Shelby’s Taxidermy

06/11/2024

A couple weekends ago I set up a booth at the great merrickville arms collectors and militaria show. Something I always said I wanted to do but just never got around to doing it. A friend got me set up with the fellahs who ran the show and the rest is history! It went off without a hitch, there seemed to be lots of interest and I was really glad that taxidermy was so well received! Sometimes that can be hit or miss but I enjoy answering people’s questions about it and how it’s really not as “yucky” as you might think😂 all the other vendors were extremely welcoming to me and great to talk to. I would 100% do it again! And a big thank you to the customers who let me display their pieces at the show, you guys are the reason I get to do this in the first place😁

05/21/2024

Here’s some recently finished pieces for you guys to check out!

With spring bear season finally open please please PLEASE give me a shout if you are unsure about how to properly skin your bear out for a mount, be it a rug, shoulder mount etc… it’s important to keep symmetry (or Atleast close to it) when skinning out your bear for a rug👌
With this heat, you’re going by to want to get the bear skinned out quickly to cool down the hide and your meat as well. A lot of people tend to rush through the skinning step in the heat because they know it’s crucial to work fast but a lot of the times when working fast, you may not be thinking straight and make some pretty critical mistakes.
It’s best to do some research on proper skinning techniques prior to your hunt (even print out a skinning diagram and keep it with you if it helps) instead of wondering what the hell to do when you’ve got the bear down. Feel free to give me a shout if you are unsure with anything related to that😁
Ive got a cold currently and can hardly talk😂 so I’m not answering phone calls right now since there’s no point! Please leave me a voicemail and reach out on here or text me and I’ll help you out the best I can👌 hopefully I’ll have kicked this shortly! Best of luck this bear season and to those still trucking away with the turkeys (including me😂).
Also meant to add! For bears I do not offer hide tanning or skull work but can recommend someone to you! I can offer rugs, shoulder mounts, 1/2 life size, lifesize and backpack mounts👌

04/22/2024

Hey guys! I hope all you turkeys hunters are as excited about turkey opener on Thursday as I am!
Here’s some photos of some of the different options I can provide to mount your turkey in order from least expensive to most, tail fan mount on walnut plaque (can include legs and beard), turkey feather display (this is completely customizable and I can use any parts you’d like, price depends on the size of the wood frame), 1/2 mount turkey and full mount turkey! If you have something completely different in mind, I’m sure I can get it figured out!😁

For 1/2 and full mount turkeys, I ask that the bird be brought here in one piece and not skinned. If our schedules line up and you can get it here very soon after it was harvested then that’s ideal! If not, freeze the bird whole taking care to protect the tail feathers. If you don’t have freezer space, give me a shout and I can organize space in my freezer for you. Your bird will be skinned out fairly quickly and you can pick up your meat whenever is convenient, I don’t expect anyone to wait until the mount is finished to pick up their meat.

Don’t fret if your turkeys head is very badly damaged. I use freeze dried real turkey heads in my mounts so the original head won’t be used anyways.

Keep the tag with the turkey. If you lose the tag, I only need the tag number which will still be on your printed license summary sheet. It will be available on that for one year. This goes for any other harvested game as well (deer, bear etc…)

Opening day, I will be hitting the woods but will be available that evening. This coming weekend Saturday-Monday I will not be available and will be in an area with hit or miss service. I recommend you text me vs call as calls don’t seem to always go through but I will get your text!

If anyone has questions about anything, don’t hesitate to give me a shout and I’ll help out the best I can😁have a great time this season, and I hope you guys get the opportunity at some great turkeys👌👌

03/25/2024

Some of you have already seen this post on my personal page but for those of you that haven’t, here it is!! The cta booth at the Toronto sportsmanshow was a big hit once again👌 it was great to see new and old faces again, it’s always a great place to catch up😁 it’s a very long weekend (especially for someone like me that isn’t a fan of crowds!😂) but we’ll worth it, the amount of knowledge that I take home with me after every show is absolutely priceless and I highly recommend it to those looking to get into the great art of taxidermy as well as those who’ve been in the trade for a long time! Here’s the results of my pieces as well as some photos of other taxidermy mounts that I really loved!
Everything was entered in the professional category this year👌 second with the gray fox, first and best of class with the button buck, third with the pine marten, second with the whitetail fawn, second with the habitat for it and third in original art for the metal base. Every mount except for the button buck (although heavily altered) was custom made either by carcass cast or by making a wrapped body, the time it takes to make the custom pieces is the reason why they are so expensive!
I was incredibly surprised to receive the people choice award in my category for the whitetail fawn, the “all around taxidermist” award and the presidents award for my work on the associations magazine! The magazine is not available to the public unfortunately, only to those who are members of the association(a benefit to becoming a member). The mounts pictured are also not for sale! Most can’t even by sold anyways as per our provincial wildlife laws unfortunately. Enjoy folks!😁

03/13/2024

Hey guys!!! Come check out the Canadian taxidermist association booth (number 5201 inside the main entrance) at the Toronto sportsmanshow this Thursday-Sunday!! Come see some awesome displays of taxidermy as well as live demos at the booth. I will be doing one Friday morning👌but there will be others going on all weekend. People’s choice voting will take place on Saturday. Come by and say hi!!

Besides all that here’s some mount photos over the past little while. There will be some deer, moose and more birds coming up shortly! I do apologize for the lack of posting but man I’m not the biggest social media fan😂

01/09/2024

Just a friendly reminder guys! With waterfowl season just ending, if you have any birds in your freezer that you’re on the fence about mounting. DON’T TOSS OUT YOUR MIGRATORY BIRD PERMIT! This is just a friendly reminder because I’ve run into this issue when the season has closed and some people throw their permits out. There is a permit number on there that taxidermists need to log for their paperwork and submit every year.

This goes for any animal that requires a tag as well! If you have a deer, bear, moose etc… in your freezer that you’re not sure if you want mounted, keep that tag with the animal. A taxidermist can’t legal accept the animal without the proper tag, permit etc…. 😁
Thanks guys!

12/24/2023

Hey guys! I wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 😁
This holiday season I won’t be available for the following dates, December 25th, 26th and January 3rd. Other then those dates I will be around for drop offs and pickups but please call/text ahead of time to confirm!

Here’s some finished photos of two critters you don’t see too often. A beautiful gray fox that was unfortunately hit on the road and suffered very bad damage to the hind end. Thankfully all the pieces were there and it was sewn back up! You’d never even know👌

A Canadian Lynx from British Columbia! This is a permanent piece here at Shelby’s taxidermy so for those of you who come by, you can feel how soft the fur is and how thick the fur on the feet is! Unbelievable! I’ve got another gorgeous lynx here as well that will likely take awhile to get too but she’ll be added to the collection some day👌 here’s some photos for you guys!

11/13/2023

I’m back guys!
My service was worse then usual at camp this year so if you haven’t received a call or text back from me at this point, it’s because I never got it. Please call/message me again if you wouldn’t mind.

Remember to give me a call or message if you’re unsure about caping your deer or bear. I’d be happy to walk you through it vs having it skinned wrong. That helps me but also helps you get a quality mount back😁

I get many message about euro mounts and I just want to put it out there again that I’m NOT taking on any deer euro mounts or any skull work this season. I’d be happy to point you to some people who can help you with that though. I’m also NOT taking on any hide tanning for wall hangers. I’m only tanning critters for mounts and I will dry tan bears for rugs (that’s with the head mounted and felt installed on the bottom). For any other tanning needs, contact fur the north in Sudbury.

For dry tanning moose or cattle, fur the north doesn’t accept those, you will need to contact international in Winnipeg for large hides like those.

Good luck the rest of the season guys!
I will likely be out a few evenings around home this week so if I miss a call around that time, I will either call you back that night or the following morning👌

11/01/2023

Here’s the diagram for you guys to follow if you’re unfamiliar with caping a deer. This much isn’t necessary for a regular shoulder mount but it will insure that there’s enough for any mount style you may want. It’s better to have extra hide to work with then not enough!😁

If you’re still not confident in doing it yourself, feel free to call/text/messenge me with any questions and I’d also be whilling to come show you providing you’re not too far away. Keep in mind I will be gone to deer camp myself from Nov. 3rd in the evening until Nov. 11th.

10/30/2023

Hey guys!! Here’s some pieces finished over the past little while, hope you like them!😁
Here’s my annual psa prior to deer season!
I will be gone from this Friday afternoon Nov 3rd-Nov 11th. Service can be patchy where I’ll be so if I miss your call it’s either for that reason or I’m in the bush😂 if you want to call, the best time to reach me will be after dark. Also text or Facebook messenger will be fine as well.
If you need somewhere to store your deer head for some reason while I’m gone (warm weather for example) I do have some freezer space to fit a few of them and drop off for that can be arranged!

If your deer is going to the butcher, they will likely request the tag, if that’s the case, take down all tag info (take a photo if you need) especially if a different name from yours is on the tag and keep that with the cape. If you’re butchering yourself, keep the real tag with the cape. IF! You put the cape in your freezer, keep the tag with the hide, you don’t know how long it will be there for, I can’t accept any animal without the proper tag info.

If you’re not sure how to cape the deer, reach out to me before making the cuts! I will post the diagram on here as well later today. This year, any unnecessary cuts like throat cuts will be extra cost to repair. Throat cuts are not necessary when gutting the deer. This also goes for bears for those of you still chasing those guys! I can give you a diagram on where to make cuts for a rug.

This season, shoulder mounts will be $800, wall pedestal mounts $875, floor pedestal mounts $900 with the pedestal being extra cost. With a 50% deposit at drop off and the rest at pickup 😁

Good luck to everyone this season, I hope you guys have an incredible time and make some great memories. Best of luck and may your aim be true!

10/04/2023

Alright guys! Now that this big fellah has went home, I can finally show him off to all of you!
30lb male bobcat found as roadkill near North Augusta, Ontario. This cat was in absolutely perfect condition and I’m extremely grateful to have gotten the chance to work on him, I hope I did it justice!

09/29/2023

New logo!! What do you guys think?
Shoutout to Roderick's North Wind Wildlife Art out of California for the cool design!

09/25/2023

In honour of duck opener, here’s a fricken sweet wood duck piece ready to go home!

Remember guys, this time of the year isn’t great for taxidermy quality birds. If you’re planning a trip with the intent of getting quality specimens, later in the season (if possible) is the better choice!
All birds that are dropped off will be thawed and inspected by me prior to committing to the piece. I will always give you my honest opinion 👌

If you’re unsure if a bird you’ve shot is taxidermy quality, just freeze it and I’ll take a look for ya😁 Deposit will be fully refunded if you decide not to have it done.

Best of luck everyone!

09/20/2023

Some pieces completed over the past few months!😁a little bit of everything in here.
A whole bunch of ducks are just about finished and will be posted shortly along with a pretty sweet bobcat that you won’t want to miss!

A reminder to people that I don’t accept pet taxidermy, offer skull cleaning services, fish mounts or just hide tanning (for wall hangers or garments) but will be happy to refer you to someone who does!

There will be price adjustments coming shortly that will be posted and will come into effect as of October 1st.😁

With some seasons open now and others coming soon, if you have any questions at all especially those about skinning large game, hide prep, freezer prep etc… don’t hesistate to ask! There’s no dumb questions! It helps me and it helps you too😁 if you’re unsure about some of the big stuff like skinning, it’s wise to reach out prior to your hunt so you have a better idea on how to approach the situation instead of trying to rush through it when the time comes and potentially making big mistakes. Feel free to message me on here, by phone (always leave a message, if I don’t recognize the number, I will rarely call back without a message), or by email. All my contact info is listed on this page.

All birds will be thoroughly inspected by me prior to committing to the mount. Early season waterfowl are generally not in the best shape for mounting because they’re usually still growing out their feathers and are full of pin feathers. I will have to thaw the bird out to inspect it but will always give you my 100% honest opinion. Taxidermy is expensive enough, I want to make sure you guys are getting your moneys worth and that I’m able to give you guys the best possible mount😁 a deposit is always required at drop off but will be 100% refunded if we decide not to continue with the bird.

Always keep your tag with the critter! Anything from a bear to a turkey tail. If you freeze it and aren’t sure what you’re going to do with it, always keep the tag with it that way you have everything you need to take it to a taxidermist. With birds, never throw away your bird permit, there’s a permit number on it that needs to be logged. Many people will throw them away at the end of the season and want to bring a bird in but don’t know what the permit number was. Either never throw it away, or write down the number somewhere 😁

Thanks guys and I’m sure I’ll be seeing some familiar faces this coming season. Best of luck out there!

07/02/2023

Long time no post! (I’m becoming less and less of a fan of social media😂)
Lots of stuff finished over the last few months, some of you have seen some on my personal page but it’s time I post here!

Also just a heads up, I won’t be available from today until July 8th, I’m gone fishin’ as they say😂
Pick ups and drops off will be schedule once I get back. I do have internet access so if you need to reach me, feel free either on here or by phone.

An update on deer, those brought before December 31st are mounted. Some completely finished (those of you have been sent messages), anyone who has not yet received a message will be getting one the following week when I’m back.

Those who’ve brought birds, I appreciate your patience! (Really, you have no idea!😂) I’m slowly making my way through them. As much as I wish I could do them quicker, I’m positive my quality would suffer and I would hate that as much as you guys would.

Turkey tails! I had one last one come in late last week. Plaques will be ordered this coming week. As long as everything is in stock, they will be finished once I get back as well😁

I tell all my customers this but I just don’t want you guys to forget it! I really appreciate your patience, your stories your business and much more. It means the world to me and keeps me busy (and out of trouble😂)!!! And if you guys ever have any questions about anything, concerns etc…don’t hesitate to reach out. Especially questions concerning field care, skinning, freezer prep etc…there are no dumb questions! Always remember, the better care you take of your critter, the better the final product will be which is better for you and for me too! And it’s always a good idea to have a plan before the harvest (im guilty of not following that too) in case I can’t be reached on short notice.

Here’s a whole bunch of mounts to look at as well as the odd work in progress👌👌 have a fantastic long weekend guys!

04/25/2023

Good luck to everyone on turkey opener tomorrow!! 😁
Feel free to message/call (please leave a message if I miss the call) if you have any interest in having your turkey fan mounted or a full turkey mount! If you need any info on how to remove the fan from the bird, don’t hesistate to ask!

Anyone wanting a full mount turkey done, I highly recommend freezing the bird whole (that means don’t skin it!) or if I’m available, you might be able to bring it straight here fresh and I can do my measurements/ weigh the bird and remove the meat for you to take home. If the bird is frozen, I will save the meat for you when I thaw it out😁
Best of luck out there! 🦃 🦃

04/13/2023

Super great info from fur the north! This can be applied to any critter really. If you wouldn’t treat your steak that way, don’t treat the hide that way!

Attention Bear Hunters,
Spring bear season is just around the corner!
I’m sure many of you are already out scouting potential locations, putting up tree stands, baiting and checking trail cameras.
As bear hides make beautiful wall hangers, rugs or throws, be sure to have a plan for your hide if you’d like to have it tanned.
Your hide should be treated the same as your meat. Bears are particularly prone to hair slip and will spoil as quick as meat if not cared for properly. Now is the time to ensure you either have the proper skinning and fleshing tools along with salt or a freezer to freeze the hide as quickly as possible.

Wishing everyone a safe and successful spring bear season!

03/30/2023

Really looking forward to doing this mount! Really nice large male fisher that was unfortunately hit on the road. This is very recent and the fur quality is still good!
One thing to keep in mind as we get closer to summer time, fur bearers such as this fisher (beaver, otter, mink etc…) will start to lose their really nice fluffy look (shedding for their summer coat just like your pet dog would). This guy definitely isn’t prime like he would be in winter but the quality is still good to make a great mount.😁
Keep this is mind when picking up roadkill, if this guy had been hit in the summer, he’d be no good. Taxidermy is expensive enough that I want to make sure it’s worth your while to have the critter done and is a good reflection of the species.😁

Roadkill finds need to have a permit as well!
If anyone has questions on this, just give me a shout! Here’s the link if anyone needs, it’s free and sent to your email. Almost anything can be kept, from most raptors to this fisher👌

https://www.ontario.ca/page/keep-dead-wild-animal

03/20/2023

For anyone looking to have their deer, bear, moose, turkey or sheds scored. Cabelas is doing a bit of an event coming up soon for everyone interested! I’ve reached out to a few customers I knew were interested but I know I missed someone!

03/20/2023

Here’s some more photos of incredible work done by other members!

03/20/2023

Okay folks, get ready for a long one!
This past weekend was a trip that was 3 or 4 years in the making for me and man was it ever worth the wait! When I was first starting taxidermy, my story is the same as many others, everything was a secret and no one wanted you to succeed, it was really depressing.
Kevin Hockley was the one who turned that all around for me, I truly wouldn’t be at this level without him!
This year I was finally able to go to the Canadian taxidermist association, meet so many people that I’ve been chatting with over the years but finally getting to meet in person. Within the first 5 minutes of getting there, I was floored! Everyone is so willing and eager to share different tips and tricks to make everything you’re doing just that much better. Everyone truly cared about others succeeding, it was an incredible feeling.
Two awesome ladies came all the way from BC with their mounts and did amazing with them! I’m really grateful to be able to call Diane and Morgan my friends and really looking forward to seeing what they do and hopefully seeing them this time next year!

This year I entered a few thing in different categories.
Crayfish- first place in novice. It is fully cleaned (not freeze dried or anything).
Barred owl- second place in novice
Gouldian finch hen- first place and best of class in novice
Whitetail deer- second place professional
Pine martens- first place and best of class, second with the other. Knaptons small mammal award for the one.

I’m so thrilled to know that especially my commercial whitetail mounts (commercial mounts are not the same as a competition mount) are at the professional level and my small mammal mounts even more so.

I have to give a huge thanks to the judges, Bob Coughlin for giving me amazing feedback on my martens and for the awesome seminar! That really helped me especially with how to properly set the jawsets! And to Fred Barilla for the feedback on my barred owl and on my whitetail. All the critiques made so much sense and improvements should be pretty simple to make. And a shout out to other members including Royal Robillard for his seminar on painting a large mouth base, to Peter knapton for his seminar on wrapped bodies and to George Elekes for his seminar on mammal feet.
The wheels were spinning on the drive home, not just on my car but in my brain for next year😂
There’s so many more things I could say but I think I’ll just leave it at that. Enjoy some photos from the show!

11/05/2022

Hey guys!! Here’s a few photos of the last of the waterfowl from last season as well as the last owl (but first mount done in the new shop!)

Just giving you guys a heads up, I will be gone to deer camp from Nov.5th to the 12th, reception can be spotty but I should still be able to respond to messages on here as well as texts, phone calls can be hit or miss but feel free to do so if you’d like 613-897-3596. I’m sure you guys have noticed the weather is on the warm side so chances are hides will have to be frozen or at the very least, kept in a very cool place if they aren’t able to get to me fairly quickly. During the second week and any time after, I’ll be available whenever👍
I was hoping to have some freezer space for those who don’t have any room but unfortunately I definitely don’t have room for a whole deer head (especially those monster bucks!)
If anyone has any issues, give me a call and I can try to help you out with finding a spot to store it.

Also! If anybody needs any info on how to properly cape a deer, I have photos on this page with a diagram showing where to make your cuts😁 but feel free to call/message if you need. If you’re ever unsure, leave more cape than you think, it’s a whole lot easier to cut extra off than to sew something that isn’t there.

Best of luck to everyone!! Shoot straight, stay safe and have fun! 😁

10/21/2022

A few mounts finished up this Friday!! Some of these have went home and a few others are part of multiples brought by the same few customers and will all go home together!

The bufflehead piece is one of my favourites but I have to give the customer all the credit for making the pretty cool base! Very creative idea👌have a close look at the wine bottle!

The fox mount is part of a few different pieces for one customer and the only one completely finished right now. This fox is a bit odd, it’s the fluffiest fox I’ve ever seen! Extremely fluffy. The feet are so furry that you can’t see the toe pads at all. The tail is shorter compared to most red fox but way fluffier. Anyone ever seen anything quite like it? The face is even built a little different than average, really cool piece on a homemade rock ledge.

The doe in the last pictures was taken at my hunt camp last season by our oldest living camp member (he’s in his 80’s). I always intended to mount it as a gift to him but wasn’t sure when. He suffered a stroke this summer and this may very well be the last deer he ever gets the chance to harvest, I hope he loves it as much as I do!

10/17/2022

Well it’s been a long summer and now into the fall but I’m so glad to say that my new taxidermy shop is finally complete and just in time!
It’s almost too nice to work in😂
I really can’t believe how much work went into this building since it showed up in June and so proud to be able to say that I was able to do a good portion of the work myself, it definitely taught me a lot! But I still couldn’t have done it without some pretty awesome people, my mom and dad, Josh Bailey, Kevin Hockley just to name a few!!
I was able to add some supplies that will make work easier, more efficient and just all around better!
Some additions include hot and cold water to the sink and tub for washing critters, hot water is really important for getting those birds nice and clean! A pet sprayer will make washing a breeze as well!
Wet area around the sink and tub in an attempt to contain the mess that comes with tanning! Electric hoist that slides will really save my back with those heavy critters and making it easier to drain hides and thaw hides as well! No more hauling pails from my basement and up the stairs, everything goes straight out the tub drain👍
Exhaust fan so I don’t die from paint fumes😂
Folding tables for saving space
Mr cool heater/ac unit, so far it works fantastic and I would highly recommend it! It also looks nice and saves a lot of space.
Walls are t&g pine
Easy to clean vinyl flooring etc…
Even an area in the corner for the dogs bed😂
At this point I can’t even remember all that’s been done to this building.
And I think what will be the best part is you guys can come in and see some of my favorite pieces on display and likely see work in progress as well! This may also help you decide on ideas for your own mounts since you can see them in person.
Crossing my finger within the next few weeks I’ll be able to move the rest of my stuff out there and test it all out!

With that in mind, I’ll be available Monday-Friday at the usual location. I won’t be available the weekends of Oct. 22nd or 29th. If anyone needs anything in that time, I can still be reached via phone or on Facebook and I can try to help you out the best I can. I really appreciate everyone’s patience and especially your business! There wouldn’t be much of a point in all this if it wasn’t for you great people. I’m looking forward to creating some awesome pieces for you guys this season.
Thanks for reading!😁

09/26/2022

Hey guys!!!
With fall hunting season opening up across the province and some others on the way I wanted to put a reminder out about how important proper field care is for your game, for everything from ducks to deer!
This is still early season for birds, you might be able to snag some birds that have finished molting but most likely still are. You’re going to be getting better quality birds later in October (especially wood ducks). Some tips for keeping your birds in good shape, do not skin them, try avoiding having a dog handle them, don’t let them freeze to the side of a boat (or anything), please do not ring the neck! Freeze them in an airtight bag (ziplock freezer bag is best if possible), plug any major bleeding area with cotton balls as well, all these things will help you get the best quality mount😁 never hesitate to message me if you have any question or are unsure how to prep your bird for the freezer. There’s no dumb questions and every little bit helps.

For deer! Do not cut the throat on your deer (it’s not necessary anyways), do not drag the deer behind a four wheeler without something under it (if you can help it), do not cut up the back of your deer and please do not cut your cape too short. A diagram with where to cut the cape will follow this post, it’s not as difficult as you might think, tube the whole cape, kind of like taking off a shirt. Keep lots of cape, then your options are endless. If you’re ever unsure, just message or call and if you’re located within a reasonable distance, I’m whiling to come show you or even bring the deer to me. Any issues like this will be subject to extra cost as well as any antler repairs (added onto the total). Bullet holes, arrow holes, tick damage etc… will not be subject to extra cost.
This info is also the same for bears. If you’re wanting to do a bear rug then yes you can split it but try to avoid doing so if you’re looking to do a shoulder mount or even a 1/2 mount.

I ask that all fur bearers (fisher, fox, coyote etc…) be brought to me whole if possible.

There will be a price increase coming this November. I still need to crunch some numbers but be prepared for a minimum 8% increase on all mounts and this only covers material increase. For those of you that are already bringing stuff by or I’ve spoken to about it, this increase will not apply to you.

I’m hoping to move to my new location (spencerville) around mid October so keep this in mind as well😁 I can still do pickups and drop off in Vernon but availability for that will be way less than it is now.

I will also not be taking on any skulls this fall season, due to the move, I won’t be prioritizing setting up that stuff and can’t even say when I’d have them finished. Message me and I can point you elsewhere for that😁

Thanks for reading my rant guys!! Hope you guys had a great waterfowl opener and excited for other seasons as well. I’m looking forward to seeing some familiar faces this fall and new ones too!
Shoot straight everyone and have a good one.