Columbia Taxidermy Studio

4.14.20 Update to our last post re COVID-19: As we suspected we might, we have experienced some problems getting materials ordered; in particular, our main supplier of manikins is shut down under their state's stay-at-home requirements. Just wanted everyone to know, and that as soon as they are up and running again, we will be ready to resume placing orders. Thanks for your understanding!

3.17.2020 Dear Customers -- We have now become aware of the first confirmed case (and sadly, as of 3.18.20, death) of COVID-19 in Boone Co. At Columbia Taxidermy Studio we will strive to keep up-to-date on the latest news and advice as this situation affects our community. At this time, we are feeling healthy and working in the studio as usual on mounts and projects* and, since this is an activity done in relative isolation on our own property, we believe there is a fairly l...ow risk for exposure. Once a mount is ready to leave the studio, we will send out our normal notification and would appreciate it if the mount is picked up in a timely manner. However because of the evolving nature of the pandemic, if anything should change regarding our health, we will follow whatever current guidelines are in effect and will be in contact with any customers who might have been notified that their mounts were ready to be picked up. We will also understand completely if a customer who has been notified is experiencing illness and needs to postpone pick up until later. Stay vigilant practice good health habits keep the faith -- we will get through this! *At present, we have not seen any interruption in our suppliers’ and tannery’s capacity to provide materials and services to us. Yet, there is a possibility that their operations may get hit with illnesses or mandated restrictions that could have a domino effect, affecting their customers’ (including us) ability to proceed with our work on your mounts. If this occurs, we appreciate your understanding and patience!

To my valued Customers -- This was quite a different deer season for Columbia Taxidermy Studio. As many of you know, I made a decision to limit my intake this year. It was a difficult move to make in that I could not serve everyone who called or came down the drive; it was especially hard for me to have to turn down the youths with their first buck and long-time customers. But, I was gratified with the many encouraging responses from those who understood my two main reasons: ...1) that it is important for me to be able to catch-up with the backlog of work I still have on hand from the past two tremendously successful seasons, without adding another full season’s worth of projects on top of it, and 2) to cope with the physical demands that this kind of work (i.e. all the knife work involved in caping and processing the fresh specimens) places on the body, especially my arms and hands. Despite the changes, I am pleased that this, my 43rd season, went well, and I look forward to completing the work ahead. Once again, I want you to know how grateful and appreciative I am for your support and on-going interest in my artwork and business. May every one of you continue to enjoy the Great Outdoors in safety and with success, and I wish you all the best during the holidays and in the coming year! Thank you -- Sincerely, David See more

UPDATE: Saturday, November 23, 2019 Hey, Folks -- It looks like I have reached my quota of new projects for the 2019-2020 season; therefore, sadly, I will not be able to accept any more new work. I regret that this is the case because I very much enjoy visiting with and serving all of my customers -- both old and new -- during this time of year. I apologize for not being able to take care of those who have had hunting success later in the rifle season. However, as I’ve expla...ined earlier, I also have quite a backlog of mounts from the past two big seasons, and I really want to complete them for those who have been waiting patiently, without sacrificing quality by rushing my work in the process. As a one-person (and wife) operation, I can not sustain the intense daily workload that would be required if I continued to take in as many specimens as show up. I must also take care not to overtax my hands and arms, which is something that is easy to do in this hands-on field. Please know that I appreciate everyone’s understanding of the situation, and that I am, as always, grateful for your friendship and business! --David See more

UPDATE: Tuesday, November 19, 2019 Because of the large volume of Whitetails already taken in during the first few days of this rifle season -- and with the weather prediction of warm temperatures ahead I, regretfully, MUST SUSPEND ACCEPTING ANY NEW WORK UNTIL I AM CAUGHT UP with processing what I already have on hand. I truly apologize for the inconvenience.... Please check back here for future updates on the 2019 WT rifle season. Thank you for your understanding and for your business!

2019 WHITETAIL RIFLE SEASON HOURS (Nov 16 Nov 26) Monday Saturday = 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM (final project of the day accepted) Sunday = CLOSED ---------------------------------------------------------------------------...Continue reading

Nov. 5, 2019 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: For the 2019 deer hunting season, I WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTING WORK BROUGHT IN DURING THE 11-DAY "NOVEMBER" PORTION (NOV. 16th through NOV. 26th) OF THE FIREARMS SEASON. I will not be able to serve you during any of the earlier or later portions of the season. I am truly sorry that this limitation is necessary this year, and I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. I appreciate your understanding and, as I have for the past 42 years, I am ...grateful your business! WHY? Basically, it’s 3-fold: 1) Because the past few hunting seasons were so successful, and I took in such a volume of work, I already have a sizeable backlog that I am committed to working off. Whenever new specimens show up, I have to put a halt to production in order to deal immediately with the fresh work, and, in the meantime, prior work just has to wait. Therefore, in good conscience, I have decided that this year I simply can’t take in an entire new season’s worth of projects (hence the limitation to the 11/16-11/26 portion)I would just continue to be buried. I don’t want my customers to have to wait any longer than necessary, and adding more work than I believe I can handle to my schedule only increases the delay in mounting/finishing/returning their mounts. One solution would be to rush through the work and put out lesser-quality mounts, but I simply won’t do that! In addition, beginning this season, so that I may concentrate my efforts and having eliminated all other types of taxidermy work that I used to do (e.g. exotics, life-sized, mammals, birds, fish and special projects such as rugs, wall and floor pedestals), I am only accepting Whitetail and Mule deer shoulder mounts. 2) After 42 years as a professional taxidermist, I have to be careful with my hands and arms they have endured a lot of strain with constant knife work and wrestling with capes and forms and so forth. I have carpel tunnel syndrome, some arthritis, and have already been through one bout of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis; these conditions don’t prevent me from working, but I need to work at a pace that preserves as much function as possible, and then allow my hands to rest and recuperate on a regular basis. My goal is to continue to conserve my health as well as maintain the high standards of quality that I’ve held to throughout my career. 3) This is a one-person (and wife) operation, and there is only so much time in the day to devote to this labor-intensive work. Again, after over four decades in this field, I’m still interested and willing, but it is no longer prudent to put in the 12-hour work days that I have always maintained. I hope this helps to explain Thanks for your understanding! --David

Update/Nov. 5, 2019: Elk will no longer be accepted as shoulder mounts or skulls OCTOBER 5, 2019A note to my customers: This will be my 43rd season as a full-time taxidermist -- I am grateful for all your years of support and loyal patronage. Since I plan to continue working in this field for the foreseeable future, sometimes I must make adjustments to what services I offer in an attempt to use my time wisely AND to preserve as much function in my arms and hands as possible...four-plus decades of constant knife work, wrestling with skins, manikins, and antlers/horns, and doing detailed handwork have had an impact! So, as of this date, in order to continue to provide service to the majority of my customers, the only species that I will be accepting for shoulder mounts will be WHITETAIL DEER, MULE DEER, and ELK. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause (e.g. for Pronghorn antelope, Moose, etc. hunters), but it is a decision that I had to implement now before incurring possibly permanent damage to my motor skills. Thank you for your understanding. --David *Have a safe and successful hunting season!* Current list of items ACCEPTED as projects: Shoulder mounts for Whitetail deer, Mule deer, and Elk. Skulls for Whitetail deer, Mule deer, and Elk (I will provide information for ordering hooks and plaques, if such are desired) Items NO LONGER ACCEPTED: Shoulder mounts for any other species than those listed above. Mammals. Safaris. Life-sized mounts. Fish. Birds. Antlers on plaques. Rugs.

Dear Customers -- Now that the heavy hunting seasons are over and I am back to production mode Mondays through Saturdays, from 6:30 AM until 12:30 PM, I will be working, but the studio will NOT be open so that I can concentrate and not have to interrupt mounting procedures. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but it should result in greater efficiency and a more rapid completion time. ... If you are coming by the studio to pick up your mount, please feel free to do so after 12:30 PM until about 3:30 PM. If you need to pick up your mount outside of these hours, please call the studio phone number (573-474-6058; leave a message) and we will make special arrangements. We are CLOSED on Sundays. Thank you for your consideration I appreciate your business! --David

To my wonderful customers -- After experiencing another active Whitetail rifle season, I want to express my appreciation for all of the business you have brought to Columbia Taxidermy Studio in 2018. I am grateful for the yearly opportunity to renew long-time friendships as well as to get to know new clients; thank you for the trust you have placed in my craftsmanship and dedication to the art of taxidermy. Congratulations on your successful hunts -- I have seen many beautiful animals, and I will do my very best to capture their qualities in the mounts that I return to you. Once again, my family and I truly value your patronage! -- Sincerely, David