Fall Flight Taxidermy

04/01/2024

2006 Chevy Silverado Z71

PRICE: $6000 obo

Odometer: 204,410

THE GOOD
- Everything works
- 4wd
- Heat and AC
- All switches and controls (a couple of quirks, but still operate)
- Lots of miles left in the tires

THE BAD
- Rust….frame rust and body panels should be evaluated by the buyer. I’ve had the frame professionally inspected and will discuss that with interested parties
- Small oil leak. Low oil light comes on at about 3k mile since last oil change
- A dash light comes on when the truck sits and will drain the battery if not driven periodically.

Currently parked in front of the shop if you would like to see it. Call or message with questions

618-249-8050

Feel free to share!!!

03/30/2024

It has apparently been a good morning for the youth hunters today, judging from the calls and messages I’m getting.

I’m sorry to inform everyone that I’m still not accepting any turkeys this year.

03/26/2024

03/01/2024

Shout out to a guy that started as a customer and turned into a friend. Making a name for himself, behind the scenes, in the outdoor industry!

02/25/2024

02/25/2024

What a specimen this Mule Deer was!!!

Some of you were fortunate enough to see him in person when you were in the shop, and he certainly got a lot of attention. If you were one of those folks, you will probably agree that these pictures just don't do him justice at all.

This deer dwarfed any of the big Whitetails that were hanging in here at the same time. With a 28" neck circumference, his body size was comparable to that of a smallish BULL ELK!!!

I spent some extra time grooming this giant to get the full benefit of the gorgeous, long, thick coat. Like I mentioned above, the pictures just don't give you the full effect for how soft and fluffy this mount looks.

I was a little sad to see him go!!!

I'll post a separate video to follow.

02/10/2024

A little extra work went into this one.

01/27/2024

A little extra somthin' going on with this guy

01/17/2024

About as big of a clean 8pt that you could ever hope to kill!!!

01/06/2024

If you watch some popular hunting shows, you might have seen this dandy when he was harvested.

12/11/2023

This biggun from last year had a STUNNING cape to go along with that huge rack.

Things are beginning to relax a little bit around the shop and I will be getting the rest of last seasons deer moving again very soon!!

12/04/2023

It looks like there’s something I need to address, regarding the walk in cooler. After multiple occasions this deer season, I’m going to put this out there in hopes that it can save some headaches in the future.

Although it CAN be utilized as a 24hr drop off option. That’s NOT how it is typically used.

If it is empty….it will be unlocked 24/7. If there is one head in it…..it will be LOCKED overnight and sometimes during the day.

I really want you to use it because it makes my life, and yours, so much simpler. However, I often need some advance warning to make sure it’s available to you and not LOCKED when you get here.

So here are a couple “dos and don’ts” for cooler etiquette.

-Don’t send me a Facebook message 5min before you arrive and then be surprised that it’s locked.
-Don’t call me 5 min before you arrive and then be surprised that it’s locked….and I’m not home, can’t answer the phone, or even in bed asleep.
-Don’t arrive unannounced and then be surprised that it’s locked.

-DON’T BE IRRITATED AT ME BECAUSE ITS LOCKED AND YOU DIDN’T TELL ME YOU NEEDED IT!!!!

-Don’t take this post personally, because you aren’t the only one who has done these things. But please remember what I’m asking you all to do.

DO give me as much notice as possible that you need to use it….and I will do my best to make it available to you.

11/26/2023

Not any mounting or finishing going on around here for the last few weeks. But here is a wall pedestal that went home a couple months back.

11/21/2023

Power is restored and back to business as usual today. So please call with questions. Direct messages take me much longer to reply to.

11/20/2023

GUESS I’M CLOSED FOR THE EVENING

POWER IS OUT!!!

If you can’t get through on the phone you can send direct messages here for now.

11/20/2023

Get those deer picked up from the processors. Remember, caring for the meat is their top priority. Caring for the cape is farther down the list. And most of them don’t have freezer space for heads with skins attached.

Also….with all the rain in the forecast….bag your caped deer up while it’s in the back of the truck for the trip to your taxidermist. A wet cape can be bad news

11/16/2023

It’s that time again!!!!

There will be someone available to answer calls and receive deer after 12:00 each day of the gun season. Hours by Appointment please call ahead.

To save you some scrolling down the page

Shoulder mounts -$900
-Wall pedestals and special requests are additional charge

Deer Skulls-
$60 for Clean Only
$150 for Cleaned and Whitened (includes a hanger)
$200 for Cleaned and Whitened on a walnut panel.

I AM STILL ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS AT THIS TIME.

Keep those deer COLD AND DRY and get them to your taxidermist asap.

And most of all….BE SAFE!!!

11/07/2023

IT’S TOO WARM TO HANG YOUR DEER!!!!

No….hanging overnight, outside, in 50+ degrees is not okay.

No….laying in your garage floor on the concrete because it’s “cool”, is not okay.

Be prepared before you get to punch that tag!!!

10/31/2023

To whom it may concern,

This is used in a LOT of processes, in a LOT of taxidermy shops.

Three years ago it was $18 a gallon.

10/27/2023

FYI…. Phones have been down since yesterday evening. If you can’t get through, send a private message and I’ll try to check them a few times today.

10/22/2023

Another pedestal sent back home recently

10/13/2023

A little extra white on this guy

10/06/2023

Illinois Youth gun hunters have hit the weather jackpot this weekend!!!!

Good luck to everyone. I’m looking forward to hearing some stories!!!!

09/29/2023

The cooler is in the 30s!!! With potential record highs predicted for the first week of IL bow season, don’t take chances with your trophy.

You are welcome to use my walk in cooler as long as there is space available.

-Free to anyone that is having me mount your deer.

-$10 a day for anyone who just needs a cold place in a pinch

Call or message to check on availability

09/22/2023

Love those short capes in early October. And huge, chocolate antlers are pretty cool too if you are into that sort of thing.

09/18/2023

2023/24 SEASON UPDATE

This post will certainly make some folks happy….and it will make others unhappy. But the good news is that things have been going very well in the shop and I’ve not been this caught up in over 10 years. This is a result of cutting a large portion of my workload in the past couple years.

Things that will remain the same this year are…

1. We will still only be accepting shoulder mounts and skulls. NO BIRDS. (I can feel the frowns)

2. We will still only accept shoulder mounts that I can skin off the face myself. This means those going on out of state hunts need to have a plan in place before you leave.

3. All hours are still by appointment. No walk-ins please.

NEW FOR 2023/24!!!!

1. I will be accepting a LIMITED NUMBER OF NEW CLENTS for shoulder mounts. (Now I feel the smiles)

-Past clients will get preference when it comes to filling spots and I’ll still have a limit on the amount of work I take overall. But I’ll at least consider some new clients based on how much space I have. That’s something I haven’t done in many years now.

2. CURRENT PRICES

-Standard Shoulder Mounts for Deer
-$900
-50% deposit required

-Wall pedestals, floor pedestals, habitat, and “special requests” will be at additional charge and quoted per piece.
-I use OTS deer forms and a few (not many) from Ben Mears. If you request a form outside of what I offer, there will likely be additional charges involved. So keep that in mind when you Google “deer mounts” to pick your pose, rather than choosing from the posters in the shop.

Best of luck to everyone in the coming months and BE SAFE!!!