Taxidermy questions?

  • Anonymous
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    March 12, 2003 at 7:51 pm #1243178

    I am thinking about giving it a try this summer. I would like to be able to do fish mounts of Walleye, perch and down the road oily fish such as Steelhead and other salmanoids. Is there a good do it yourself book or video out there? Where is the best place to buy my supplies? Vandyke’s seems to have a pretty nice selection.

    Any info is greatly appreciated…

    Thanks

    Anonymous
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    March 12, 2003 at 8:11 pm #262279

    Jason,

    My brother is a taxidermist. He has been doing it for quite some time now and I’m sure he could point you in the right direction if you are interested in giving him a call sometime.
    He will be at a taxidermy competition at Breezy point next weekend.
    Scott DeZurik @ 320-746-2124

    Anonymous
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    March 12, 2003 at 8:32 pm #262280

    Thanks Steve.. I’ll give him a call. Is he coming to Erie with you in April?

    Anonymous
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    March 13, 2003 at 12:40 am #262285

    How far is he from the Cities area Steve and how does he charge? By the inch?

    Anonymous
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    March 13, 2003 at 3:34 am #262288

    Another good contact would be Jack over at FTR.

    Anonymous
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    March 13, 2003 at 12:56 pm #262289

    Kid,

    My brother is out in the Avon, Mn area and I just spoke with him and he charges $3.75 an inch.

    Anonymous
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    March 13, 2003 at 1:07 pm #262290

    Hmmm, I didn’t know Scott was doing taxidermy work. I guess I never asked and he didn’t volunteer it. I’m sure that he would be very good at it. Between family, SPX and that, no wonder he never gets a chance to fish. Ha, ha..if you’re reading this Scott, just kiddin’. Jon

    scott dezurik
    Posts: 12
    March 13, 2003 at 4:37 pm #262296

    Jason there is a ton of information out there to get started. Yes it does cut into your hunting and fishing quite abit. Come on John I still get parts of the weekends for my outings,as long as the family is still asleep its o.k.(sometimes requires some creative planning,my brothers hate me for this). I’ve been doing taxidermy for 11 years for other people and a few years before that for myself. Taxidermy Today and Breakthrough are exellent magazines for keeping up with the latest products and techniques. VanDykes and McKenzie offer excellent videos also that can give you a insight on just about everything if your not able to attend a school. Lots of practice and patience are kind of up to you.

    Scott

    Anonymous
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    March 13, 2003 at 5:39 pm #262298

    Thanks Scott… I ordered a video a couple days ago from vandykes. I figured it would give me an idea of what I am getting myself into.

    What do you think the hardest part of mounting a fish is?

    scott dezurik
    Posts: 12
    March 13, 2003 at 6:30 pm #262300

    Like any mount the skinning is the toughest and most important part. If you don’t get all the flesh out you’ll have shrinkage and smell. Head and tail juctures along with cheek areas are the most critical to flesh. These areas are also the most critical to repack properly when mounting. Painting takes a little practice but comes with time. Use good reference charts. Good luck and have fun.

    Scott

    Anonymous
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    March 13, 2003 at 6:36 pm #262301

    Thanks, I can’t wait for the video to get here. I’ll watch it a couple dozen times before spring. Then I’ll be butchering everything in sight!!!

    Anonymous
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    March 13, 2003 at 6:56 pm #262302

    Scott! Welcome to the forum! Say, sometimes I like taking a drive somewhere…….just for the sake of the drive. Have you got room for another “order”. I’ve got a fish that NEEDS to be done. LMK!

    scott dezurik
    Posts: 12
    March 13, 2003 at 7:33 pm #262303

    Sure not a problem. Somtimes people even ship them to me. Just let me know.

    Scott

    Anonymous
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    March 13, 2003 at 7:48 pm #262291

    Kid2,

    You might want to wait till after your Erie trip before you drop that fish off. After the trip you will probably just classify it as bait!! Just kidding!

    Anonymous
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    March 13, 2003 at 8:04 pm #262292

    Scott,

    Do you do replicas or just skin mounts? I have an eye I want to get done for the wife.

    Anonymous
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    March 13, 2003 at 11:11 pm #262293

    Scott,
    Good to see you hear on the FTL forums. This is off topic, but any chance at getting some future Avon area fishing reports under the “central MN forums”? You don’t have to give away honey holes, but any updates I’m sure would be appreciated. Maybe even some reports from the Miss., north of Sartell, which can be posted under the central MN forum. See if Chris W. is interested in posting, we will even accept Musky info….sorry Chris I had to pick on you just a little.
    Thanks,
    Jon

    Anonymous
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    March 14, 2003 at 12:06 am #262294

    You might be right Jason! However, I got talked into saving the fish for a mount so the least I can do is see it done!

    How do you ship a frozen fish? Dry ice?

    scott dezurik
    Posts: 12
    March 14, 2003 at 1:02 pm #262317

    Mike I just do the skin mounts on fish. Hopefully that works for you. John I’ll keep in mind about the fishing reports from the Avon area. Bass is usually the main topic. Kid2 you can wrap the fish good in newspaper and ship in a sealed box and ship it early in the week next day shipping. Let me know its comming the day before so I can plan to take special care if needed when it arrives. 320-746-2124.

    Scott

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