Hem
Well-known member
Thanks.
Connect the dots.
Taxidermist Nightmare - need serious advice
- Thread starter daltrix99
- Start date
Connect the dots.
noharleyyet
Well-known member
Seems to be more and more of these thread themes popping.
Same thing happened to a taxi I used once. The CO wasn't helpful at first but when it came out on the news and a class action lawsuit was threatened suddenly they cared. Taxis are licensed through the DNR so they were able to use that as a way to pay him a visit. The end result was that the DNR set everyone's antlers on tables in the guys front yard and you needed some kind of proof to get your stuff back.
I just bugged the crap out of him until he finished my mount. Stopped by his house every week, texted him often. I threatened him with small claims court and that pushed him to finish the mount before the law got involved. I had the papers in my hand on the way to the courthouse and sent him a pic. I would keep bugging the crap out of him and I'm sure other people are in the same boat maybe look into getting a group together and seeing if that gets the attention of law enforcement.
Bowmannate2000
Well-known member
Reading this thread makes me want to start doing my own euro mounts 
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.BenInMT
Well-known member
Unfortunately a lot of taxidermists and outfitters are criminals and felons who are drawn to that line of work because there are few barriers to entry.
I started doing mine after seeing what people were paying for crummy quality. My favorite was seeing bits of meat left behind that were spray painted whiteReading this thread makes me want to start doing my own euro mounts
Update: Talked to the local warden. I am one of many dealing with this exact scenario with this taxidermist. The taxidermist is under investigation by Montana FWP for multiple charges, and has his own lawyer.
Since the taxidermist does still (erratically) communicate with me, maybe I will get my hide back from him, but most likely not. The most likely way I get the hide back is if everything is eventually seized by law enforcement, and they contact the owners of everything to come claim their property. I could also take him to civil claims court, but that would probably be a drawn out unresolved mess.
Thanks all for the replies. What a bummer.
Since the taxidermist does still (erratically) communicate with me, maybe I will get my hide back from him, but most likely not. The most likely way I get the hide back is if everything is eventually seized by law enforcement, and they contact the owners of everything to come claim their property. I could also take him to civil claims court, but that would probably be a drawn out unresolved mess.
Thanks all for the replies. What a bummer.
elkantlers
Well-known member
Have you actually asked the Taxi for your hide back?
Seriously? Countless times - in the title post I said I've even shown up at his shop multiple times. Calls, texts, have offered to pay for shipping, have said I don't care if it's not done, etc. etc.
JM77
Well-known member
And you know this how, life experiences?
I've known many taxidermists here in Wy and can't think of one who fits your description.
brownbear932008
Well-known member
We had to do this in SE AK on 3 bear hides the agency was great to work with. It took some time but we finally did receive one of the hides and all three skulls. The other two hides were ruined.
Edit: saw you contacted FWP that is exactly what happened in our case all items were seized and it took forever but we eventually got most of it back. Didn't even cost us shipping to beat all. AFG shipped my hide frozen FedEx and the bear now sits in my loft don't give up hope. Stay in contact with them.
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Valley1320
Well-known member
Youalls stories make me thankful we have a good reliable taxidermist.
I'd stop short of saying this is true of "a lot of taxidermists" but they're certainly out there. I know of several that have been arrested for things from poaching deer, to burglary, to molesting children.
JM77
Well-known member
While your at it, why not stereotype another line of work? Or could it be only taxidermists poach, burglarize and molest children?
Could cover a whole array of professions, from teachers to cops to clergy.
I don't disagree. Came across as an unfair statement. There's good and bad eggs in every profession.
If anything I intended to offer a little defense of taxidermists from a previous comment, but thought it was worth mentioning that I have run into some of the bad ones locally.
PrairieHunter
Well-known member
I deal with Taxidermist all the time, and he is right. Even here in Laramie there are shady Taxidermist who have been in trouble recently.
Some are really well organized, honest, have a nice shop, etc.. Others not so much.
BuzzH
Well-known member
Troy Hall was as crooked as the day is long and still bounces between Wyoming and Texas doing taxidermy.
I don't believe he is a felon, but walks a fine line with it.
I know he got busted for having illegal heads, poaching, not paying child support, etc.
Man given probation in poaching conviction
CHEYENNE — A local man has been sentenced to probation and ordered to pay more than $16,000 for several wildlife violations, including importing feral pigs to the state.
He didn't get caught for a lot more stuff that I know for a fact he did. He killed a bull elk in unit 120 with a rifle during archery season, killed a second buck mule deer out of season, and always had his own brand of pronghorn tag good for anywhere in the state.
As is the case with guys like him, they get caught for about 1 out of 10 things they do.
In "fairness" his taxidermy work was good, if he didn't lose or sell your stuff before he did it.
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PrairieHunter
Well-known member
Taxidermist ordered to pay fines and restitution
Wyo4news Staff, [email protected] [PRESS RELEASE] GREEN RIVER, WYOMING — A local taxidermist has been ordered to pay restitution to several clients following an investigation by Wyoming Game and Fish Department Game Wardens. The investigation began in April 2021 after Game Warden Kim Olson...
wyo4news.com
Taxidermist found with 70+ specimens fined after pleading guilty to Wyoming wildlife-related crimes
CASPER, Wyo. — A Green River taxidermist found in possession of over 70 unfinished specimens plead guilty in January to failing to submit records in a
capcity.news
Anonymous Tip Leads To Poaching Convictions
An anonymous letter received in January 2012 alerted Wyoming Game and Fish wardens that a Cheyenne taxidermist imported feral pigs from Texas to Wyoming and also killed a mule deer buck out of season.
www.deeranddeerhunting.com
JM77
Well-known member
Troy Hall was as crooked as the day is long and still bounces between Wyoming and Texas doing taxidermy.
I don't believe he is a felon, but walks a fine line with it.
I know he got busted for having illegal heads, poaching, not paying child support, etc.
Man given probation in poaching conviction
CHEYENNE — A local man has been sentenced to probation and ordered to pay more than $16,000 for several wildlife violations, including importing feral pigs to the state.www.wyomingnews.com
He didn't get caught for a lot more stuff that I know for a fact he did. He killed a bull elk in unit 120 with a rifle during archery season, killed a second buck mule deer out of season, and always had his own brand of pronghorn tag good for anywhere in the state.
As is the case with guys like him, they get caught for about 1 out of 10 things they do.
In "fairness" his taxidermy work was good, if he didn't lose or sell your stuff before he did it.
US Forest Service employee pleads guilty to receiving child pornography
Derek Alan Lee, 44, of Orange Park, Fla., pleaded guilty in federal court today to receiving images and videos depicting child pornography over the Internet.
Just some of the few and they are felons...
