
Deerheads were easier for me because they were bigger. Plus the skin is tough. And I didn't have to get out the magnifier to mount the thing.
Try the Breakthrough whitetail manual.