Frequently Asked Questions

  • I offer both bird and small mammal taxidermy services, although I specialize mostly in waterfowl. Please see my Services Menu for an idea of what I offer as well as prices.

    I am current accepting BIRDS ONLY. I am figuring out a facility that can accommodate hide prep, so mammals are not being accepted for the time being.

    I may accept some repair work on a case-by-case basis. Repairs are lowest priority in my work schedule so if I accept your repair, it still may take some time to complete regardless of the difficulty of the work. I generally do not accept repair work during fall/winter hunting seasons.

    I do NOT offer services for the following:

    • Any antlered game mammals such as elk, deer, antelope, sheep, etc. (domestic and exotic)

    • Lifesize/rugs of big game animals such as cougar, bear, or anything larger than a coyote.

    • Skull/bone cleaning (some exceptions for bird skulls)

    • Feather art

    • Pets other than birds

    • Soft tanning/leather hides

    At this time I am not accepting small game for rugs, although this may change in the future. If you need recommendations for other taxidermists that will help you with any of the services I don’t offer, feel free to reach out to me.

  • Drop-offs and pick-ups are by appointment only, please contact me to schedule a good time for us to chat.

    All specimens may be dropped off frozen, however if you have concerns about the quality/condition of your animal, please drop it off unfrozen so we can go over it together.

    Any mammal specimen larger than 15lbs must be skinned out upon drop-off except for feet/head/tail. Please leave bird specimens whole and intact.

    All specimens requiring any state or federal licenses/tags/permits will not be accepted without proper documentation upon drop-off.

  • Please see the Services page to view and download my price list.

    I accept cash, check (with ID), Venmo, or Paypal.

    I do not accept debit/credit cards at this time.

  • Birds:

    A 20% nonrefundable deposit is required upon drop-off. You will be contacted a month before your estimated completion date to pay the remaining balance on your mount. Mounts that are not paid in full will not be started. Any specimens left unpaid 1 month past their estimated completion date will be required to be picked up or will be disposed of.

    I understand feeling hesitant to pay for a mount in full before it is completed, however due to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, I cannot sell unclaimed mounts of ducks and geese. It is easier for me to make this the policy for all birds, since this way I can make sure I am paid for the materials and labor I put into every mount.

    Mammals:

    A 50% deposit is required upon drop-off. This deposit is refundable until the specimen has been sent for tanning. It is not refundable if the specimen is lost/rejected/etc. by the tannery. I will contact you 1 week prior to mounting and again when the mount is ready to be picked up. Any specimens left unpaid 1 month past their completion date will be disposed of or sold.

    Official Terms and Conditions: Skydiver Studio is not responsible for the condition of specimens while they are in possession of the customer. Leaving specimens with Skydiver Studio is to be done at the customer’s own risk, as Skydiver Studio takes no responsibility in the event of loss or damage to a specimen while in their possession. No guarantees on final products will be made for specimens showing damage/poor quality upon drop-off. All deposits and nonrefundable. Bird specimens not paid in full 30 days before their ECD (estimated completion date) will not be started. Bird specimens not paid in full 30 days after the ECD will be forfeit to Skydiver Studio. Mammal specimens not fully paid 30 days after their completion will be forfeit to Skydiver Studio. Skydiver Studio has no obligation to honor the ECD if circumstances change and cause delay. After 30 days of completion, all finished mounts must be picked up by the customer, otherwise they are considered abandoned and forfeit to Skydiver Studio and there is no guarantee of good condition nor availability thereafter.

  • Wait times may vary depending on my workload and personal schedule.

    Generally, bird mounts take 4-6 months and mammal mounts take 10-12 months.

    I can let you know more accurate turnaround times when you book an appointment.

  • Currently I do not accept specimens being shipped. An in-person drop off allows me to go over everything in detail with you, and also ensures that the proper deposit/legal paperwork is with the specimen before I take possession of it.

    Due to their fragile nature I do not ship completed bird mounts.

  • PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT ME TO CHECK ON THE STATUS OF A MOUNT IF IT IS BEFORE YOUR ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE. While I understand feeling excited to get your mount back, it is very time-consuming replying to customers about this when I should be working on mounts! If I have gone over your estimated completion date, please feel free to contact me if I haven’t contacted you first.

    You can either send an email to skydiverstudio@gmail.com or fill out the form on the contact page.

    You can also call me at 503.555.5555. I will try to answer calls M-F from 10am-5pm, but if I don’t please leave a voicemail.