I'm thinking about giving this a try. I'm a pretty decent artist and think i can handle the tedious work. I did a little searching online but i was really looking to find an aggie who has some experience in this. Recommend books. DVD's...etc.

Any help would be great. thanks.

Been doing bird taxidermy on the side for twenty-five years. It's an artistic outlet and pays for lease, guns, archery, etc.

There's a little more to it than you might think: airbrush and paints, tumbler, de-fat wheel.

Get a catalogue from Wildlife Artist Supply. They have books and DVDs.

If you want more info, email me at c.conklin2@sbcglobal.net. I'm in DFW area and could let you sit in on a mounting.

thanks a lot and i just ordered the mag from WASCO. I would like to take you up on that offer sometime, but i live in houston.

In the 2010 catalogue, look on page 288 at the DVD by Dave Luke (Traditional Waterfowl Taxidermy Techniques). That's what you want: a good general instruction using wrapped hand-made bodies and natural heads.

So many of the other instructional guys use artificial bodies, skulls and bills, necks, legs and feet, etc. It really drives up the price. They either charge a hefty sum to recoup their costs, or they are mounting for competition.

Just look in your catalogue when it arrives at the artificial body products for birds. You could lay out $100 per duck before you ever start.

good lord another taxidermist!

My dad is a taxi, he does pretty much anything but birds and fish. I can tell you this, find someone that will let you watch/help. You'll learn twice as much from a couple of days in the shop than you would from any set of DVDs. Then, join the Texas Taxidermy Association. At the yearly convention, there are seminars. Go, watch, learn. Every professional taxidermist I've ever met was very friendly, and always willing to help/teach. They wrap up every convention with a dinner and then a live auction. Folks auction of everything from supplies to lessons, buy lessons.

[This message has been edited by IsleAg11 (edited 12/19/2009 3:05p).]