Top Notch Taxidermy

05/09/2024

The water’s warming up and the fishing should too
Give us a call when you land that next trophy fish
605-691-1145 for premium fish artistry

Good luck

04/03/2024

Still enjoy looking at this tarpon replica and acrylic background I painted up

10/19/2023

Nice batch of yellow perch finished up recently

All world class replicas.

I love the big multiple fish scenes

10/05/2023

Don’t take a chance on your next trophy.

Give us a call for premium quality works of art and enjoy your investment long term.

605-691-1145

07/25/2023

Last chance to sign up for a week long replica masterclass

Contact me today for more info

If you’ve ever wanted to learn the art of fish replication, for career, Side hustle, or just to do some fish for yourselves or friends and family

Come join us for a week long masterclass
Everything you’ll need to know, whether you are a beginner or just looking to improve.

07/05/2023

If you’ve ever wanted to learn the art of fish replication, for career, Side hustle, or just to do some fish for yourselves or friends and family

Come join us for a week long masterclass
Everything you’ll need to know, whether you are a beginner or just looking to improve.

06/11/2023

Please help those battling addiction
100 percent of funds raised go directly to teen challenge!
Donate here

https://www.classy.org/team/497106

04/26/2023

For all your walleye replica needs
Give us a call or talk to your favorite artist about the new world class walleye replicas.

This is the world class replicas wcr76
Best 33” walleye blank on the market!

03/07/2023

replica vs skin mount —which is better?
We have entered the peak window for trophy spring walleye fishing across the country
Every year March- May we see many prespawn giants landed
Whether cutting 4 feet of ice for greenbacks in lake Winnipeg
Trolling for giants on lake eerie
Roughing it out on the Columbia river for the fish or a lifetime
Jigging the rainy river,
Or fishing a local lesser known honey hole
Opportunities abound for the fish of a lifetime.
If that opportunity presents itself you may want to consider doing a replica instead of a skin mount.

With over twenty years of taxidermy and fish artistry experience I can safely say now that a good replica finished by a talented artist can not be beat.
A properly measured live fish length and girth around fattest part of belly over top of a dorsal fin laid down, can be matched more accurately to an existing replica blank than even trying to get your same size on a skin mount when all of that connective tissue is cut and removed.

Skin mounts present many issues like soft tissue shrinkage ( lips, gills, gill flaps, head, fins)
Scale loss, fins splitting and curling, and an organic skin that is more sensitive over time to grease bleed and environmental factors like humidity.

Modern quality replicas have fantastic scale detail, thin transparent fins, and have either been molded before the soft tissue shrinks as much or those areas have been repaired before production.
No skin to move or crack or change over time, and the color seems to hold much better over the long term on replicas.

I use almost exclusively the new World Class Replicas available through McKenzie taxidermy supply.
In part because I helped to mold each fish to exacting standards, but also I know I’m getting a very accurate blank specimen to paint.
The World Class lineup features 36 new walleye blanks from 5-18 lbs so there are many sizes and poses to choose from.

Talk to your taxidermist or several fish artists before you land that next trophy fish and see if a replica is right for you.
With over 4000 skin and replica mounts combined over the years under my belt I can honestly say I don’t know if I’d ever skin mount a fish for myself again. The many benefits of land realism of a replica just outweigh the traditional skin mounts and you also get the pleasure of watching that incredible fish swim away to be caught again possibly some day.

Tyler Erickson
Pictured are a few world class replicas painted up

03/02/2023

02/22/2023

NEW WORLD CLASS MODELING PUTTY NOW AVAILABLE!!!
It’s here everybody, in stock and ready to ship out.
Many of you have been anxious to get your hands on this and try it out.
So we are releasing it a few weeks early.
You will need the product number wce-4 when placing an order through McKenzie.
4 lb kit part A and part B

About the product
This is now my go to apoxy like product in the shop for everything from seaming fish fins, gamehead finish work, rebuilding skin mounts, and anything else you can think of etc. etc.

It has cut down my/our apoxy work and rebuilding time considerably due to it’s designed nature to be softer and feather out better than similar products. It is OFF WHITE in color and is fantastic for matching dried fish skins, replicas, antler, etc. It smooths with WATER saving cost over alcohol or other solvents commonly used to smooth similar products. Can also be tinted with powders or dyes for flesh accents in gamehead work or fin junctions.
It smooths out so quick and easy with a firm swipe of a wet finger or detail brush over a seam it is very quick and efficient.
See the tips and directions below for best results. Great for rebuilding scales and setting eyes and ear butts as well.

Attributes :
-off white in color (allows it to disappear under paint much easier)
-feathers incredibly well
-smooths with WATER not solvents
-longer working time (less wasted product)
-no foul odors
-not filled so won’t disappear on you with too much smoothing
-easy clean up
-sands easier
-bonds to surfaces well

I love this product and think you will all benefit greatly from it. Keep in mind it is different, so it may take a little time Getting use to it to dial it in.

For best results do NOT mix in hands like other similar products. If you do it will be a sticky mess.

Directions for best use
It is always best to wear gloves when working with any 2 part material
1. Mix equal parts a and b on a piece of scrap cardboard or similar scrap surface
2. Apply to clean surface with modeling tool, popsicle stick,or damp fingers
3.With damp fingers or damp modeling tooI work into position pressing into seams or desired areas.
4. Wet a detail brush or fingers and go over one last time to feather edges Into surrounding material pulling very thin so no visible edge will be seen after area is painted and finished.
5. Let cure
6.sand smooth or carve in detail if needed
7. Paint or stain

Enjoy the time savings, and move on to the next area!

-Tyler Erickson
Click here to buy now

https://www.mckenziesp.com/WCE-4-P28894.aspx

02/12/2023

If you have a jumbo perch you’d like to put on the wall, give world champion fish artist Tyler Erickson at Top Notch taxidermy a call for the best perch in the business.

605-691-1145

01/24/2023

Another world class replica painted up!

01/19/2023

Here’s a giant 18 lb Columbia river walleye replica I just finished up.
34 plus inches long 22” girth
I Custom mold and cast this blank and it will now be available in the world class replicas lineup through McKenzie taxidermy supply.

The modern replicas have a lot of benefits over classic skin mounts!
-Tyler Erickson

11/28/2022

Check out the mass on this big guy
The Beatles do such a nice job cleaning the nasal cavity and inside the brittle little bones with out weakening them

For super clean,solid , white skulls

Give us a call
605-691-1145

11/22/2022

For premium beatle cleaned skulls
And premium shoulder mounts
Give us a call today

605-691-1145

11/18/2022

Ice season is upon us!
I’d encourage everyone to consider a world class replica when you put a jumbo topside this year.
Replicas have many advantages over skins in the hands of the right artist.

The World Class Replica line has the largest selection of jumbo perch replicas on the market. Available through McKenzie taxidermy, request one today to your favorite fish taxidermist.

Why choose a replica over a skin?

-The fish gets to live to reproduce or be caught again

-better Anatomy
-more accurate to size of LIVE fish (keep a soft tape with, and take the girth around fattest part of belly with dorsal laid down) and get a length.
- no shrinkage of skin and soft tissue areas on head
-no missing or lifted scales (fat perch swell up and when a fish is skinned in this state it’s easier to lose belly scales)
-better longevity
-easier to clean
Won’t shrink or crack over time

All world class replicas pictured below

11/15/2022

When quality matters
Give us a call
605-691-1145

11/14/2022

11/14/2022

Hope everyone had a successful weekend in the tree or out west.
Safe travels as you make your way back home. Some great temps and early harvest should provide for some excellent deer activity this month. Had the privilege to help a good buddy pull a nice buck out of the woods last night. It’s always fun to share in the hunt or memory of the hunt.

If you have a great memory you’d like to preserve for generations to come, give me a call. if you’re looking for a premium deer mount or looking to have a skull cleaned Top notch taxidermy will not disappoint!
Here’s one of my favorites from a few years back. Beautiful deer, and simple clean pedestal. Timeless
605-691-1145 -tyler

11/08/2022

If you’re looking for premium gamehead, bird, or fish taxidermy this fall give us a call at 605-691-1145

I started top notch taxidermy 20 years ago with the slogan
“Where quality comes first”
And I have never waivered from this philosophy.
It stills stands true today and todays quality is so much better as I have learned and developed so much along the way.
Your Trophy is always in good hands at Top Notch taxidermy .

We have worked tirelessly to get turnaround times down over the last 5 years and are getting to a very good place again.

Give me a call this fall if you have a trophy that requires the utmost attention to detail.

Tyler

10/07/2022

Taxidermists and crafters

NEW WORLD CLASS MODELING PUTTY NOW AVAILABLE!!!
It’s here everybody, in stock and ready to ship out.
Many of you have been anxious to get your hands on this and try it out.
So we are releasing it a few weeks early.
You will need the product number wce-4 when placing an order through McKenzie taxidermy supply.
4 lb kit part A and part B

About the product
This is now my go to apoxy like product in the shop for everything from seaming fish fins, gamehead finish work, rebuilding skin mounts, and anything else you can think of etc. etc.

It has cut down my/our apoxy work and rebuilding time considerably due to it’s designed nature to be softer and feather out better than similar products. It is OFF WHITE in color and is fantastic for matching dried fish skins, replicas, antler, etc. It smooths with WATER saving cost over alcohol or other solvents commonly used to smooth similar products. Can also be tinted with powders or dyes for flesh accents in gamehead work or fin junctions.
It smooths out so quick and easy with a firm swipe of a wet finger or detail brush over a seam it is very quick and efficient.
See the tips and directions below for best results. Great for rebuilding scales and setting eyes and ear butts as well.

Attributes :
-off white in color (allows it to disappear under paint much easier)
-feathers incredibly well
-smooths with WATER not solvents
-longer working time (less wasted product)
-no foul odors
-not filled so won’t disappear on you with too much smoothing
-easy clean up
-sands easier
-bonds to surfaces well

I love this product and think you will all benefit greatly from it. Keep in mind it is different, so it may take a little time Getting use to it to dial it in.

For best results do NOT mix in hands like other similar products. If you do it will be a sticky mess.

Directions for best use
It is always best to wear gloves when working with any 2 part material
1. Mix equal parts a and b on a piece of scrap cardboard or similar scrap surface
2. Apply to clean surface with modeling tool, popsicle stick,or damp fingers
3.With damp fingers or damp modeling tooI work into position pressing into seams or desired areas.
4. Wet a detail brush or fingers and go over one last time to feather edges Into surrounding material pulling very thin so no visible edge will be seen after area is painted and finished.
5. Let cure
6.sand smooth or carve in detail if needed
7. Paint or stain

Enjoy the time savings, and move on to the next area!

-Tyler Erickson

10/04/2022

one of my favorite deer mounts I’ve ever done from a few years back.
Incredible archery deer and a nice clean simple classy pedestal.

10/03/2022

Good luck to everyone antelope, elk and deer hunting. Some great deer coming in so far and looks like some nice Elk and antelope have been taken over the weekend. Keep Top Notch Taxidermy in mind for premium shoulder mounts and Beatle cleaned skulls this fall. Have a great team of help lined up and we've been working very hard the last few years to get the turnaround times down again. Should be under a year on gameheads this fall. Give me a call with all your taxidermy needs. 605-691-1145

08/24/2022

Here’s a world class replica -wcr1- I recently finished up!
Fat 28” walleye

Tight lines everyone

07/14/2022

I will be adding a bunch of new World class fish forms, replicas, eyes and a new modeling putty this fall. Here’s some new forms headed to the production mold room. Keep an eye on the McKenzie catalog this fall for new releases!

Tyler

07/06/2022

Thanks for the business Evan

Can’t wait to see that baby after you add another 15 fish!

Got a pair of big South Dakota perch back from my buddy Tyler with Top Notch Taxidermy!
He does awesome work and I’d recommend him to anyone!

06/07/2022

I'm fundraising on behalf of Adult & Teen Challenge to help people find freedom from addiction. Please consider supporting my team as we fish in the North American Fishing Challenge on June 18!

05/12/2022

Custom mold and cast 40 inch king and 15” perch headed back to the lucky anglers today

Both now available in the highly detailed world class line of replicas and fish products