LAST EDITED ON Mar-28-08 AT 04:31PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Mar-28-08 AT 04:27?PM (MST)
Theres a lot of mis-conceptions going on with taxidermy in this thread.
For starters, I think a lot of people would be shocked how much work is whole-saled out between taxidermists. It happens all the time and there isnt anything wrong with it as long as the quality is maintained.
Another thing worth noting is that taxidermists that compete will usually be better taxidermists when it comes to their commercial work. Commercial work being their everyday customers stuff that goes out the door. Many compete simply to learn and better themselves.
But, on the other hand, just because a guy spends 200 hours on a piece and wins a ribbon at a taxidermy show doesnt mean you'll be getting anything close to that kind of quality in your mount. In fact, I can guarantee you wont. They dont have time to spend 40 hours on your $600 deer mount, none of them. Unless you're willing to spend some huge money, you wont ever get a taxidermists best work. These guys are trying to make a living and they simply cant put competition pieces together for every customer for a few hundred dollars. Wont happen.
I've seen good taxidermists turn out some real crap from time to time. It happens, everyone has their good days and bad days.
All a person can ask for is good, clean taxidermy, thats relatively correct. Meaning, some form of symmetry, decent finish work, some grooming, hair lines in correct places, correct eye shape, antlers/horns set right, etc.
Everyone thinks their taxidermist is the best, but their commercial work would get hammered at most any competition. Meaning the deer mount in your house would be lucky to receive a ribbon at all in a show.
Oh, and after walking around the expo in salt lake...there was a lot of very average to less than average taxidermy at the expo...and also some darn nice taxidermy as well. Places like that is where you'll see difference in quality.
The average hunter wouldnt know good taxidermy if it bit them in the a$$.