Beware of Taxidermists

H

HighWidenHandsome

Guest
I just want to offer a word of caution to some of you considering getting some taxidermy done. I just had to go pick up 2 deer capes and antlers from Dave Butts, originally from Ogden, then to Willard and now Farr West!
Business people including taxidermists, like to be reccomended for their good work ( and I've done that for Dave over the years) but it's only fair we share the disappointment we receive as well. I took 2 deer to Dave mid November 2007 to be mounted, I was told the deer would be finished by March 08'. Of course I wasn't surprised when I didn't receive a call in March but by December I decided it was time to call him. He wasn't available at the time and I was told he would get back to me! Finally, I went to his shop, now moved to Willard. This time he promised my deer would be ready for pick up in 2 weeks ( always beware of that statement 2 weeks, it really means hit the road I don't know when I'll get to them) anyway I took him at his word and of course nothing happened. I called his shop a number times and left messages but never got a return call. Finally, today a family member gave me the number for the new shop where a partner took my call. She promised another 2 weeks they'd be done! I asked her if they weren't done then if I get them free? No way they couldn't do that! ( Of course I knew that but what good is a person's word if they don't honor it, right?) Then she said her husband was as good a taxidermist as Dave! He very well may be, but I hired Dave to do the work 1 year and 8 months ago, not someone else! Anyway, I'd had enough so I told them I'd be over to pick up my stuff and take it elsewhere!
The problem I have is, I know Dave does great work and before today I'd say he was a friend too! But I can't stand liars and now I don't want anything to do with him! Why couldn't he just be up front in the beginning and tell me he didn't have time or didn't want to do the work or even a year later call and tell me he was way behind? Why do they have to wait until they've made an enemy out of it?
We as customers are at their mercy! I paid a five hundred dollar deposit and to get a refund I had to give him two hundred bucks for tanning 1 deer, the other he had already tanned from a previous animal that I supplied which he only allowed me 1 hundred dollars credit. He said he had to be compensated for his work! WOW... He's been sitting on my five hundred for nearly 2 years and hasn't touched my stuff and he wants to be compensated! That was hard to take but I gave him his money and I won't be back! My son has been waiting for the same length of time on 2 of his own and he pulled his as well! Now, after nearly 2 years I'm right back to where I was in the beginning! (By the way, I do have another taxidermist lined up! He's in Alpine, I took a buck to him last November and it's been hanging on my wall now for 3 months)
My point here is, if time is factor to you make sure you know what to expect and who you can trust!
 
I wish I could say that I have had a problem free transaction with a taxidermist but I can't. I'm sure there are good, trustworthy taxidermists out there that don't feed you ten lies before you you finally call BS on them. I just haven't found a good one in my area yet. I am to the point that I would be willing to travel to UT or AZ if someone can recommend a taxi that does good work and is willing to keep their word on their "turnaround" time.
 
hillbilly I've got a good taxidermist that could help you out really good and good to his word in southern Utah. Had my muley to him in September and got it back in late January. Let me know if you want his info. on_target
 
It would seems if you had too much work you would sub some work out as we do in the steel building business all the time it keeps your customers happy. Making a little piece of the pie is better then no piece.
The guy is a good taxi but a poor businessman IMO


"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
 
That is really bad the way you got treated. It does suprise me that he said he could finish your mounts in 4-5 months. Most good guys are at least a year if not two.
 
Too often taxidermists tell clients what they want to hear. And many hunters often press the taxidermist for a quick turn-around.
I am not commenting on this specific case, just in general. (I do know Dave in passing, have used him for work occassionally, and have always been satisfied.)

Most taxidermists chip capes off to be tanned. There is almost always a several month delay just for this reason. Also, while it might be nice, it is unreasonable to have your mount moved to the front of the line and let everyone else wait. The taxidermists that do this regularly get a really bad reputation. Most good taxidermist have about one year of backlog at any time. It is certainly possible to get a mount done in just a few months, but anytime someone promises less than 6 months, you should be asking more questions.

Bill
 
Imperial Taxidermist in Santa Fe NM: These guys are brothers , both are certified as "MASTERS" and do complete art work of the mounts they create.They don't give time of completion , just an idea more or less.They cost more , but that saying"you get what you pay for" is very true in the world of taxidermy. They work for quality of animal re-creation , not quantity , but I'm willing to wait knowing I'll be getting great work.

Sorry to hear of your experiance.Theres good and bad in the business world , and this guy you have dealt with seems to have lost sight of keeping his business honest , now his clients will change thier ideas of him.Who knows , maybe he will turn things around and get back on a good track but then again maybe he's just a coyote and you finally were exposed to it.
 
Yes.... I agree with most everything said in previous posts! In Dave's case, he does his own tanning so he has control over that! Being satisfied with a guy's work is another question. I don't discredit the man's work if he'd just do it! Like I said in my earlier post " I wasn't surprised I didn't receive a call after 5 months" but over a year later I still couldn't even get a return call to left messages! I do believe he moves other clients ahead based on profit and probably many Taxi's do as well. My complaint is, why does a man choose to make promises he knows he can't keep? If a guy says he can do it in 6 months and takes 8-9 that's one thing but a guy says 6 months and 20 months later your still begging him to do the work is ridiculous! The main reason I'm so angry is, after he dodged me for months his attitude is... OK Just pay me what you owe me for tanning and take your stuff somewhere else! He's happy with that, but I'm left with 2 animals still to be mounted. I have to find another Taxidermist
get back in line and wait another year or so, plus probably still have to pay full price again!
To top it off, when you go pick the stuff up they feel like you're the jerk because you don't want to accept any more of their promises! Can you imagine taking your car to a repair shop to get the transmission (or anything else) rebuilt and they say it'll be ready in a week. You don't hear from them for 3 months so you begin calling but no one answers your calls. Finally 6 months later you find someone at the shop and they say.... I didn't fix it but you owe me for taking it apart?
Pay me and you can tow it to someone else for repair! That's how I feel it worked out!
 
I recently had a somewhat similar experience...

I had taken a buck to a taxidermist who I had previously used, and who does great work. Good guy to boot...

...I was promised that I'd have the buck in a year's time, which was fine, no complaints. I was a little hesitant to believe it because I had personal experience in the past as had family and friends who had waited much longer, but I asked if he could finish in one year and he promised me he would. I didn't think it was unreasonable, but maybe I was wrong.

After about 8 or 9 months, I could see the writing on the wall, knowing that the deer wouldn't be done in a year as promised. Everything coming out of the shop was 18-24 months. Still not a huge deal, the guy does great work and folks are willing to wait, so no worries. I was not wanting to wait 18-24 months this particular time, as had been the case in the past, which is why I had asked if the taxidermist could get the mount done in a year when I dropped it off. Again, he had said he would, but it had become obvious it wouldn't happen...

...so, I had another taxidermist lined up to take the work, one I had previously thought about switching to from the onset. Definitely should have taken that route from the beginning as things worked out, unfortunately.

I called to tell the original guy that I'd like to come pick up my cape, as I was planning on taking it somewhere else. I told him I'd like to come get it the following day...

...he told me that he wouldn't be able to get my cape out of his freezer for at least a month, maybe two. Told me that it was buried in the back and he wouldn't go in to get it until his tanner came to pick up another batch of capes, which would be in a month or more.

I of course wanted it sooner, I wasn't feeling like waiting a month longer just to take it to another taxidermist. When I told him this the response surprised me: "Well, you've got three option" he told me: I could wait, I could come down and get it out myself (which he told me would take 4 hours and be a mess) as long as I put everything back the way it was in the freezer, or I could pay him a labor rate of $50/hr. for 4 hours for him to get in the freezer and get the cape out. Wow.

So after some discussion he wasn't budging so I told him I'd figure out what I wanted to do and call him the next day...

...to his credit, he called me early the next morning offering to get me the cape in a week's time. I was fine with that, so a week later I went and picked up the cape, paid for the fleshing that was done (which was definitely fair to do) and took the deer to my new taxidermist, who by the way has been very easy to work with up to this point, and I don't see that changing.

Same type of thing...the guy definitely promised something that there was no way he would be able to do, not real sure why. In our phone conversations about getting my cape I told him that, although I was no expert, it seemed like it might be time to turn some work away when he's 2 years out. His response was that shows just how little I know about the taxidermy business...which may be very true.

Like the OP, before this happened I would have considered the taxidermist a friend. I had known him for a long time. I don't dislike the guy, he's still a good guy. But the whole situation didn't work out that well...I guess taking work from him when it became clear that he couldn't deliver on his promises didn't sit too well. Too bad.
 
To put a different spin on this, there was a taxidermist lady not far from here. Her husband disappered. Rumors of vats of lye....Anyway, he was never found and she was never charged. Beware of Taxidermists....
 
This may be a big surprise to everyone by the sounds of things, but I have 8 deer, 2 elk, 2 bears and a lion and 1 son has 12 deer and the other son has a couple of deer and an elk. several of these mounts were done by Dave Butts and none of them have taken 2 years. But my oldest son has had to pull work from another taxidermist as well! Both he and I have received completed work from other taxidermists that we wern't happy with and had to have them re-worked by other taxi's. Of course we were stuck with the bill from the first taxi ( that was our own fault for not knowing what to expect) and had to pay full price again! We each have a mount in homes right now that we're not happy with ( I'm embarrassed of mine as it looks like a nice 5 point buck mounted on a small doe head, in fact I have it in a seperate room) it was mounted by family friend. He had his done 10 years ago by a large taxidermy shop in Salt Lake, when he brought it home I told him I wouldn't have paid for it, but you're at their mercy. He did make them re-work it but it still is horrible! A dandy 32" 4-point on a ragged mount, he was to ashamed of the mount to display it in his booth at the ISE a few years ago!
I took a buck to Paul Penny last November and I've had it hanging on my wall for over 2 months! Great work too! I'll admit I was shocked to get it back that soon and it will probably take a lot longer to get these 2 done but that's where they're going!
 
LAST EDITED ON Jun-17-09 AT 07:45AM (MST)[p]"so who do you take a deer too in Utah??? That wont take two years???"

Denny Gallegos lives outside of Payson, and has a real quick turnaround, always had my animals back in 4-6 months and been real happy with his work.
 
I've been waiting on a deer and 2 fish for over 2 years from my taxi guy too. He was also a friend. He told me 8 months ago he was starting them this weekend. There are truly very few good, timely taxidermists out there. I also have another deer and a bear at a different guy from last fall and have recieved a couple courtesy calls to let me know where my animals are. He also does the best work I've ever seen on mamals. Very much appreciated.-Bear's Taxidermy Abbotsford WI- Not trying to promote him just happy with how I've been treated.
 
At least you didn't have stuff in Kenny Kirkham's shop when it got robbed and then he up and died. I lost several deer capes in the fiasco and my buddy lost a beautiful blond bear rug. I'm just glad I went and got the antlers years ago and told him to call me when he was ready to put them on the mount.
 
Denny is good and he does have a quick turnaround time but I know he is trying to somewhat retire and he doesn't take near the animals he used to. If you get them in early he will take them but if it's after the 3rd week of September he will turn you away unless he's done work for you in the past.

It's always an adventure!!!
www.awholelottabull.com
 
I've been through crap with taxidermists also. That's why I'll stick to European mounts unless I kill a monster. Have it hanging in days, not years. And it's a LOT cheaper.
 
Ship your stuff,from where ever you are to wellers wildlife studios in marana AZ. Top of the line work,great people,up front and honest. call them at 520-744-3468. check their website. Honetly top of the line,they do stuff for people all over the country.
 
last time we shipped an elk (7 years ago it was $1500 for shipping and another $200 for a crate. I would find somebody local and stick with them. You always risk the whole damage during the shipping thing. It's not worth it!

It's always an adventure!!!
www.awholelottabull.com
 
Chad with BlueRidge Taxidermy here in the SLC's work is awesome and especially on bucks IMO!! I've been to his shop a lot and have never laughed at or ever thought to criticize anything he's done, he's done a couple for me and a couple for my bro in law...personally I've had lightning fast turnaround but I'm not putting that kinda timing pressure on him lol whatever he says not me...way way way happy with the work though!!

~Z~
 
Kelly Memmott in Pleasant Grove, he does a great job and has a great turnaround time. He is reasonable on price as well.

WW0801
 
LAST EDITED ON Jun-20-09 AT 08:29AM (MST)[p]Funny how everyone claims they cannot find a good taxidermist, but everyone wants their trophy of a lifetime mounted for $400, and done in a month.
 
I SHY AWAY FROM PEOPLE DOING THEIR OWN TANNING!!!

LET THE PRO'S TAN THE HIDES!!!

MOST TAXI'S IF THEY ARE GOOD DON'T HAVE TIME TO SCREW AROUND TANNING HIDES!!!

YES SOME OF THEM KNOW HOW!!!

ALOT OF THEM DON'T!!!

PAY A LITTLE MORE & GET A WELL KNOWN/RELIABLE/HONEST PRO IN THE TRADE!!!

BELIEVE ME!!!

I'VE BEEN ####ED OVER BY A COUPLE OF THEM!!!

AND IT AIN'T PERTY WHEN THE cat GETS IN TO IT WITH A LIEING WANNA-BE TAXI!!!



SOMTIMES TO GET IN ON A PISSCUTTER IT TAKES SOME STEALTH!!!
I THANK MY FRIEND Feleno FOR THE STEALTH CAMO!!!

4a25cb9a7105a720.jpg


REMEMBER!!!

THERE'S ONLY ONE bobcat!!!
 
WOW! 4000 That's quite a statement! I haven't heard anyone demanding low prices! I think most everyone is concerned about being offered unrealistic turnaround time! My taxidermist claimed after not touching them for 20 months (except tanning of course) he could have them both done in 2 weeks! I think most people would consider him an excellent taxidermist if could just get the work finished in the time frame HE claims he will! By the way! Just because a guy charges more doesn't necessarily mean his work is better! I've heard a lot of great comments on this site about the guy I'm using now and his prices are very competitive! I personally don't mind paying a little more for what I consider very good work, but I don't want to reward a guy for putting me on the back burner!
 
I DON'T MIND GIVING THEM A FAIR/REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME!!!

I'D EVEN TIP THE GUY A LITTLE FOR AN EXCELLENT JOB!!!

ONE THING FOR SURE!!!

WORD OF MOUTH TRAVELS QUICK!!!

WE OUGHT TO START AN MM "WALL OF SHAME"!!!



SOMTIMES TO GET IN ON A PISSCUTTER IT TAKES SOME STEALTH!!!
I THANK MY FRIEND Feleno FOR THE STEALTH CAMO!!!

4a25cb9a7105a720.jpg


REMEMBER!!!

THERE'S ONLY ONE bobcat!!!
 
>Kelly Memmott in Pleasant Grove, he
>does a great job and
>has a great turnaround time.
> He is reasonable on
>price as well.
>
>WW0801


I second wildwest's opinion. I have worked with Kelly, and he has done numerous mounts for me and a lot of my friends. He does great work and so does his partner. They are reasonably priced and done at a reasonable time.
 
HWH,
I think you handled that situation better than most people would have. And I'm glad you posted his name so others can be forewarned. IMO this guy should find another line of work.
 
I must give my 2 cents worth here. I have used Dave Butts before and he has ALWAYS been fair and timely. That is not saying that he has not been that way with everyone. I did not think that he did his own tanning but I guess that could be the case now. I think it would be very hard to find a better taxidermist for the money then Dave and He is not cheap! I feel really Bad to see this post about Dave not that it is not true as I am sure it is, But the reason I think it bothers me is I have had probably 4 deer 1 elk and my Oryx done by Dave and have not had any hard times with him other then the one time he called 2 days before christmas and told me I needed to come pick up a deer head and pay him. OUCH I was out of money but I got some cash together and went and got the deer head and it was GREAT as is all of his stuff he has done for me. The other reason I REALLY REALLY feel bad is I had dave do some skull mounts for me 2 years ago and I have not went and got them yet so I guess I am just as bad if not worse then what people are saying about Dave as I have been contacted by Dave and he has had the heads done for over a year!! Guess it can go both ways.. SOrry to hear that someone has had a bad dealing with Butts But I would say he has made many more people happy with his work then he has disapointed....
 
The
>other reason I REALLY REALLY
>feel bad is I had
>dave do some skull mounts
>for me 2 years ago
>and I have not went
>and got them yet so
>I guess I am just
>as bad if not worse
>then what people are saying
>about Dave as I have
>been contacted by Dave and
>he has had the heads
>done for over a year!!
>Guess it can go both
>ways..
Indeed it can go both ways.
I have mounts at my shop that have been here for months, even years. I'm easy going and give a customer every opportunity to claim their mounts. I have left numerous messages ( they don't answer calls ) stating that if money is tight right now, just pay what you can each month, even if it's only $20 just so that I know that you haven't abandoned the mounts and you still want them.
I get no replies. Yet, if I sell the mounts they'll scream FOUL and trash my name.
 
Where do you draw the line then on guys not picking up mounts and not paying for them? Is there an unwritten law on that? If they don't come get it in 6 months out it up for sale?

Steve
 
UThunting

I understand your point of view! And I certainly won't
discredit Dave's work! And I do believe there are a lot of people that don't pick up their work ( I'm sure of it because of the shed full of antlers at his shop) I'm pretty sure that's why he took on a partner ( at least she said the idea was to get stuff done) but I do pick up my work when it's completed and I don't think I should be punished because others don't!
I gave Dave a $500 deposit on 2 deer plus I furnished 1 cape he had previously tanned. Since he was holding my money couldn't he have at least worked 1 of them? Dave knows me well enough to know he dosn't have to worry about me not coming to get my mounts imediately upon completion! I personally think many customers abandon their mounts because it's so long before they're completed they no longer care about them! I think it's a one time experience for many to have an animal mounted and after the newness wears off they don't care anymore! I'd like to give Dave the benefit of the doubt but I called his home several times and was told by family members he'd get back with me ( and I brought this issue up to Dave when I finally decided enough was enough) he didn't deny any of it. He just wanted his compensation ( increased his tanning fee by 50% to $150 each ... by the way I know exactly what a tanning fee is $47, plus added another $50 for prep fee, so a total of $200 for 1 cape) and didn't apologize for my inconvenience at all! That left a bad taste in my mouth! I personally don't think that's the way to treat a customer ( I have a business of my own) if others feel it's OK then they can do as they wish! I just feel like I got ripped off and it's his fault, if I went back and it happened again it's my fault! I won't be going back!
When my son went to pick up his capes, the wife of the partner told my son they wish I'd have given them a little more time! Well, she promised me they'd have my mounts done in 2 weeks! So, I agreed to give them the 2 weeks on the condition if they weren't done in 2 weeks they complete the work for free! They declined that ageement! What more do they want? Had I not picked them up when I did, they'd still be in the freezer!
 
Backinthegame
You sure was nicer then me I would took him up on the offer to move all that stuff out and get my cape back then I would of Left all his stuff sitting outside on the floor and he could put it back in himself.


"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
 
>Where do you draw the line
>then on guys not picking
>up mounts and not paying
>for them? Is there an
>unwritten law on that? If
>they don't come get it
>in 6 months out it
>up for sale?
>
>Steve
Actually, there are written laws pertaining to this, each state is different. Here in CA if mounts are not claimed after 60 days of notification, they can legally be sold. The exception being migratory birds, they can never be sold regardless of what state you live in.
I go well beyond 60 days.
 
>Backinthegame
>You sure was nicer then me
>I would took him up
>on the offer to move
>all that stuff out and
>get my cape back then
>I would of Left all
>his stuff sitting outside on
>the floor and he could
>put it back in himself.
>
>
>
>"I have found if you go
>the extra mile it's Never
>crowded".


Ha, ha...well, like I said the guy was what I'd consider a friend. It was a pretty strange deal, he didn't handle it quite how I'd expected him to. But no worries, it's over with now.

4000fps...the guy in my story has a turnaround time of over a year and charges $750 for a deer shoulder mount. Not looking for a month and not looking for $400. Just sayin...
 
Backinthegame:

I was generalizing. 90% of all hunters are price shoppers, especially if they have never had anything mounted.
 
Wow, I feel lucky. I live out east in Chicago suburbs, and have used 5 different taxidermists here. All were fairly priced, and finished my mounts within 5 months. Often times 3 months. I've never even had to call once to check on them.
 
>Backinthegame:
>
>I was generalizing. 90% of all
>hunters are price shoppers, especially
>if they have never had
>anything mounted.


I'd probably agree with you there, lots of price shoppers for sure. I'm always looking at the price, but it might be for the opposite reason of many. Too cheap and I'm worried!!
 
HighWidenHandsome

I agree with you, you got a bad deal I was just suprised that it happened with Dave as I have found him to be more then fair with people and like I said I just feel Bad for Dave as he is one hell of a artist. I think somehow he fell behind when he moved his family and his studio to Willard from Ogden and you are one of the one's that fell through the cracks of a man moving his whole life to a new place.. I know he did not move for any bad reasons but just had a good offer on the propertys he had on Riverdale Rd and with a family I think he wanted to get away from all that so now he is in Willard.. Sorry to hear what happend to you it would suck as you did everything you could have to not have this problam, But I am sure that Dave feels Bad also and he knows he Screwed up and feels bad he lost a freind over it all.....
 
Beware of Taxidermists . . .

. . . . . reminded me of this one (sry for going off topic.)
__________________________________________________________

A guy walks into a bar in Arkansas and orders a white wine.

All the locals sitting around the bar look up, expecting to seesome pitiful Yankee from the north.

The bartender says, "You ain't from around here, are ya?"

The guy says, "No, I'm from California."

The bartender says, "What do you do in California?"

The guy says, "I'm a taxidermist."

The bartender says, "A taxidermist? What in tarnation is a
taxidermist? Do you drive a taxi?"

"No, a taxidermist doesn't drive a taxi. I mount animals."

The bartender grins and hollers, "It's okay boys. He's one of us
 

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