Taxidermy Course

Lesson 1 • History and Scope of Taxidermy

Traces taxidermy from early natural history collections to modern artistic practice. Establishes context for why techniques and ethics have evolved over time.

Lesson 2 • Studio Setup and Safety Protocols

Covers workspace layout, ventilation requirements, and chemical handling rules. Proper setup prevents injury and contamination throughout all future projects.

Lesson 3 • Legal and Ethical Frameworks

Explains wildlife protection regulations, permit requirements, and ethical sourcing of specimens. Compliance knowledge is mandatory before any hands-on work begins.

Lesson 4 • Essential Tools and Their Uses

Introduces the full toolkit: scalpels, fleshing tools, forms, and adhesives. Students identify each tool's function before handling any specimen.

Lesson 1 • Field Care and Transport

Covers immediate post-harvest handling to prevent spoilage and feather or fur damage. Correct field care is the first step towards a quality finished mount.

Lesson 2 • Dry Preservation and Borax Treatment

Explains borax application as a primary preservative and insect deterrent for skins. This technique underpins nearly every dry-mount process covered later.

Lesson 3 • Pest Management and Storage

Addresses dermestid beetles, moths, and mould as primary threats to preserved specimens. Students implement preventive storage systems to protect finished and in-progress work.

Lesson 4 • Wet Preservation Techniques

Introduces formalin fixation and alcohol preservation for study skins and wet specimens. Students learn concentration ratios and safety protocols for each chemical.

Lesson 1 • Reptile and Small Animal Skinning

Addresses scale-safe skinning for reptiles and delicate technique for small rodents and birds. These species require modified tools and slower cutting speeds.

Lesson 2 • Mammal Skinning Methods

Covers cased and open-cut skinning for small and large mammals. Technique selection depends on species size and intended mount style.

Lesson 3 • Fish Skinning and Skin Mounts

Explains single-side skinning and scale preservation for fish skin mounts. Fish skin is fragile, requiring slower, more deliberate technique than mammal work.

Lesson 4 • Bird Skinning Methods

Details feather-safe incision paths, wing detachment, and skull cleaning for birds. Feather preservation during skinning is the primary challenge addressed here.

Lesson 1 • Finishing and Storing Tanned Skins

Covers breaking, stretching, and storing tanned skins to maintain pliability until mounting. Proper finishing prevents cracking and shrinkage during the mounting phase.

Lesson 2 • Degreasing Methods

Explains solvent-based and detergent-based degreasing for oily species such as bears and waterfowl. Residual grease causes yellowing and odour in long-term mounts.

Lesson 3 • Fleshing Techniques and Tools

Covers hand fleshing with beam knives and mechanical fleshing wheels for efficient tissue removal. Thorough fleshing prevents rot and adhesive failure in finished mounts.

Lesson 4 • Pickling and pH Management

Introduces acid pickle baths to open skin fibres and halt bacterial activity before tanning. Correct pH monitoring is essential for consistent tanning results.

Lesson 1 • Form Modification Techniques

Covers grinding, filling, and reshaping commercial forms to match individual specimen measurements. Modification skills eliminate the need for expensive custom forms in most cases.

Lesson 2 • Building Custom Armatures

Introduces wire, rod, and carved foam armature construction for species without commercial forms. Custom armatures are required for reptiles, fish, and unusual poses.

Lesson 3 • Measuring Specimens for Form Fit

Teaches systematic body measurement protocols to match skins to forms without gaps or stretching. Accurate measurement is the single most important pre-mounting step.

Lesson 4 • Eye and Accessory Component Selection

Guides selection of glass eyes, artificial gums, and habitat accessories by species and pose. Correct eye size and iris colour are critical to lifelike expression.

Lesson 1 • Mounting Large Mammal Shoulder Mounts

Details hide rehydration, form attachment to panel, and facial detail setting for deer and similar species. Shoulder mounts are the most commercially requested product in the field.

Lesson 2 • Fish Mounting Techniques

Covers skin mount assembly, fin spreading, and body filling for fish trophies. Fish mounts require careful fin pinning and slow drying to prevent warping.

Lesson 3 • Bird Mounting Techniques

Explains body wrapping, wire leg installation, and feather grooming for upland birds and waterfowl. Bird mounts require the most precise feather alignment of any species group.

Lesson 4 • Mounting Small Mammals

Covers adhesive application, skin placement, and ear and lip setting for squirrels, foxes, and similar species. Small mammal mounts build core technique before larger, more complex work.

Lesson 1 • Surface Preparation and Priming

Covers sealing exposed skin, filling gaps, and priming surfaces before paint application. Proper preparation ensures paint adhesion and prevents cracking over time.

Lesson 2 • Habitat Base and Scene Construction

Guides construction of natural-looking bases using rock, wood, artificial foliage, and ground cover. A well-designed habitat base elevates a mount from trophy to artistic display.

Lesson 3 • Colour Matching and Reference Use

Teaches systematic colour matching from reference photos, live specimens, and colour wheels. Accurate colour matching is the defining skill that separates amateur from professional work.

Lesson 4 • Airbrush Fundamentals for Taxidermy

Introduces airbrush equipment, paint types, and basic blending techniques for fish and bird colouration. Airbrushing restores natural colour lost during preservation and drying.

Lesson 1 • Competition Standards and Judging Criteria

Explains how taxidermy competitions score anatomy, technique, and artistic merit. Understanding judging criteria accelerates skill development even for non-competitors.

Lesson 2 • Client Communication and Expectations

Covers intake forms, progress updates, and delivery protocols for managing client relationships. Clear communication prevents disputes and builds long-term referral business.

Lesson 3 • Long-Term Mount Care and Maintenance

Provides clients and practitioners with cleaning, dusting, and storage guidance to extend mount lifespan. Proper care instructions are a professional deliverable with every finished mount.

Lesson 4 • Evaluating Mount Quality

Introduces structured evaluation criteria covering anatomy, symmetry, colour, and finish quality. Objective self-evaluation is the foundation of continuous professional improvement.