NANCE: Some tips to help get mounts that will keep memories alive
A couple of weeks ago, a buddy had sent a poorly-lit, blurry picture on a group text from the taxidermist’s shop of an Osceola turkey he’d recently had mounted. In the background was my long-awaited Wyoming Merriam’s gobbler from last spring undergoing the final touches before it'd be ready for pick-up.
For those of you who’ve had kids, remember reviewing their third-trimester sonograms and spending the next few nights suffering nightmares that your children would be born without chins — very similar sensation to seeing that picture.
I knew I’d frayed the beard with stray No. 7 TSS shot from my 12-gauge. As the guide teased at the time, “Too close for missiles, Goose,” as I scooped up what wispy black strands I could in the hopes my taxidermist could repair the damage. From my friend’s photo, it appeared this salvage operation mostly failed. The head, out of focus, resembled one carved off a decoy sold at Wal-Mart more than one skillfully preserved for the ages.
I’d traveled a long way for that gobbler, bought an extra cooler, endured the extra baggage charge to fly him home, and struggled to my truck solo with three awkward pieces of luggage through Tampa International as midnight approached. A poor mount would really burn my cookies.
Much like with the ultrasounds, I had little to fear in the end. When I picked up the gobbler last weekend, he was perfect, the beard stitched back together and resplendent. And, his head looked like it could spring back to life with a wish under the right shooting star.
All hunters have their own opinions on taxidermy, but these mounts provide singular reminders of memories of a lifetime. The workmanship of the artist is one critical factor in the quality of these unique pieces of art. How you care for the animal from the woods to your wall should not be overlooked, either. If you follow these tips, I assure you that trophy buck or flushing duck mount will last generations.
• Tips in the Field — For skin-on mounts, be sure to have the animal cooled as quickly as possible. If the hide is allowed to get too hot, the hair will begin to slip. Freezing is preferable if it’ll take a little while to reach the taxidermist. Duck and turkey mounts need to be kept whole and wrapped with its head under a wing. A plastic grocery or trash bag will serve this purpose well enough.
• Know CWD Rules — For deer mounts, please be aware of Florida’s Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) rules. Aside from finished mounts, only clean hides and antlers, skulls, skull caps, and teeth can be imported from out-of-state if all soft tissue has been removed. So, If you have a preferred taxidermist at home, you’ll need to learn to fully cape those non-resident bucks. There are a plethora of articles and YouTube videos that teach this skill. Practicing on smaller bucks would be advisable, though.
• Choose the Right Taxidermist — Taxidermy is not cheap and basing your decisions on price is going to cost you in the end. Always ask to see samples of their work and check on references. Social media is a fine method for doing so, but as I started this column with, pictures can be deceiving, too. And just because a taxidermist does well with deer does not mean that is true on ducks or other game. Finally, it’s best to be patient with turn-around times. Nearly every taxidermist will have your mount ready “soon.” It’s part of the business as they often wait on supplies to be shipped and offsite work, such as tanning the hides, to be complete.
• How to Store It — Once a mount is home, be sure to keep it in a cool, dry room. Humidity is the very devil to taxidermy, but so is direct sunlight, so choose wall space accordingly. Use a handheld Swiffer to remove dust, never dusting against the fur or feathers.
In case you’re curious, I have taken my game animals to Steve Fijalkowski (813-451-6076) in Valrico for at least a decade now, and he does excellent work. Not sure how I’d let a crummy photo cast that into doubt, but I'm very pleased with that Merriam's gobbler and have enjoyed showing it off to family and friends.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: NANCE: Some tips to help get mounts that will keep memories alive
