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Anyone have suggestions for good taxidermists for African game in the Southeast? Especially, in or around Atlanta or Nashville? Also, is there a broker in Atlanta who can receive trophies? Thanks, Andy | ||
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Hey Andy......I use some local folks here to central Florida...John and Judy Bartoletti at Master Taxidermy. The've mounted virtually everything from Africa. Judy has always had me bring my stuff thru Fauna and Flora in NY. Their tanner is in NC. Call Judy at 407-656-7473 and tell her you know me...she'll probably hang up...just kidding. She should know some qualified folks in your area. Give me a shout when you get a moment...love to hear about the trip. Gary DRSS NRA Lifer SCI DSC | |||
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In Cartersville there is Darrell McMicken with McMicken Taxidermy, who I have used for all my Africa mounts and his shop is USDA approved. His number is 770-382-6232. As far as brokers go, I have allways used Coppersmith's talk to Tammy Lewis at 404-766-0111. Good Hunting,  | |||
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Wildlife Taxidermy in Lawrenceville, GA 770-963-8000 does a lot of African mounts. Charlie, the owner, hunts Africa quite a bit as well. I have not had them do any African mounts for me yet, but they mounted the elk in my avatar and the work was great. 30+ years experience tells me that perfection hit at .264. Others are adequate but anything before or after is wishful thinking. | |||
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Andy, John Pyles Taxidermy in Orlando does museum quality work. I just salvaged a good friend's trophies of ten years back, after a lawsuit against another taxidermist in Miami. John resurrected many of these and did excellent work. He is currently doing a full body Nyala which will definitely be museum quality. He's a hell of a nice guy and prices fairly. You may reach him at 407-291-9386. He has my buff and Nyassa wildebeest. My stuff came in through Miami, which is 240 miles away. Edit: As per Mark Young's post below, John specializes in African animals. He has a full body mount of a lion in his lobby, along with a perfect guineafowl and a variety of other African animals. Can't recommend him enough. I originally found him here on AR from another member's post and visited his studio prior to giving him the commission. He hasn't disappointed me. | |||
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I can second McMicken Taxidermy in Catersville. If you have a chance to visit their showroon, you will not be disappointed. My stuff from Namibia is in transit now and will be brokered by Coppersmith and delivered to McMicken. | |||
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Can tell you who not to use Wilderness Taxidermy in NC. Without a long story, I had to get my attorney involved and lost my trophy. TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE!!! NRA LIFE MEMBER DU DIAMOND SPONSOR IN PERPETUITY DALLAS SAFARI CLUB LIFE MEMBER SCI FOUNDATION MEMBER | |||
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Andy, Lexington, KY may be a bit too far but if not try Harry Whitehead at Gunners Taxidermy. He has done all my superb African taxidermy of 3 safaris and he imports thru ABX in Houston. Check him out at www.gunnerstaxidermy.com "In these days of mouth-foaming Disneyism......"--- Capstick Don't blame the hunters for what the poachers do!---me Benefactor Member NRA | |||
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There is only one Taxidermist near Nashville that is qualified on African game; Foster Butt Taxidermy. (formally Wildlife Taxidermy for over 30+ years but the name has become too common). 615-865-9323. Foster is at his Elk camp currently but will return in a couple of weeks. He'll use any importer you want (he is lisenced to receive). We have several outstanding Taxidermists here on AR but they are not local to your area. I can give you the names of many if you wish to contact me via PM or phone. LDK Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
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What makes a taxidermists qualified in Nashville. I am curious becasue i lived in Franklin, TN for 5 years and used different taxidermists and they all seemed very fair and good. Is it because of the importing that Foster Butt does? Just curious. Thanks Ray Matthews Matthews Outdoor Adventures 2808 Bainbridge Trail Mansfield, Texas 76063 | |||
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Andy, Believe you will find someone who posts on AR under the handle Wildlife Artist from Elkin, North Carolina worth checking out. Wound up hunting just after him near Hluhluwe and looked at photos of some of his work. He has imagination and now the needed experience of Africa. Regards, Tim | |||
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Andy, The most important factor is to use a taxidewrmist that "SPECIALIZES" in African nmounts. Often taxidermists do a few African animals each year but that does not make them good with African mounts. There may be some excellent taxidermist in the SE but I will stick with 2 guys. Tom Hardesty of Atcheson Taxidermy in Butte, MT and Jerry Huffaker from Abilene, TX. They both do excellent work in a reasonable amount of time, have hunted Africa themselves and seen the animals they are mounting. Mark MARK H. YOUNG MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110 Office 702-848-1693 Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED E-mail markttc@msn.com Website: myexclusiveadventures.com Skype: markhyhunter Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 | |||
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Andy, As posted earlier, both Charlie Watson in Lawrenceville and Darrel McMicken in Cartersville do great work. I have experience with each. They both do considerable work for SCI members in the Atlanta market and each of them have been to Africa multiple times themselves. Both have plenty of experience in African mounts. Be sure to ask Darrel for a tour of the back trophy room. Hugh | |||
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Near Atlanta Michael Vaden Wildlife Artistry 2950 Godrey Rd Madison Georgia 30650 (706) 342-4008 I use him and he is excellent with African mounts. Gets them done in a reasonable amouont of time, and he wil pick up and delivery in and around Atlanta. Coppersmith will clear heads at the customs at Hartsfield. Michael will pick them up from there. | |||
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McMicken, is who I have used to 10 years now. They do great work, and are honest. | |||
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40+ years of mounting African game IMHO gives Mr Butt a good start on the competition, and yes, he's a Federally USDA and USF&W licensed importer. Many of the middle TN (not all but 90%) Taxidermists are in their garage or basement and do not adhere to professional standards. I spent 17 years as a professional Taxidermist and I do have a trained eye for quality. I've been chasing a local "professional" for 5 years trying to recoup my color bear, elk and some other skins. What he is in my book is a professional scam artist and is about to meet my Attorney, along with a complaint to the TN Wildlife Resources Agency. I've also seen a number of local's exhibited in area sporting shows and personally, I'll pass. We have some outstanding Pro's on this forum that I would highly recommend, but no one locally. My local guy is good on African but not a specialist. His forte is US big game. Just my opinion. LDK Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
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I just got home from the Selous last night and once again my stuff will be sent to American Sportsman Taxidermy in Tallahassee. Larry Quinn specializes in African taxidermy and does work for people around the country. I was down there after my first safari in 2003. I'll never forget the full-bodied elephant he had just completed that was about to be shipped to Kentucky. Amazingly, this elephant was the third full-bodied elephant for that particular hunter; all 3 are now in the guy's trophy room. How would you like to go check that place out? For me, I wanted a top-notch taxidermist that specializes in what I was bringing in. Many people do not overly consider geographic location for that, and I’ve felt fortunate that American Sportsman is as close to us in Georgia as it is. I'll second Mark's recommendation of Tom Hardesty of Atcheson Taxidermy in Butte, MT and have used them previously for Alaskan stuff, but I've found the convenenice and quality found just south of us in Tallahassee to be a nice combination. | |||
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LDK, That makes sense! Thanks for clarifing. Good luck with getting your stuff back. TWRA should be able to help you. Ray Matthews Matthews Outdoor Adventures 2808 Bainbridge Trail Mansfield, Texas 76063 | |||
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I used Tom Hardesty at Atcheson's for a number of years and they are great. However, the shipping to Ga. escalated to the same cost as the taxidermy so I began to look around the middle Ga. area as I had retired and moved from metro Atlanta. Trail's end taxidermy in Macon is very good and family run by Len Sams and his son under the supervision of his wife Angie. They have done the animals from my last four safaris and done them well. Whoever You use, be sure to use Coppersmith as your customs broker they are the best, Good Luck. | |||
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There are several good choices in the Atlanta area which have been mentioned. I will add my vote for Darrell McMicken up in Cartersville. He did my plains game from Zimbabwe in 2002 and everthing looks as great today as the day I picked them up!! Even if you don't use Darrell - who is a really great guy and actively supports the local hunter community - you have got to visit his "showroom". If you're not sure how you want the trophies done, can get quite a few ideas from the displays. Phil | |||
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Just make sure you ever you use you check out their work...My studio receives quite a few international trophies every year and I mainly use brokers in Wa. and then off in bond to a USDA tannery in my state.Shipping dose have a cost but most studios will have major discounts like mine, so don't be confined to a curtain area.  Good Luckwww.african-montana-taxidermy.com life member of SCI life member of NRA NTA Master Scorer SCI Scorer for Rowland Ward www.african-montana-taxidermy.com | |||
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Another vote for Charlie Watson at Wildlife Taxidermy in Lawrenceville, GA. Charlie has done about 35 mounts for me and specializes in African game. Look at my post in the Trophy Room forum to see samples of his work. (It's still on the front page) | |||
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Thanks for the replies guys. I spoke with Darrel McMicken over the weekend and am going up to see his showroom on Saturday, he's only about a half an hour from my house and seems like a good guy and from the pics of his work that I have seen it appears he does very nice work. He told me that he does between 1,800-1,900 animals a year of which about 500 are African and that he has hunted Africa 7 times and his father has been there 9 times. I think I am probably in good hands. I also spoke with Tammy at Coppersmiths and she is very helpful as well. Andy | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Taxidermists in the Southeast
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