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Gene
climber
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Sep 30, 2011 - 05:22pm PT
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Ron,
Is that the before or after shot of that croc?
Thanks for the thread. You have some very serious skills and talent.
g
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Gene
climber
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Sep 30, 2011 - 05:34pm PT
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You do Aliens too?
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Sep 30, 2011 - 06:04pm PT
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In general, stuffed animals creep me out (I'm soft). A nightmare trip for me is to one of those Cabelas or Bass Pro Shops (or whatever store). STUFFED ANIMALS EVERYWHERE! I asked a clerk there why the human clothes were hung on fake humans instead of stuffed ones. Seems only fair to have taxidermied (sp?) people in there too.
They have NO sense of humor.
Though the stuff I've seen in the past has bugged me, your work is beautiful and the animals don't look even a tiny bit freaky. I can't even look at the Cougar - I have actual fear looking at it - VERY realistic and scary!
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apogee
climber
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Sep 30, 2011 - 06:06pm PT
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The whole premise is pretty conflicting to me, but that aside, that looks like nice work, Ron.
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WBraun
climber
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Sep 30, 2011 - 06:28pm PT
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What a Pro!!!
Awesome Ron .......
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strangeday
Trad climber
Brea ca.
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Sep 30, 2011 - 06:45pm PT
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That is beautiful, and I'm sure painstaking work. I always get joy out of seeing people who can practice their art for a living, regardless of the medium they choose...thanks for sharing.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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Sep 30, 2011 - 07:01pm PT
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Very good looking stuff, Ron.
The mountain lion, bobcat, and that african cat look alive!!! They're all good, but those struck me.
That reno airport scene kick ass too.
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Kalimon
Trad climber
Ridgway, CO
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Sep 30, 2011 - 07:13pm PT
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Beautiful work Ron!
The repro rock shot is really amazing.
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BurnRockBurn
climber
South of Black Rock City (CC,NV)
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Sep 30, 2011 - 07:18pm PT
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Is your shop in moundhouse. ?
Would like to see your stuff and talk climbing sometime soon. PM me
Shawn
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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Sep 30, 2011 - 07:31pm PT
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Damn, Ron!
That Pine Marten is awesome!!!!
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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Sep 30, 2011 - 07:40pm PT
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Ya know, I got to thinking about this after looking at some of Ron's awesome life-like work, but I think there is some awesome educational value in these works.
Imagine these in a school setting. Gettng to examine awesome wild specimens up close without danger, and without looking at a dead animal corpse. Taxidermy is the best of both worlds for curious children who may never see these specimens.
They can actually sit an examine them, and study them.
I know some people hate seeing dead animals and don't agree with taxidermy, but think of the educational value, man!!!
Kids would totally dig it!!! And it doesn't really encourage killing animals.
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neversummer
Trad climber
30 mins. from suicide USA
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Sep 30, 2011 - 08:07pm PT
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Very cool.
What are some of the values $$ of the different animals once you have finished them ?
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Sep 30, 2011 - 08:16pm PT
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Ron - I was worried my post would come across even a tiny bit negative and it was not intended to! Glad it wasn't. My thoughts were designed to demonstrate that I feel your work is spectacular! They are all beautiful animals and your worked has really preserved that.
Still won't look at the cougar though. It scares me! So real.
Questions if you don't mind. Who are your clients? Hunters? Museums? Cabelas? Do you think most have get an animal with this outcome in mind? I'm curious how the animals ends up with you.
How did you learn to do this? Is it a family thing? How long have you been at it? Did you always know you wanted to do this? I guess you had no family member try to feed you to the giant hairy boar mounted on the wall in the middle of the night (my family *does* have a sick sense of humor).
Thanks in advance! Interesting stuff.
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Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Sep 30, 2011 - 08:16pm PT
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Ron: Thanks for sharing the great photos of the work you do.
I teased Heidi about having our 19 year old cat-son stuffed, after he died last spring. Told her I wanted the jaws to open and recorded meows to issue forth.
She wasn't amused.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Sep 30, 2011 - 08:40pm PT
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A parrot shop in Houston had all their deceased birds stuffed around the shop. There were a lot of them. Bleck!
What creeped me out most was that they were all super dusty from sitting on shelves. It seemed like they should have just wiped them off. Or maybe not? What's the proper care of something like that?
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splitclimber
climber
Sonoma County
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Sep 30, 2011 - 08:58pm PT
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very cool Ron.
I'm a wildlife biologist and can really appreciate your work.
blue - you're right, great educational purposes, not only for identification but also a respect and admiration for the animal.
if you're ever up in Humboldt County, go to the wildlife department at HSU and look around for a while.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Sep 30, 2011 - 10:39pm PT
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Ron...Can you do chimpanzees ?
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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Sep 30, 2011 - 10:41pm PT
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All these things must be learned through hands on study of skinned reference.
I took a class once in my misspent youth from a prof. that had received his masters in fine arts from one of the major Calif universities. It was the only one that had a dissecting anatomy class, (same one premeds took) as a required course.
Sorta thinned out the herd.
Amazing work there.
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Footloose
Trad climber
Lake Tahoe
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Sep 30, 2011 - 11:18pm PT
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Cool work, Ron. Once again, we led similar paths bitd. I learned as a teen through Northwest(ern) Taxidermy School. Couldn't wait as a kid to get shipments of glass eyes, woodwool and tanning chemicals. It was a great experience. My favorites were coyote hides, coots, rabbits, a cub bear. Never attempted a fish. Also mounted a couple of hawks and a Great Horned Owl picked up down by Cradlebaugh Bridge. It was only a few years back a couple of jays got into the garage and picked the owl apart. Which I had up on the shelf for 35 years - talk about dusty! Otherwise I'd post a pic of it. Miss jepedos in CC. Too bad we didn't hook up - climbing and taxi together as teens would've been fun!
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nature
climber
back in Tuscon Aridzona....
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Sep 30, 2011 - 11:35pm PT
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TFPU
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Sep 30, 2011 - 11:38pm PT
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Interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing!
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Sep 30, 2011 - 11:39pm PT
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My landlord was a hunter. He has about 10 animals mounted. Sitting in his house sometimes weirds me out. I don't fully understand hunting. At least not for things you don't eat.
Like Crimpie though, I think your work has a beauty to it.
A friend of mine carves wood birds. They are sort of simple carvings, yet he has a knack for capturing their beauty. You also have a knack for capturing these animals beauty. I imagine it was a fairly rigorous learning process.
More birds please and thanks for posting this. It is interesting.
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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Sep 30, 2011 - 11:45pm PT
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Brings whole new meaning to that one phrase "take this job and stuff it.."
Good work, takes guts to do that, or rather remove guts to do that
;-)
Karl
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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i wanna see a dead monkey.
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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They are electrodes Locker, for when Ron is ready to take over the world. He is actually an evil genius and he plans to bring all of his creations back to life where they will devour their owners.
So far he has animals in all the democrats houses.
sorry ron, for exposing your plan..
002.5
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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thats paper mache, man
what you you tryin to pull?
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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that thing is still alive,,
you bastards!
no wait...
he's dead.
the face looks like fred flintstone on crack
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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That is one big bear.
I walked into a black bear walking home one night. Pitch black, no flash light and the bear was crossing the road I was walking down. Neither of us saw the other until I walked right into him. He was waste high.
that is a lot bigger bear..
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apogee
climber
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Dude....my conflict is resolved.
You are a true artiste!
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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those bear parts get big bucks in bangcock
13 womaen and only one man in town,
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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quit with the kiss ass
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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i got bing crosby in my basement, can you stuff him?
would you pack him?
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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there is a free prize inside every stuft pizza
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apogee
climber
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It must be trippy having all those animal parts laying around staring at you all day long...
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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can you do michael jackson?
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Not much to do with Michael Jackson. he was already mostly embalmed by the time he kicked it.
..
Ron.. show us some forms and what it looks like when you first start. I would love to see the bear form and skin.
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bergbryce
Mountain climber
South Lake Tahoe, CA
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Nice work.
I never took anything worth mounting, got lots of 4, 5, 6 pt skull mounts hanging in the barn though!
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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I knew it. YOu work for area 51. You are embalming aliens.
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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now we see artwork.
very good my man.
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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Karl rocks!
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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nature is king sushi
dude can work 18 hours with a hangover, give it up,
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Clearly very nice work Ron, even if I also can't deal with it relative to large mammals of any kind. Still, I am honestly curious how that croc got from the Nile to you.
As an aside - no aspect of climbing in Southern Illinois BITD was as frightening as hunting season - hundreds, if not thousands, of suburban and urban 'hunters' from St. Louis and Chicago would descend on the whole area and the result would usually be a carnage of inadvertant hunter-on-hunter violence.
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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anybody stuffed a ghecko?
the gecko brothers?
clooney and tarentino?
amy winehouse
with a name like that...
Amy Jade Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011) was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals[1] and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz.[2] Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize. Her 2006 follow-up album, Back to Black, led to six Grammy Award nominations and five wins, tying the then record for the most wins by a female artist in a single night, and made Winehouse the first British female to win five Grammys,[3][4] including three of the "Big Four": Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
On 14 February 2007, she won a BRIT Award for Best British Female Artist; she had also been nominated for Best British Album. She won the Ivor Novello Award three times, one in 2004 for Best Contemporary Song (musically and lyrically) for "Stronger Than Me", one in 2007 for Best Contemporary Song for "Rehab", and one in 2008 for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for "Love Is a Losing Game", among other distinctions. The album is the biggest seller of the 2000s in the United Kingdom.[5] Winehouse is credited as an influence in the rise in popularity of female musicians and soul music, and also for revitalising British music.
Winehouse was found dead on 23 July 2011, at her home in London.[6][7] Police have said that the cause of her death is "as yet unexplained"[8][9][10] and that the death was "non-suspicious".[11] Winehouse's family and friends attended her funeral on 26 July 2011. In August 2011 her album Back to Black became the UK's best selling album of the 21st century.[12]
Winehouse's final recording, a duet entitled "Body and Soul" with Tony Bennett, was released on 14 September 2011 to commemorate what would have been her 28th birthday. Proceeds from the song will go to the Amy Winehouse Foundation "to support charitable activities in both the UK and abroad that provide help, support or care for young people, especially those who are in need by reason of ill health, disability, financial disadvantage or addiction".[13]
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Ron, thanks for the croc rundown - would never have guessed.
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Trusty Rusty
Social climber
Tahoe area
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Thanks for the pics and info of your masterful profession Ron, fascinating stuff. Nice to still see real hand work these days.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Ah, little baby parakeet. Sweet little birds.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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death is an abstract medium thru which to express.
fascinating to see these still shadows of active beasts.
edit,
nice art work Ron.
the care expressed in your work well exceeds common.
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Gene
climber
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Ron,
Thanks so much for sharing all this.
g
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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So I was looking for some Gary Larsen "Far Side" cartoon of taxidermy to contribute here but I stumbled upon this article on 10 Bizarre Phobias
http://listverse.com/2007/08/20/top-10-bizarre-phobias/
In the comments they wrote
Maria / 19 Sep, 2007 at 09:52 am
I was wodering if anybody else suffers from fear of taxidermy. I can deal with small birds, maybe a squirrel, but any bigger than that I just have to cover my eyes and be led out of the room. Bears are the worst, especially if standing on to legs. The natural history museum would be my worst nightmare.
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Sonya Gonzalez / 24 Aug, 2010 at 03:43 pm
yes yes yes..im not alone..it freaks me out so bad..any store or restaurant or museum..Philadelphia has a giant ox or something with long wooly hair.I couldnt look at it.I think i know where mine came from..as a child i was bitten by a dog..i had to see a plastic surgeon who was a big game hunter..his entire office was covered with dead animals from Africa..
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Xandra / 25 Aug, 2010 at 12:23 pm
I've been known to start shaking/crying and be unable to move when there's taxidermy nearby… totally freaks me out.
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Alma / 18 Apr, 2011 at 07:56 pm
i also have this. Sometimes it’s so bad that I’ll have dreams where taxidermy falls on me, or i am impaled on antlers, or i am forced to put my head in the mouth of a stuffed bear. Sometimes if i see a deer in the wild i freak out because, duh, it looks like taxidermy.
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Toby / 11 Jun, 2011 at 05:59 pm
I too have this fear (well, I’d really call it a phobia at this point.) I once had to accompany children to a nature museum for work, not realizing that the museum would just be rooms FULL of taxidermy animals. Huge panic attack.
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Emily / 29 Jun, 2011 at 11:58 pm
You’re not alone.
I’m twelve years old; since I was about . . . six, I’d say? I’ve been terrified by taxidermy. I went on a trip to Germany a couple winters ago, and the bed & breakfast we were staying in was packed with taxidermy. thank god our room didn’t have anything, but it was humiliating — i literally had to be led in and out of the building by the hand, my head down, so i didn’t freak out. The one thing I could handle was the little bird by the stairwell, but even that sent a shiver down my spine.
For me, the bigger the animal is, the worse it gets. That’s the general rule for me. But all taxidermy just throws me into a state of panic.
The simple idea of animals being killed, having their skins peeled off and smacked up onto the wall is just horrifying for me. The ironic thing is that when I was about three or four, I would apparently visit my friend’s house and go in the basement to play with the taxidermy animals her father kept down there.
I think it was when I was old enough to realize that those things were DEAD animals, not stuffed playthings, that the phobia really started for me.
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Heikold / 20 Jul, 2011 at 03:38 am
I suffer from this and I agree with the size thing – it definitely makes it worse.
Do the others here have issues with things the higher up they are too? I can usually deal with stuff on the floor, but if it’s above my head I tend to freak out.
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jfrater / 19 Sep, 2007 at 09:53 am
Maria: wow – that is fascinating! I love stuffed animals – I just can’t imagine being afraid of them. What do you think brought that on?
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Maria / 19 Sep, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Well, there are no childhood traumas that I can think of, but I have wondered myself why this is, many times, since my reaction is so severe, not just thinking stuffed animals are gross. I simply cannot enter a room if there is one of those things there.
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rebecca king / 20 Jul, 2010 at 04:55 pm
I also have this fear and everyone just tells me its rediculous. Its the first thing I look for in a steakhouse or a cabin. I KNOW that they can't hurt me, but its still just creepy. I am of Indian decsent and my father used to say it was because we could feel their souls. Little strange I know, but its the only explanation I can think of. I just think it is a sick practice that our society needs to let go. I feel it is just as unacceptable as stuffing a human body. Its sick and wrong.
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Amy / 17 Sep, 2010 at 05:14 pm
I am also terrified of any and all taxidermed animals. I have never met anyone else with this fear so I'm glad I'm not the only one. I tried getting over it by waitressing at a restaurant where we had many dead animals on the wall- I only lasted a few months and it was a nightmare for me everytime I walked into work. We had a fieldtrip in 5th grade to a natural history museum, I tried walking in and had to run back out and sit outside the entire time with a teacher b/c I was having a panic attack from going in. Has anyone found a way to get over this fear?! I am okay with fish and the occassional bird but anything else freaks me out. It's also the first thing I look for when I walk into any restaurant or unknown place which could possibly have them…AHHH!
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Wowzer / 24 Sep, 2007 at 08:33 pm
Maria: I sympathise. Though I don’t have a fear of stuffed animals (such as teddy bears, plushes, whatever), I am uncomfortable around taxidermied animals. I haven’t a clue why, but I get away from them as fast as I can (I refuse to enter a furniture store at the local mall because it’s covered in taxidermied elk heads.) Just thought that was noteworthy.
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Maria / 24 Sep, 2007 at 10:56 pm
No exactly! I don´t have a problem with toy stuffed animals, of course, but taxidermy just like you Wowzer. If I suspect that there are any in a store or a house I usually have someone check it out for me. Like in the local Viking restaurant, were I totally panicked and the people there probably thought I was completely crazy…! I am glad I am not the only one!!!
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annie / 1 Aug, 2010 at 06:02 am
I have the same problem! Museums are the worst. I have nothing from my past that could have triggered it. Are you also afraid of wax dummies and things behind glass with spotlights on them like in museums?
I remember being at somebody's cabin as a kid and looking out their window and was suddenly shocked to see this huge deer in the window right in front of my face. Then I realized it was just the reflection of the deer head on the wall behind me.
Peace
Karl
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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Its like Hollywood's version of taxidermists,,they portray them as some skits out wierdos in some dank dark room. Just about every movie Ive ever seen with taxidermy in it, the CRAP they have looks like amateur city- the likes ones finds on EBAY...Ive never seen one DECENT mount in a movie, so that perception becomes ingrained in the deep consciousness..
I just want to know how many Armadillos you stuffed!
;-)
Karl
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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we had a newer taxidermist who was mounting a hyena .. Must...Resist...Now for those that don't know, Hyenas are a bit weird and "large", but they have a HUGE amount of "foreskin". This guy had no clue, and when he wheeled into the finish room,,,,,here was this hyena with a nearly two foot long appendage! LMAO!!!
It's a laughing Hyenas getting the last laugh.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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I don't recall any Hollywood portrayals of taxidermists. My 'creeped-out-ness' came from family members chasing us are with heads and stuff. Not nice, people!!
This is all really fascinating.
[dumb question]
So, you skin each critter then put the skin on the body you make? Or is a lot of it paint and such? I also thought one took the body, gutted it, then filled it with I don't know what.
[/dumb question]
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Very cool!
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Excellent timing of a bizarre story in the paper (i.e., online). This is just gross! Not that they are rats (love them, had them as pets, have two living in the back I really enjoy) - it's that they look dead. Ew.
Text from the link:
"Taxidermy animal accessories
Looking for an eco-macabre way to accessorize? A rat coin purse or pigeon feather necklace might be just what you need. Reid Peppard, a vegetarian and designer from London, doesn't want the animal victims of busy streets and pest control to go to waste, so she uses her taxidermy skills to transform their carcasses into wearable pieces. Ranging in price from hundreds to thousands of dollars, Peppard’s accessories are sure to make a statement — Lady Gaga even wore one of her creations in her “Bad Romance” video. But who are Peppard's biggest customers? Surprisingly, American men."
Ew!
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
SoCal
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Nice work Ron! You are an artistic asset to mother nature by allowing more people the up close view of her work.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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That's a Northern Pintail, no?
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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I like Pintails. I like the symmetry of their long pintail and the white line on their neck. Very cool.
*disclaimer, I like all birds.
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neversummer
Trad climber
30 mins. from suicide USA
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The sheep/lion scene is badass, hats off to ya'
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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this crazy freak named ralph kraus had a rat stuffed with blue bird winds,
he called it the ratley or some weird ass acid dreamed up sh#t,
think use to freak me out, man,
if we passed a dead animal in the middle of the road, he would be all over it, stripping the hide from the pavement to wear it like a grapefriut hat, wtf, over?
typical quote"i want the pelt, mannnnnnnn.."
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Ratleys' make splendid masturbation pelts...
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Gene
climber
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^^^^^^^^^^^ Proud, Ron! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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MH2
climber
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That's the most I've ever learned from a Supertopo thread.
Greatly appreciate and admire your work, Mr. Anderson.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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You deserve it, Ron!!!!
Nice work.
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nick d
Trad climber
nm
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Oct 18, 2011 - 02:16am PT
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Just curious, have you ever done any work for the Bolack family in Farmington, NM?
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Bob Harrington
climber
Bishop, California
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Oct 18, 2011 - 09:40am PT
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Did you do any of the stuff at Cabella's?
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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Oct 18, 2011 - 01:49pm PT
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death is currency.
i traded two deaths for some sonshine.
the inheritant will surely enjoy thoroughly
the concluding passage that was assigned to me.
that death will weave in and out of
god's passion, and leave Her drunk.
im not sure now what im up against.
i've got to die twice,
once the death of a martyr
and once the death of a villian.
im bored of death's game,
for i always win,
though the villians death coming to me
should me, intrigue,
as the culmination of my questioneering.
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nutjob
Gym climber
Berkeley, CA
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Oct 18, 2011 - 02:48pm PT
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That's the most I've ever learned from a Supertopo thread.
Way outside my normal realm of experience, but the dedication and skill are evident. The lifelike quality of your work is a testament to your passion.
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nick d
Trad climber
nm
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Oct 18, 2011 - 10:19pm PT
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Ron, the family I asked about, the old man, Tom Bolack was one of the first really big oil millionaires in NM. He was briefly governor of our state He was a big trophy hunter in the late 50's and into the 60's. My father used to take me out to their ranch to see his trophy room which was, well not quite basketball court size.
All the taxidermy was realtively crude, but the dudes collection was awesome. I'm pretty sure he had one of the biggest polar bears ever taken. I never thought of him as a sportsman, to get that bear he flew around in a chopper until they found a really big one. I think he got a lot of his African trophys the same way. That aint hunting to me.
The old man was a drunk, a bad guy really. When he wanted to punish his son Tommy he frequently locked him in a closet for long periods. My old man was a long time acquaintance and my family was on friendly terms with Tom is why I'm privy to these kind of details.
Anyway, Tom finally checked out leaving the empire to Tommy and Tommy built himself a super deluxe pad quite a ways from the original house. I don't think it held a lot of great memories for him. I haven't gone to see it but he had a lot of the taxidermy redone in the lifelike action style that a lot of your work shows. I have the impression Tommy might have sunk a really big chunk of change into it. The next time I get a chance to go see his pad I'll be sure to get some good photos and post em up here.
Thanks a lot for showing us your work, it's really fun to see!
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Jul 28, 2012 - 12:31pm PT
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That's NOT a California Condor. ( is it? )
I've seen California Condors. They ALL have serial numbers on them ( that's how you know you're getting genuine Condor, and not generic buzzard ).
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Norton
Social climber
the Wastelands
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Jul 28, 2012 - 12:39pm PT
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Ron, you are really good!
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Jul 28, 2012 - 12:40pm PT
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Ha Chaz! I was wondering the same thing - if the bird would have his tags on. The only one I saw, had tags. The tags were diagnostic for a positive ID!
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Tony Bird
climber
Northridge, CA
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Jul 28, 2012 - 01:11pm PT
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bates ... bates ... why does this name stick in my mind?
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Some Random Guy
Trad climber
San Francisco
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Jul 28, 2012 - 01:46pm PT
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talent man, talent!
i've always wanted to know, why can't humans be mounted? isn't it illegal or something?
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Jul 28, 2012 - 10:57pm PT
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Some of us snuck into the body exhibit late at night while it was in another country. That added an awful layer of creepiness to it. I lasted 10 second and high-tailed it out of there! Bleck!
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Some Random Guy
Trad climber
San Francisco
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Jul 29, 2012 - 12:27am PT
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yeah i never made it to san jose to see that exhibit when it was here but i have taken med classes and got to "play" with preserved corpses. not as freaky or disturbing as one would think.
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hillrat
Trad climber
reno, nv
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Jul 29, 2012 - 12:46am PT
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Looks like some very nice work Ron.
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go-B
climber
2 Timothy 1:9-10 Monergism
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Jul 29, 2012 - 01:01am PT
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Rare find...
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Shack
Big Wall climber
Reno NV
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Jul 29, 2012 - 02:03am PT
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Hey Ron, I walk by those at the airport all the time. Nice work.
I had no idea you were a part of that.
I will appreciate them even more next time by.
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 29, 2012 - 03:11am PT
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Ron, bet ya haven't done one of these Swedish creatures...
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Sep 20, 2012 - 04:07pm PT
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hey there say, ron... thanks for sharing.... had not seen this, either
first time up...
say, i was babysitting one night for grandkids and a show came on:
it was about a man that does this...
they showed the shop, what he did, and his wife and his home life...
he seemed like a very nice guy...
was very nice to folks,under odd conditions, and patient...
thanks again...
:)
*yep, it showed all the sculpting involved, painting etc..
my auntie that died (falling through ice in her pond, was 79)
well, she had been art director, etc, at the cleveland museum of
natural history and had done work in all things similar to this too,
... not sure how much was real critter, or not (birds, etc)...
but she did many prehistoric copies, too...
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little Z
Trad climber
un cafetal en Naranjo
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Great thread! Love it when old gems like this pop up. Ron, a world class artist and climber. Cool.
Just read the whole thread. Ron, no one commented on your photo of the ring-necked pheasant with the puma lounging on the couch in the background. That cracked me up. Would be fun to visit your shop next time I'm in Gardnerville. Would that be possible?
Growing up in DC I used to spend hours and hours in the NMNH looking at the exhibits. The tiger was my favorite (think it has been moved out of the great hall).
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hobo_dan
Social climber
Minnesota
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Those mounts are really well done Ron
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Gene
climber
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Wonderful stuff, Ron {{{Pun intended}}}.
TFPU. I hope to get an opportunity to visit your shop/studio/museum.
Best,
g
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Feb 17, 2013 - 02:33pm PT
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hey there say, ron...
thanks for sharing, again...
i love the artwork...
so true what you shared, too, about 'some may get into the business
easy, but--it does NOT mean quality or skill...
not all the pics have loaded, but frm what i saw, with the lion,
i can tell they are good stuff, done ver well...
neat note as to this quote of yours:
wow, i never suspected that--bird are so fun in what they do!
Note: each of the white feathers of his collar have been meticulously trimmed and groomed by him, as well as the long plumes, which were once full feathers that were trimmed to be long shafted ornamental plumes one at a time by that bird.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Feb 17, 2013 - 03:10pm PT
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Ron, I must say that I am very impressed with your skills. You obviously are a meticulous artisan.
I'm not been particularly interested in specimens I've seen in the past, but I realize that I've mainly seen poorly done work.
Through this thread, I've gained an appreciation for the various steps involved, all of which are artistic in nature.
You haven't talked about it a lot, but you must give considerable thought to the "pose" that will be involved, before you even start working. I'll bet you dream about it!
you are clearly a master of your skill.
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Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
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Feb 17, 2013 - 04:05pm PT
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An odd job done with great skill. Beautiful artwork!
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Michelle Gill
climber
Redding, CA
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Feb 17, 2013 - 05:29pm PT
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Wow Ron!! You do amazing work. Truly an artist!
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Feb 17, 2013 - 05:59pm PT
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Ron...Have you seen Locker's GF Annie...? I heard he's been practicing the art of stuffing on her...?
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SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Feb 17, 2013 - 07:15pm PT
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Absolutely fascinating! I have a brother in law who is a major big game hunter including hunting safaris all over Africa and the Far East. He has 100s of things mounted, and many "skulls" mounted. When at his home I always feel sorry for the animals that are stuck in the garage or other out of the way areas of his house....but he has so many they couldn't be put into the main living areas. He actually had a story for each one. Hard to believe he can recall each kill. One thing, well 4 actually, we never talk about is some elephant leg stools he has.
Thanks for the info...learned a lot!
Susan
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Feb 17, 2013 - 08:59pm PT
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S.Leeper
Social climber
somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'
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Mar 21, 2013 - 06:44pm PT
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I think it is great you can mount someone's beloved pet to give them comfort..
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Reeotch
Trad climber
4 Corners Area
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Mar 21, 2013 - 07:30pm PT
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Yeah, I considered that with my old dog. She was a looker!
But, on second thoght, it seemed a bit creepy.
Kinda like what they're doing to Hugo Chvez . . .
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splitter
Trad climber
Cali Hodad, surfing the galactic plane ~:~
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Mar 21, 2013 - 07:50pm PT
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Ron, I wish I new you back in '78, b'cuz I came upon this Great Horned Owl (maybe it was a Great Horned ?/it was huge), laying in the middle of the road, on the way to Hawthorn from Mammoth late one night. I stopped, and it was still warm, so I tossed it into the back of my truck and continued on. I started calling around and couldn't find a taxidermist, so a couple days later I took it out and placed it someplace respectible. Sure was a beautiful bird, kinda sad memories regarding it, actually.
Keep up the "Great" work, bro!!
edit: "archaic laws on the books..." - i vaguely remember that was what i ran into with the taxidermist i contacted in Bishop, at the time. :(
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Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
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Mar 24, 2013 - 12:44am PT
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Very fine work, Ron.
How do you get the waddles like that on the gobblers?
JL
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Mar 24, 2013 - 03:32am PT
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Wattle ya do when they come for you, bad boy?
After the munchies...
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Mar 24, 2013 - 09:09pm PT
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You Da Man! Ya know I hear there's gud money in Jackalopes.
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dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
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Mar 25, 2013 - 10:38am PT
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First time I have seen this thread Ron. Beautiful work man, hope to see your stuff on display some time.
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Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
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Mar 25, 2013 - 10:53am PT
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You ever screw around and make a cross eyed mountain lion or something goofy?
BTW, just looking over the thread and WOW!!! you are amazingly talented.
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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Mar 25, 2013 - 06:21pm PT
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Gorgeous work, Ron!! We at TINS will be very proud to use these for education and outreach!!
EDIT - And sorry about the dehydrated skin - we try, but sometimes specimens come to us that have just been chucked in the freezer with no protection. I always recommend a paper cone and double freezer bags - seems to do the trick for birds I'm going to make into study skins.
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dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
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Mar 28, 2013 - 11:35am PT
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Saw this on FB this morning and thought it would go good here Ron.
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Roughster
Sport climber
Vacaville, CA
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Mar 29, 2013 - 11:56pm PT
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My daughter is intensely interested in taxidermy. I wouldn't be surprised to find out it is her calling in life. She is very passionate about it.
She says your stuff is awesome!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Mar 30, 2013 - 01:30am PT
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Is that a juv Ring-billed gull at the top?
The GHO is beuteous!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Mar 30, 2013 - 01:43am PT
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Ha,that never occurred to me given yer locale. I saw the thingie on the end of the bill and just thought it was the ring on the Ring-billed. Now that I look closer i can see it is that 'thingie'. Being an Alaskan I never paid no mind to juvie jaegers as there was always plenty of adults to ogle. :-). So did this one show up in yer hood?
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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Mar 30, 2013 - 03:36am PT
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That jaeger washed up on the beach at Sand Harbor, on the east shore of Lake Tahoe, back in August of 1999. Starved on migration, apparently. It's been frozen ever since, passed through a few different hands, and now, finally, we'll be able to display it thanks to Ron's skills and artistry (and rehydration secrets)!
BTW, Tahoe probably gets a couple jaegers every fall, but they're pretty rare and it takes certain weather conditions to expect to see them.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Mar 30, 2013 - 08:05am PT
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hey there say, willoughby... :O oh my, now i know a bit more about that
'owl?' ...
i was wondering about it, as, i saw it on ron's facebook share...
so, it came through your find?
thanks for all the shares, once again, ron...
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splitter
Trad climber
Cali Hodad, surfing the galactic plane ~:~
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Mar 30, 2013 - 08:33am PT
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My art of death Actually, I look at it as the art of bringing something that was dead, back to life!
BTW, awesome thread, and "art"!!!
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dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
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Apr 17, 2013 - 11:38pm PT
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Wow Ron, somehow I missed this thread till now, awesome taxidermy! You are an artist of a different color.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Apr 18, 2013 - 12:00am PT
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Ron, you did well by old Woodsy, very very well.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Apr 26, 2013 - 04:48am PT
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Ron, I guess you may have seen this on the Flames. I'm posting the whole picture, warts y todos. The Trophy Room Bar awaits your sooner-or-later patronage. It's opening maybe in another month.
Their mounts have aged well, as far as I can tell. They date back to the 40s, most of them. You've probably seen lots of these ancient ones in your life as pig o' the woods, etc.
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S.Leeper
Social climber
somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'
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Nice work , as usual, Ron!
Probably been asked already, but do you have a favorite animal to work on?
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phylp
Trad climber
Millbrae, CA
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May 15, 2013 - 08:09pm PT
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You really do beautiful work.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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May 15, 2013 - 10:11pm PT
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I am offended by these dead animals. they are being exploited...
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Michelle
Social climber
1187 Hunterwasser
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May 15, 2013 - 10:35pm PT
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Woodsie, lol, nice name. Good looking job too.
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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May 20, 2013 - 06:55pm PT
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So I'm curious about the mount. Did he request that stacked type layout, or did you suggest it, or where did the idea come from. Wouldn't be my personal choice, but I guess it also depends on the trophy room where it will live.
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mountainlion
Trad climber
California
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May 20, 2013 - 06:56pm PT
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You do good work Ron...even if I don't like to see animals killed for sport or stuffing...for food and full use of their parts in a respectful manner I condone
I just hate to see magnificent specimens killed for some person's wall as for your client being all smiles...isn't he in one of those movies where they hunt the humans for sport?
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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May 23, 2013 - 06:43am PT
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hey there say, ron... i enjoyed your work on the owl, very nice!...
just dropped by to say hey there... :)
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Got any pics of that stuffed Everest Lobster...? RJ
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Ron...Seems like you could use that expanding foam to stuff your projects and cut down on weight...? RJ
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Oh no dude!
Seriously...
At least you didn't amputate the wrong leg on some poor sucker...
This stuff happens
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jonnyrig
Trad climber
formerly known as hillrat
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Aug 20, 2013 - 07:46pm PT
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Nice work. You do touchups?
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jonnyrig
Trad climber
formerly known as hillrat
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Sep 10, 2013 - 09:39pm PT
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Kali transplants thought the bear was chasing you.
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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Oct 21, 2013 - 06:57pm PT
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Some of Ron's handiwork moving offices a few weeks back.
This owl and several other pieces were quite popular at Truckee River Day yesterday. Having a few big, taxidermied birds pulls the kids in like a tractor beam.
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MikeL
climber
SANTA CLARA, CA
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Oct 21, 2013 - 07:06pm PT
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Love that! Impressive.
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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Oct 21, 2013 - 07:28pm PT
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I posted that pic on Facebook a while back and quite a few of my more imaginative friends thought it was a live bird. And by "imaginative" I mean stupid. But it's a testament to your work - even had a couple of grownups approach the table quite tentatively yesterday, asking if they were alive, would bite, etc.!!
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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Oct 21, 2013 - 07:40pm PT
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^^^ Nice one Locker!
Seriously though, nice looking work Ron.
When you head to work do you psych yourself up by saying 'Game face Ron, game face.'?
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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Oct 21, 2013 - 07:43pm PT
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Stitch brought this up a while ago, but I'd just like to second his motion for Ron to create a successful marketing campaign for his business through televisions ads, a la Chuck Testa:
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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Oct 21, 2013 - 09:09pm PT
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Is that a mink?
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Oct 21, 2013 - 10:05pm PT
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Ron...Do you know how to stuff a chicken..?
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Charlie D.
Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
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Oct 21, 2013 - 10:44pm PT
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Exemplary work Ron A., your passion shows well. The birds are amazing!!! Where's your shop/studio? I'll pay you a visit one of these days, thanks for sharing.
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Delhi Dog
climber
Good Question...
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Oct 30, 2013 - 02:54am PT
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Help me understand why anyone would shoot a couple of beautiful birds like that? Just to eat them, just to stuff them? WTF?
Full disclosure here, I've been duck hunting once with my dad (who grew up on wild meat as they were dirt poor and needed to) when I was a kid. I shot two ducks and felt like sh#t for doing it, I thought it was something I was suppose to do.
Still have the shotgun which I dig and use on occasion to shoot clay pigeons but I don't get the animal killing thing.
Looking at the excellent work Ron has done on those just makes me wonder how and why a person would do that. Such wonderful life to see winging through the world now just stuffed soulless objects...
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Delhi Dog
climber
Good Question...
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Oct 30, 2013 - 05:13am PT
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Thanks for the reply Ron. Still don't get it but I appreciate the artistic work you do.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Oct 30, 2013 - 05:51am PT
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Damn, I can't think of the rail station (Mullingar?) that has a stray dog that became part to of the "station" family. When it died it was taxidermisted (is that a word?) and in a case/cabinet on the platform. Weird, but yet, touching.
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jonnyrig
Trad climber
formerly known as hillrat
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Oct 30, 2013 - 09:31am PT
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Reasons people eat meat are perhaps a philosophical choice beyond this thread. For myself though, I tend to believe the biologists are doing their jobs managing herds at gealthy levels in an environment that we,ve polluted with non-native species and foriegn plants. For example, I took an elk last year that we,re still eating- it was cheaper than buying a cow, better meat, and better for the environment.
I try not to waste, try tmake a clean kill, and figure when i cant stand the idea that something died to feed me, then its time to give up bacon and go full veggie. So i suppose it keeps me honest about what im eating, which is more than i can say for posting to the forum.
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dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
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Oct 30, 2013 - 11:30am PT
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Charlie,
If you go visit Ron, just look for this right before the turn to his shop. Can't miss it.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Oct 30, 2013 - 11:39am PT
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The mergansers are beauteous, Ron!
I wish I could convince the wife to have you do a similar flying mount of the condor I found
last month. The wife says our living room is too small. I'll keep it in the cooler until I can
win her over.
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Delhi Dog
climber
Good Question...
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Oct 30, 2013 - 12:17pm PT
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jonnyrig-thanks for the response.
What I don't get, is whacking a couple of mergansers. Are they really that popular of a game bird...just 'another' duck so to speak?
And, I wasn't asking about eating meat. Someone who kills their own, and butchers it, and eats it certainly to me is an honest to god carnivore.
I don't, but that's my choice and has nothing to do with it I'm thinking.
Anyway I love seeing those birds do their flybys headed upstream or down.
The original punks they are.
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jonnyrig
Trad climber
formerly known as hillrat
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Oct 30, 2013 - 04:43pm PT
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Well, we all do serve a purpose in this old world, even the mosquitos. Maybe humans have evolved a little more, or maybe we,re devolving. I dont hunt for sport, but it is satisfying to make a quick clean kill.
Some of the animals are indeed beautiful, and if i had time i,d take more shots with a camera than a rifle. But i have to make a living, and i have to eat, and i like meat. If its not edible, i dont hunt it. If its a bug, snake, spider etc and its not in my house i dont kill it.
You guys who are veggie or vegan, congrats on keeping that conviction to your principles. Thanks for, at least, trying to understand the rest of us, and letting it be.
Times have changed- people screwed things up in the past, now its going more toward responsible use and management, and trying to restore a natural ecosystem. How effective thats going to be- we,ll see. Meanwhile, lets have some faith that things are managed well and let eachother do our thing.
Thanks Ron, for the nice work.
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Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
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Oct 30, 2013 - 04:50pm PT
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Ron
You're a master of your art. TFPU!
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splitter
Trad climber
SoCal Hodad, surfing the galactic plane
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Those Common Mergansers look awesome! A Mouse from Merced in the house, what an honor. Life is such an adventure. Keep it real, bros! And don't do anything Batso wouldn't do, eh?
edit: "look awesome" - so does the gobbler (WOW)!! I'm gonna have'ta start keeping an eye out for some fresh road kill to bring up to ya. lol
An Uncommon Mouse from Merced, that is!!! ;)
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phylp
Trad climber
Millbrae, CA
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Beautiful work as usual, Ron!
It's so nice seeing that Mouse get out and about.
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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Taxidermy isn't REALLY an art. It is simply a (poor) reconstruction of the reality that once existed. I will never understand someone who wants to display a stuffed animal full of chemicals with pride. But I do like deer and elk meat.
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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I don't give a sh#t about how you guys judge each other's stuffed animals... it ain't art. At best it is a poor reconstruction.
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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Good taxidermy (and even some terrible taxidermy) is definitely an art. Hell, even just putting up museum skins is an art. But it also has incredible utility. My organization participates in a great variety of festivals and public events, and having Ron's masterfully lifelike specimens at our booth pulls people in like a tractor beam. They're incredible educational tools. We also use these in many in-school education programs, and they're waaaaay easier to care for than a live bird.
Never mind my goofy face, but here's a shot from Truckee River Day a few weeks back. Lots of people approached cautiously, and several asked if the birds were alive. Horned owls get hit by cars all the time around here, which is a major bummer, so it's fantastic to be able to resurrect one for purposes like this. We at TINS are very grateful for Ron's art.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Yep its art. Amazing the difference between good and poor taxidermy.
So is the below item someone posted.
Been wondering where the spiderbug went.
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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hahahaaaa.... your stuffed animals fooled some kids Rong? You must be very proud.
Still ain't art... just a poor reconstruction of what was once reality.
A trade at best. Don't get me wrong, I know plenty of tradesmen who do beautiful work... but it ain't art.
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Got a set of those J.W. Elwood Northwestern School of Taxidermy lessons when I was in 8th grade and went out on the local highways and byways looking for road kill to mount.
Boy! Those were the days! How about ordering some preserved frogs for my first lesson? Mom didn't approve of the smell around the house. If I recollect correctly, that's what put an end to my career as a neophyte taxidermist. What do they say about kids who take up morbid hobbies?
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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Been wondering where the spiderbug went.
Me too!! Where is that thing? Near your shop, Ron? Why'd it get relocated? Looked better up on the rooftop in Reno. It was my favorite Reno landmark for years. Actually, I'm not convinced that's the same one. Face looks different. Quick google search reveals that there's a lot of these out there. Sorry for the thread drift, but anybody know what happened to the Reno one?
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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In my opinion, Willoughby's one of the best at professionalism and artistry in combination.
He gets every little thing perfect.
"Gocd job!"
--Alex T. on Jeopardy!
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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edit: and wessie,, YOU BET YUR azz im PROUD of youths being interested in my ART. In fact i really cant express in type how that picture of Will and kids and the achievement feel to me. To be a small part of a youths introduction to things flora and fauna is a meritorious service ribbon to me.
yeah, Rong, I pick up what you are putting down. That is how some of us feel when kids (and even grown men) finally pull their heads out of their asses and ACTUALLY learn something about science... instead of insisting they already understand things they clearly have no fuking clue about.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Dec 14, 2013 - 05:37pm PT
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Nice work Ron. Your stuff is art. I disagree with wes about Tradesmen too. There is a difference between the artists and the hacks..
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Dec 14, 2013 - 06:35pm PT
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You're welcome Ron! I've seen some stuff in person as well that left a lot to be desired. A lot of people seem to think they can wash their own windows too, but they don't typically look as good as mine!
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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Finally made it to Ron's shop yesterday, to meet the man hisself and drop off a pine marten roadkill from Tahoe City. Very impressive stuff going on that little shop.
Here's the "before" of the marten, all 26" and 2 lb, 7 oz of him (here's another shot for scale). I can't wait to see the "after!"
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skywalker
climber
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Hey Ron,
Must have missed the thread. Have only viewed a few photos. Great work! My friend I grew up with has a taxidermy business (just noticed). I haven't popped in yet, partly cause I haven't seen him in 26 years and live half a continent away. I need to check him out next time. He was there when I caught a 28 inch chain pickerel 28 years ago. It was 2 ounces(???) shy of the state record.
I got it "mounted" as my 12 yr old b-day gift (biggest catch of anything at the time). I forgot about it after high school but found it in Mom's attic 10 years ago. I've been a high school biology teacher for 9 years now and its proudly presented in my classroom. While not a "trophy fish" it was beautifully done and begs questions/ conversations from students and parents alike year after year.
Cheers!!!
S...
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the albatross
Gym climber
Flagstaff
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Jan 22, 2014 - 07:54pm PT
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Beautiful art you have here Ron. Thanks for sharing..
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the albatross
Gym climber
Flagstaff
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Jan 22, 2014 - 10:02pm PT
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Check this out, curious to here your perspective Ron:
Officers seize parakeet at border
Posted: Jan 22, 2014 6:21 PM MST
By Breann Bierman
(Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
NOGALES, AZ (CBS5) -
Authorities have seized a live pet parakeet found inside a camera bag about to make its way across the border.
Customs and Border Patrol agriculture specialists assigned to the Tucson Field Officer seized the animal under the Animal Health Protection Act.
The 41-year-old California man attempting to enter the U.S. with the bird was fined.
The bird was turned over to USDA-Veterinary Service.
CBP said all birds brought into the U.S., with the exception of Canada, must be quarantined for 30 days at a USDA bird quarantine facility.
Birds are regulated since they can carry the viral and bacterial diseases.
(Article fails to mention that birds can fly and routinely ignore such things as international borders).
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Q- Ball
Mountain climber
where the wind always blows
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Jan 22, 2014 - 11:38pm PT
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Hey Ron-
I have always wanted to see a good Hun, or Golden Trout.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Jan 23, 2014 - 02:12pm PT
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Footloose
Trad climber
Lake Tahoe
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Jan 23, 2014 - 02:22pm PT
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Ron, Will,
beautiful job on the Great Horned Owl!
just noticed it. Remember to keep it out of sight
and reach of the local scrub jays, maybe Stellar's too?
I used to have a Great Horned Owl from bitd, had it
for years, blue jays discovered it through an open garage
window and over a week's time, flew sorties in there and
ripped it apart. All the while I thought the jays just
had a fascination with my garage!
I mounted it when I was about 16.
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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Feb 24, 2014 - 12:22pm PT
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Seminars/classes for aspring dermists, gun/hunting show live demos, and high end clientele using contacts of the highest end guide companies.
Just some possibilities to get out of the day to day grind while still capitalzing on the expertise and reputatation. Nothing you haven't thought of I'd guess, but starting over at 50-some?
Good luck in any case.
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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Feb 24, 2014 - 12:44pm PT
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My hunting knowledge may get me a job as a hunting sales associate for a popular store now being built in Carson as well
Manning a counter at Bass Pro? Seems a small step above "Fries with that?" or "Welcome to Wal Mart". Seems like some of the hunting shows, like the old Buck-o-rama back in the SE, would pay you to run a booth doing demos. I remember seeing plenty of booths BITD where they weren't a product/service company but something the show itself provided for entertainment/ to draw people in etc. But sounds like you've checked those things out.
What about architectural modeling. The details of plants, rocks, etc that you already model might be desirable for those big firms when they do full on landscape mockups...though the advent of 3-D printers might put an end to that business in short order.
I just can't see standing on your feet all day, entertaining dumb ass questions from an endless procession of n00bs and numpties in a retail environment after running your own show for so long.
There's always commercial trucking. Low barrier to entry, and at least you're on your own program most of the time. Nobody telling you when you get a coffee break, and seems like plenty of demand.
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Norton
Social climber
the Wastelands
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Feb 24, 2014 - 01:01pm PT
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I just can't see standing on your feet all day,
well, at 63 with my spine I could not do it
but Ron is younger and stronger and ya gotta do what ya gotta do to make a living
you are doing the right thing in recognizing the slow death of private taxidermy and looking for income elsewhere, you know how to get by on less so even $9/hr at a store works
good luck, Ron, sincerely
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little Z
Trad climber
un cafetal en Naranjo
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Feb 24, 2014 - 01:20pm PT
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good luck Ron,
hope you're able to find a productive alternative, especially one where you can express your creative spirit.
It's been fun seeing your artwork here. Like taking a trip to the museum.
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Feb 24, 2014 - 01:32pm PT
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Theres is a place known as rock bottom. I know this place. I have lived it for the last few years. ANYTHING now is a step up.
I lived in that place for a while when I was just a couple of years younger than you are now. Eventually found my way out, and I'm sure you will, too.
Good luck.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Feb 24, 2014 - 01:37pm PT
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Dude, this is your art and your chosen life profession. Unless you just don't have the fire in your belly for it anymore, why give it up to a bunch of newbie wannabes?
The market has changed (bummer that you might have had a hand it making that happen)...figure out a way to work within it. Any of us small specialty business owners have had to deal with the big boxes coming to town- you can succeed & excel when you find a way to differentiate yourself from the other lowballing wankers. You need to want to do it, though.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Feb 24, 2014 - 01:48pm PT
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Manning a counter at Bass Pro? Seems a small step above "Fries with that?"
Yours truly worked almost seven years for the BN company in BDalton Bookseller in a mall, where most of them are cash cows for mamma. They did not hire me for the new BN store here in town.
I took a post as a seller of used books, a step down, certainly, but I made my customers happy and that was my goal, because it made me happy.
Ron has mad skills at what he knows. I knew reading and books in the same way. Books are a dying breed apparently, much like literate commentary around our vague, misshapen world. Taxidermy is going to the dogs, so to speak.
Ron is not afraid, just not sure where to go next.
Whatever you do next, Ron, take neebee's advice.
I am waiting for $$ to send LennyBrews, the deadmouse, my brother & fellow Flame. He may arrive in early March.
I'd like him standing on a rock, shouldering a sharpened yellow pencil ( a #2 with a clean eraser).
Many thanks.
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jonnyrig
Trad climber
formerly known as hillrat
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Feb 24, 2014 - 02:37pm PT
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Look at it this way-
You dont have to give up taxidermy, and probably wont. What you can do is pick and choose the best of what people bring to you. Unique mounts, exotics, rare species and such that others wouldnt have the opportunity to work with.
And, if you find yourself with a steady, keeps the bills paid kinda job in the meantime, then the money you make on the additional taxidermy work is frosting on the cake. Only without the headache of stressing over next months rent money, nawmean?
Anyway, if you quit altogether, who the hell is gona stuff birds for me when i finally save some disposable income?
Keep truckin dude, summits still out there.
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dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
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Feb 24, 2014 - 02:57pm PT
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Good luck with whatever new ventures come your way Ron. Glad I was able to get a piece made by you before you retire. More climbing time can't be so bad, right :)
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philo
Trad climber
Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?
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Feb 24, 2014 - 03:17pm PT
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Ron this is a sincere question that I hope you will put aside all our amusing differences to take seriously.
I want to save the pelt of my dog Goldie when (hopefully years from now) she passes. I don't think I want to have her mounted in a pose or anything but I have a deep sense that I want to preserve her pelt as a rug or blanket. How weird is that? Now for the weirder part.
I have stripped small game without the intent of saving a pelt. But this would be different. She is a beloved companion and I would not want the pelt f*#ked up by removal or preservation and that is not my field of experience. Pets are not meat if you know what I mean. What I want to ask you is can this be something I do myself? Would it just be way better to have a non emotionally attached professional do it? Then there is the awkwardness of a naked body disposal in the Boulder "Bubble". I have already contemplating burying her remains in the Colorado wild-lands I know. But the thought of either transporting her stripped carcass and getting pulled over or stripping her at the site and being caught just kind of make my head waggle.
I am asking you because I admire the quality of the work you do and thought you would give me a straight answer. Without the ew gross response most people would give me.
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dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
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Feb 24, 2014 - 03:17pm PT
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No worries Ron, I know you got stuff going on, just glad we met and I put an order in for some Quail before you decided to retire. Bummer that taxidermy is going the way of other skill trades/art these days. Good luck with everything.
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philo
Trad climber
Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?
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Feb 24, 2014 - 03:48pm PT
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Thank you Ron I appreciate the solid answer.
Not sure if I could do it or not and really hope I have years to figure it out.
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jeepnphreak
Ice climber
Bzn, mt
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Feb 24, 2014 - 04:43pm PT
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the albatross
Gym climber
Flagstaff
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Feb 24, 2014 - 05:33pm PT
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Best of luck, Ron. I'm sure most of us have been in the downs at some point or other in their lives. I know I have.
I hope you get the fuels job, it's obvious you have a great understanding of wildland fire and I'm sure you would be a valuable asset to the program.
I still might be hitting you up if I'm lucky enough to land a monster Striped Bass.
Albert
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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A fine offer! I'd snap it up but I don't have that chalet built yet. I suppose it's illegal to ship it to California or something dumb like that. Frigin state won't let me mail order elk hide and won't let Tandy carry it either.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Ron...You have any of those sasquatch furs...? I'm heading back up to sonora pass...rj
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there say, ron... wow, just saw this... retireing, then... oh my...
hope the next 'trail in life' will do well ... yep, like mouse said, bloom where planted... you will know which trail to work, when it comes...
we all enjoyed seeing all this work of yours...
extra note:
wow, i remember my auntie that died, years back, in her pond, HAD a bearskin rug--it came from our grandparents house--not sure from where, or who, but they lived in ohio (think it was brownish?)... i remember the smell of it, as a kid, when we visited there...
never did know what happened to it, but it was one of those unique kid-memory things, :)) ...
thanks for sharing, once again...
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Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
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Aug 10, 2014 - 01:58pm PT
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Taxidermy has been going on at Finnskogen for decades. You find the art, more or less skilfully done, in many homes. Here's a collection from "Finnskogen Turist- og Villmarksenter"
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dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
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Hey Ron, How's those Quails lookin?
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dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
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Awesome Ron, Thanks.
If you don't mind perhaps they can hang out there for a bit. Will try and make a trip up north in the next 6 months or so and get some climbs in. If I can't make it I will let you know and send shipping costs to you so you can send them to me.
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phylp
Trad climber
Millbrae, CA
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Nice work as always, Ron.
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this just in
climber
north fork
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Nov 28, 2014 - 08:14am PT
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Squirrel flipping the bird
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| Messages 1 - 191 of total 191 in this topic |
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