'Taxidermy' rant

For start, this is not directed to anyone specifically, just a collection of things I've been seeing..


The soft mount fad and taxidermy have been taking off like a rocket in the past year or two and what I keep seeing is children thinking they can mimic what took some folks years to do in just a matter of days. Expensive, rare, and stunning hides and pelts are being turned into jokes. Licensed taxidermists state for a reason to practice upon small animals (mice, squirrels, etc.) for a while long before starting with a predator as it takes a lot of practice to do it right.

Now I'm seeing "how to make a cheap soft mount!" stuff popping up everywhere. "Cheap" should never be affiliated with "Taxidermy" as if it's not done properly, with the tools, materials, and chemicals specifically designed for the job, it's not done right. Yes I can see carving and modifying an existing base as many have to do that... but subbing in hot glue for hide paste or stuffed animal eyes n for glass taxidermy eyes... rushing the whole thing just to have a taxidermy piece... You aren't honoring the animal, you're destroying it.

Most recently I saw a fox, one of the most stunning I've ever seen of it's coloration, be ruined by novice hands... That's fantastic you want to devote your time and effort into breathing life back into death, but do it properly and gently, like blowing a bubble instead of blowing up a balloon with a shop vac. Save up your money and purchase a squirrel mounting kit and practice until you can do it right... until you can produce something you can truly be proud of instead of having to make up excuses as to why it looks the way it does.

The whole point of taxidermy is to create life from life, not attempt to copy. To copy you will only have a lifeless thing staring at you. Finally got it down? You've created one that you like a lot and looks great? That's awesome! You will be appraised so much more highly for taking your time, but don't just say "Ok I can make one now. I'm open for commissions!!!" Take your time, create a few more... Each one will be a new learning experience.

Before just jumping in thinking its easy, do your research. Learn how to do it. Purchase the books, acquire practice pieces to practice the basics upon such as sculpting eyelids, sewing up cuts, fitting the proper form, and other things like that so that you can learn how to do a taxidermy piece properly. For heavens sakes though, don't take the cheap way out as it will not last.

...ok, all done now...