Just wondering on how you all got started, and if you went to school or learned some other way. Any schools in the New York City area?? Thanks Wolf

Hi Wolf

Here is a starting point, not in NY but maybe they can offer advice to you !!

Taxidermy School

Peter

My wife got started in a different way from most I guess. She stopped by a local shop to see if they needed help. She started out fleshing for about 3 months. All of a sudden she ended up in doing rugs. Only 2 complaints in about 7 years, cant argue with that. Never went to school for taxidermy. She was always artistic and a natural for the job (yes I'm biased ). Its funny, everytime she does a bear rug, she pictures our dogs expression's when she does the head.

I started hanging around a local shop doing the dirty work. They would show me how to mount a bird for myself then I would do some more dirty work for them and so on.
I started buying instructional video tapes from taxidemy supply companies when I wanted to mount a deer head or javalina.
I would recommend you join your state taxidermy association and attend the conventions. They have seminars put on by the best of the best. You can learn a bunch in a short period of time.
Look into getting subcribtion to taxidermy magazine like Outlook and Taxidermy Today. Lots of great how to articles. Suppliers advertise in them also so you can request catalogs.
Visit Taxidermy.net forumn and check out the archieve for answers to any question you have.
If you have the time and the money the schools would be great.
Most importantly practice!!!
Have ya some fun!!!