Taxidermist suggestions?

[Luke E.]

I shot a fairly nice buck this morning and am going to have him mounted but having never dealt with a taxidermist before I don't really know where to go I've had a few suggestions from friends but just wanted more opinions. I'm in Rutherford county but I don't mind traveling to the surrounding counties in warranted. If you have a suggestion, a last known price and wait time would be helpful.

[Hozzie]

The only one I have any personal experience with is Foster Butt Taxidermy in Madison.   My friend who has been to Africa twice has had a few different things done by him and I can attest that it was excellent work.  He has had Kudu, Zebra Skins, Crock skull, and Cape Buffalo all done by him.  

 

I have no idea on cost or timing, but when I am ready to get something mounted, he will be my first call to get a price.  I suspect he isn't the cheapest, but I am confident in his quality of work based on what I have scene in person.

[DaveS]

Just a piece of friendly advice from a retired Taxidermist....If the Taxidermist you choose wants to take a year or more to do your mount (as some say and or do) ask them to defer your 1/2 $ down until he's ready to start work on your mount, and you'd be surprised how quick he'll get to it. Your money will earn better interest in a bank for a year and not your Taxidermist pocket!

 

Dave

[Wiljo05]

Luke,
I've got a guy near me that has done several mounts for me and others in my family. Just about 10 min past my place, small hole in the wall kinda place. But the guy does good work.

[Luke E.]

Luke,
I've got a guy near me that has done several mounts for me and others in my family. Just about 10 min past my place, small hole in the wall kinda place. But the guy does good work.

I'll call you this afternoon to find out more from you and to figure out when is a good time for you to run out here.

[Luke E.]

Just a piece of friendly advice from a retired Taxidermist....If the Taxidermist you choose wants to take a year or more to do your mount (as some say and or do) ask them to defer your 1/2 $ down until he's ready to start work on your mount, and you'd be surprised how quick he'll get to it. Your money will earn better interest in a bank for a year and not your Taxidermist pocket!

Dave

Dave, long turn arounds are something I'd like to avoid. I do understand that, especially this time of year, any taxidermist worth their salt are going to have a backlog of work but a friend recommended a guy but followed up with telling me that it would be a year and a half before I saw it again. That seems excessive. I also need to find the right balance between quality and cost. I'm not looking for a museum quality show piece but I also don't want to see seams, crooked antlers and crossed eyes. I'm not spending $500 to have this mount but I also wouldn't trust someone that charged $150. You feel like coming outta retirement? 😏

[Luke E.]

The only one I have any personal experience with is Foster Butt Taxidermy in Madison. My friend who has been to Africa twice has had a few different things done by him and I can attest that it was excellent work. He has had Kudu, Zebra Skins, Crock skull, and Cape Buffalo all done by him.

I have no idea on cost or timing, but when I am ready to get something mounted, he will be my first call to get a price. I suspect he isn't the cheapest, but I am confident in his quality of work based on what I have scene in person.

Thanks, I will definitely give them a call.

[Johnny Rotten]

Dave, long turn arounds are something I'd like to avoid. I do understand that, especially this time of year, any taxidermist worth their salt are going to have a backlog of work but a friend recommended a guy but followed up with telling me that it would be a year and a half before I saw it again. That seems excessive. I also need to find the right balance between quality and cost. I'm not looking for a museum quality show piece but I also don't want to see seams, crooked antlers and crossed eyes. I'm not spending $500 to have this mount but I also wouldn't trust someone that charged $150. You feel like coming outta retirement? 😏

Most likely you'll wait until the season is over to get it mounted, You'll pay around $300 and $25+/- for a plaque, i use May processing in Huntland their close friends, their MO is processing all the deer meat first then they move to the mounts, I've always had my mounts by April 1.

[Luke E.]

Most likely you'll wait until the season is over to get it mounted, You'll pay around $300 and $25+/- for a plaque, i use May processing in Huntland their close friends, their MO is processing all the deer meat first then they move to the mounts, I've always had my mounts by April 1.

Yea, waiting a few months, or even several months isn't an issue for me but waiting more than a year becomes an issue. I'm just not that patient. I didn't get time to call around today but I did talk to one of the neighbors that uses a guy around Tim's Ford Lake and said he charges $275 without plaque or $300 with it. I went and looked at some of his that he's had done and they surpassed my quality expectations.
Where is Huntland?

[Johnny Rotten]

Yea, waiting a few months, or even several months isn't an issue for me but waiting more than a year becomes an issue. I'm just not that patient. I didn't get time to call around today but I did talk to one of the neighbors that uses a guy around Tim's Ford Lake and said he charges $275 without plaque or $300 with it. I went and looked at some of his that he's had done and they surpassed my quality expectations.
Where is Huntland?

15 miles south of Winchester, your neighbors suggestion what's there name? WW I'm guessing

[Luke E.]

15 miles south of Winchester, your neighbors suggestion what's there name? WW I'm guessing

Bryan's Trophy Game Taxidermy is what the business card says.