Need A Taxidermy Shop For A Bird Mount..

Swamp Puppy · 11-28-2003, 07:15 PM

Ok, once again i need to draw on the vast resources of knowledge that is ifish. one of my hunting partners shot a double banded drake mallard today. one regular band, and one $100.00 reward band. damn nice bird. he would like to get it mounted, but i haven't delt with any shops out here so i didn't have any recommendations for him on where to have it done.

so, who would you recommend that will do a nice job at a resonable price and have the bird back to him in a reasonable ammount if time?

thanks,

Ed

Killertraylor · 11-28-2003, 08:33 PM

Hi Ed. It was nice meeting you this morning and congrats to your buddy on that money bird! I take all my birds to Ted Will in Corvallis. He still only charges $30 and does a really good job. I've got 11 of them in my den. His number is 541-752-6566. Takes him about 3 months. Stuff some paper towel in the ducks mouth, put it in a nylon sock (like the wife's pantyhose) and freeze it. Don't leave it in the freezer too long or the feet get freezerburned. He's been at it for over 30 years and is a heck of a nice guy.

Good luck.

Joe

Swamp Puppy · 11-29-2003, 09:10 AM

thanks..yeah, it was nice meeting you guys yesterday. i'll pass that along to my buddy..and keep it mind for myself when the time comes that i need to get one mounted.

-Ed

seabass · 11-29-2003, 07:51 PM

You don't want the guy that I went to. He stuffed my boys first two teal. $220 for the pair and their bodies are now the size of mallards. I don't know how he stretched the skin that much.

ajfishfinder · 12-02-2003, 12:35 PM

If your still looking, try Brian Snyder out in Corneilus. He has done a few pheasants for me. High quality and reasonable price. He might take a bit longer but you know he is doing the work himself and not a rookie that might foul it up.

blacktail519 · 12-02-2003, 06:19 PM

Hey there ED,
Just wanted to let you know, I live in the same area as you, And Have had several big game head mounts done by Randy Jennings in Rainier. I dont know for sure if he does birds, But I tell you What, The guy is talented and i have sent many friends his way wich have also been very happy.
It is in our local phone book. Jennings Taxidermy.
I hope this helps or gives you some comfort in local yocals. Have a good one

Wak · 12-02-2003, 07:08 PM

Joe-

That is far better than any price that I could find, and I guess if you have 11 of them, quality must be there also. I have been wanting to get some birds done. Maybe we should plan an Ifish trip to Corvallis.

Wak

Killertraylor · 12-05-2003, 12:08 PM

Buckgtr - I mostly disagree. I'm not saying Ted's birds look as good as a $250 mount, but there certainly isn't $220 in difference! He did two pheasants for me last year that are better than a friends who had them done for $225 a piece. I have a coworker that spends $250 a bird and has several mounted and I agree that his look better than Ted's work, but not $220 better.

Wak - if you ever want to stop by and look at mine, you can decide for yourself if you like them. You probably still remember where I live. If not, give me a call and you can stop by anytime 503-803-5988. To bad there aren't any home Beaver football games left or I could take them down for you.

buckgtr · 12-05-2003, 12:28 PM

KT,

I agree with ya, I just think the wrong message was sent out originally. I just wanted to let them know that the quality of work was not top notch and to not get there hopes up expecting the best. The jist is that you get what you pay for. I agree I have 4 ducks done by Ted and am happy with them. But they are not works of art, you ever seen a dark green billed mallard? I haven't etc etc.. Their something to look at and remember the hunt. If I harvested a special bird I would take it somewhere else and get it done well. I was not doggin Ted he is a super guy. I was just letting them know that he isn't the best around.

Buckgtr

[ 12-05-2003, 01:31 PM: Message edited by: buckgtr ]

nitrobass · 12-05-2003, 01:11 PM

My 2 cents....

A buddy of mine has numerous mounts from Ted Will and again, you get what you pay for. Many of the ducks are mounted on a 4x4 piece of wood...and the realism on my buddy's mounts are very average at best. Not a knock on his work, just an observation. Definitely you get what you pay for..

Silver Eagle · 12-05-2003, 04:49 PM

Hi guys and I don't want to sound stupid, but I have a mount done for me to look at, its not the Monto Lisa, Ted does a real good job for the money and I have several done by him, I can afford him I don't want this mount to last for centuries but during my life time I can see them standing up, all in all he is the best bang for your buck, unless you want to do it yourself, Research Mankins in Lebanon has all the stuff, but I don't have the time. You have a real special bird but 220 +- dollars and SENTS. Ray
just a personal observation. :grin:

Killertraylor · 12-05-2003, 07:25 PM

Buckgtr - that's hilarious - a mallard with a green beak!

He must have learned that they are yellow as both of my greenheads are painted yellow. My point about Ted was that he's not the best around, but I think you get way more than you pay for - I've never heard of anyone else doing them for $30 and they do turn out pretty nice if you stay away from the flying mounts.

buckgtr · 12-05-2003, 11:57 PM

Ed,

I have used Ted in the past. The only thing I have to say is you get what you pay for. I would hate for you guys to travel all the way down to corvallis area without a little warning. Ted is a great guy but the detail in his work is not there.

Good Luck

FrogPond · 12-06-2003, 12:03 PM

I have a widgen Ted did and it turned out great! He will mount them on your own wood if you want. I will be taking a pair of Redheads to him later this week. I think I will be taking my Cinnamon Teal to someone else however. When I see Ted next, I will tell him that Canvasback have red eyes. I have seen two of his Cans with yellow eyes...ooops.

I will use a guy here in Corvallis for the Cinnamon. I don't know if he is really looking for more work, he is a student & baseball player at OSU. I will post back his info after I talk with him & ask if he is accepting work. I will also post pics after I get it back.

I just picked up a pair of Harlequin from Avian Design in Klamath Falls for a buddy of mine. WOW is all I can say. Big $$. Stefan is supposed to be the best bird guy in the country. The Cabela's family uses him for all of their personal bird collection. Great looking mount but VERY spendy. I wish I would have taken a pic of them before I delivered them.

steelhooked · 12-06-2003, 02:42 PM

i'm laughing already

i had a couple of them done by ted and well i have to agree you get what you pay for.. the heads looked really funny, all cocked and deformed. he makes his own molds out of foam that he carves. buddy had some that had something leaking out of the skin. but for thirty bucks you can roll the dice. not that he doesn't do a good job it's just cheap.

wife&3kids · 12-08-2003, 02:31 PM

Natural Instincts
Tim Brown-
Beaverton
503-646-1978

He's the guy

Lured In · 12-09-2003, 07:49 AM

So what is a "reasonable" price for a good mount that looks like the duck and continues to look like it should for a long time? I am curious as I am hoping to get a fully plumed Bull Sprig here in the next couple weeks and want to get it mounted?

Beaver93 · 12-09-2003, 08:36 AM

Follow this link to a post on the Duck Hunter's Boat Page:
http://www.duckboats.net/forum/messages/53608.html
This guy has three pictures of his work there. They look awfully good to me, espacially the Gadwall. I know nothing about him other than he is from Oregon.

Corey

jo jo elk · 12-21-2003, 05:31 AM

HELLO,

IF YOU WANT A GOOD BIRD MOUNT YOU NEED TO TRY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH MIKE VERNELSON HE IS THE BEST AROUND THE WORLD. IF YOU CANT FIND HIM CALL JORDAN INGERSOLL AT 503-656-2230 HE WAS TRAINED BY MIKE AND IS DOING AWESOME MOUNTS. THERE IS NOT MANY TAXIDERMIST IN OREGON BESIDES THESE TWO GUYS THAT CAN MOUNT A BIRD WORTH A CRAP. ITS SAD TO SEE WHAT THESE TAXIDERMISTS GIVE TO THERE PEOPLE. I WILL POST SOME PICS OF MIKES MOUNTS TO SHOW YOU THAT THERE IS NOTHING BETTER. ANY QUESTIONS CALL CHRIS AT 360-896-3702.