Tips for Choosing Taxidermy Animals
Taxidermy takes a dead animal and makes it into a lasting household item such as a rug or wall mount. The most common taxidermy item is a deer or moose head. Choosing the right taxidermy animal can make a difference in the appearance and quality of the mount.
- Check the taxidermist's qualifications. If you are buying a mount directly from the taxidermist, ask to see his qualifications. There are no special courses to become a taxidermist; you simply buy the license to practice. This leads to many taxidermists who produce poor quality mounts. If the taxidermist lists himself as award winning, then ask to see proof of his awards.
- Look at the eyes of the mount. The eyes on the mount should be symmetrical. The eyes should be made of solid black glass. Spray-painted eyes or eyes made of plastic can result in a mount that does not appear lifelike.
- Check the ears of the mount. When the animal has died, the ears will flop and droop. It is the job of the taxidermist to return the ears to the original upright and alert position. This is done with high quality cardboard. Poor taxidermy jobs have wrinkled, floppy or asymmetrical ears.
- The nose of the mount should be expertly painted. A poor quality taxidermy job will have a black spray painted nose. An expert taxidermist uses a high quality nose plug and carefully paints the nose shiny black. Hand painting allows the nose to look lifelike.
- The skin should be taut. Check the tightness of the anima's skin around the antlers and base of the mount. An expert taxidermist tans the skin so that it stretches completely over the inside form.