Well, after 31 months after placing a deposit down on replica for a lake fork beauty I had to give up, no progress details, no idea when it would be finished. I got the run around every time I sent him a message, he would always reply ‘it’s in the process.’ Anyone have any recommendations that can deliver in less time?

Use the guys at lake fork taxidermy

Does this place have a front door? I would be beating on it.

What is the deal with taxidermists?, seem several want to do it as a side hustle and don't spend the time an effort to get the job done in a reasonable time.

Most do it part time while working a full time job / business

That is understandable but this guy has no excuse after 31 months

I paid my deposit close to 3 years ago.

I was just contacted a few months ago saying my fish was almost completed, but he needed to know if I was financially ready to pay the balance before he finished it.

I knew going in I would have to be patient. I am paying for a replica, not a generic plastic fish like many offer with quick turnarounds.


I do know that he went through some health issues and had an allergic reaction to the chemicals he uses that set him back quite a bit. When I called around he was the only taxidermist I could find that had a mold with the exact measurements of my fish. Others that I reached out to all seemed to have a generic 10# replica that was much longer and had much smaller girths than the fish that I caught. I've also seen his finished product along side pictures of the actual fish. So despite how long its going to take to get my replica, I'm pretty confident I will be pleased with the final product.

Hope you are pleased with the result, sounds like you got some updates on your replica that were more than ‘it’s in the process’.

I have actually refused orders when I get behind(1 year wait). I know he has had some issues, but communication is the key. I have done many mounts from folks on TFF, some on order now. But I have a 8-9 month wait now and I will work 7 days if I don't have something going. Good luck with your mount.

Taxidermists seem to be sketchy, you hear a lot of stories about low character acts by taxidermists.

I received my replica a few weeks ago. It took a few months longer than he estimated, but I know he had a couple of health issues so it’s understandable. Best way to communicate with him was via text. I don’t think he has Facebook/Messenger any longer.

I've had 3replicas made. The first guy was one lie after the other. Sad part was a buddy that had a fish there a year before me could tell me what lie I was gonna hear next! He must go in order with all his customers. Next 2 came from Bill Muntz at Fin and Bones in Belton. He told me when they were gonna be done up front and that's when they were done! Not many taxidermists like that. Robby at Full Draw in Rising Star does my critters and he's the same way. If he tells you a year, you will have it in a year. Those 2 will do my stuff as long as they're around.

Ain't that the truth, I had a guy Clay Wagner in Lott that did my work for awhile. First mounts came out fantastic and he came off honest and reliable, a few years a later the mounts were good but not great and he seemed a bit different, I got a little bit of shady vibe. Last I heard he had ghosted all his customers and a bunch guys wanted to find him and beat his arse because they had never gotten their trophy animals back years later. Very weird deal, I often wonder if he didn't have a substance abuse problem and fell off the wagon because his work at its best was A double plus.

What mounts do you have? Feel free to post pictures.

Faster doesn’t equate to better, Now does it?
Here’s a “fast” mount and cheap and a “slow” mount and more expensive which one would you choose?

“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans”
That being said, I’ve had many trials and tribulations over the last several years. If I croaked, nobody would get anything.
I went eight months without any income and was unable to work due to a severe allergic reaction that almost killed me. January of this year my wife and I contracted bacterial pneumonia and I was very sick for three months.
Are these excuses? I don’t think so. It’s just a reality of life. Apparently some people don’t ever have challenges in life.
I’m not a part time Fish replica artist nor am I a Taxidermist, I’ve been making a living at this for 49 years and I’ve had nothing but happy customers until recently. Working From behind is extremely stressful.
I’ve always taken great pride in my customer service but ever since Covid people seem to fly off the handle pretty easily.
I’m behind, but I will deliver. If I was a scammer it would be all over the Internet now wouldn’t it?
That being said, I don’t understand why people air their dirty laundry on the Internet. Is it just to get attention?
If I posted half of the messages, the original poster sent me via text You would scratch your head.
Demanding 50% discount for waiting?
They’re not ordering a plastic fish off the shelf you are ordering a commission which means the whole process is very intensive and detailed commissioning a fish to be mounted as different than buying one from a website.
Like I always say cheap/ bad is not good and good is not cheap.
Here are two pictures one is fast and less expensive and the other is slower and more expensive which one would you choose?

Nice work!!

If I was into to have my fish or game mounted I would def find a healthier taxidermist. It would suck to have your heart set on a mount of a once in the the life time catch or kill and your guy croaks.

We all have problems and issues and if someone takes money to do a job they should arrange for it to get done by someone else or refund all the deposits.
You basically tried to flip the blame by saying, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans”
That being said, I’ve had many trials and tribulations over the last several years. If I croaked, nobody would get anything."


Good luck and I hope all the customers receive their mounts that they paid deposits prior to any work being completed.

Full Draw has done the last couple mounts for me, but when I drove through Rising Star a month or so ago there was a for sale sign on the building. Did they move again?