Taxidermist giving the run around

[Deerhunter12454]

I’m not sure if this is the right place to put this.

I was lucky enough to harvest a bear over 2 years ago. I sent it to someone to get a rug done. Back in November I called and he said it was next on the board and I should have it by Christmas if not the beginning of the year. I’ve left countless voice mails and now it seems that his voice mail is full and it’s impossible to get in touch with him. How would yall go about this situation? At the very least I want my bear back to have another taxidermist take care of it.

 

[antharper]

I’d probably show up at his shop to check on things . Good luck and I hope it turns out good for you

 

[kayaksteve]

It took me four years and a couple visits from a sheriffs deputy to get one back one time. Still pretty sure it isn’t the bear I took him.

 

[Deerhunter12454]

Would DNR get involved in something like this?

 

[antharper]

Would DNR get involved in something like this?

Don’t think so

 

[godogs57]

Where is the bear at this time? GA? Canada? Etc…

Son lost a record book bear skull to a taxidermist in Quebec…..not one dang thing anyone could do.

 

[Deerhunter12454]

Where is the bear at this time? GA? Canada? Etc…

Son lost a record book bear skull to a taxidermist in Quebec…..not one dang thing anyone could do.

GA. Was told this bear would have made the county record book where it was harvested

 

[godogs57]

GA. Was told this bear would have made the county record book where it was harvested

Then I’d be paying him a visit. I’d be sure to visit the Sheriff’s Department in that county and perhaps he might could facilitate things along for you.

 

[ronpaul3838]

Is his name Chris fortner?

 

[Deerhunter12454]

Is his name Chris fortner?

never had an issue with fortner

 

[splatek]

Reeds?
They kept our bears for over two years. Still have some
And when I finally got mine they didn’t even look that good.
I turned to making my own tanned hides

 

[Deerhunter12454]

Reeds?
They kept our bears for over two years. Still have some
And when I finally got mine they didn’t even look that good.
I turned to making my own tanned hides

Yup

 

[splatek]

I’m surprised he’s still answering the phone.

 

[BIG RANDY]

I feel your pain. Local guy had done some euro mounts for me ( hogs, deer and a couple of rams my wife and I killed out of state) and was always reasonable. I saw some of his shoulder mounts and they looked good so I asked if he would do a bobcat for me. Long story short $200 deposit and 2 years later he went silent on me.

 

[1eyefishing]

Bears are the worst.
I got completely ripped off by a so called 'taxidermist' in Canton more than a decade ago...
I took my '23 bear to the most reputable place I could find. They said it would be about a year which was acceptable. A year later they I called and they said they had lost all thier help and would be February.
This morning they said six more months.
Skipped the taxidermy on last years bear except for the skull.
Apparently that's pretty quick and easy.
No more mounts for me.

 

[Deerhunter12454]

Bears are the worst.
I got completely ripped off by a so called 'taxidermist' in Canton more than a decade ago...
I took my '23 bear to the most reputable place I could find. They said it would be about a year which was acceptable. A year later they I called and they said they had lost all thier help and would be February.
This morning they said six more months.
Skipped the taxidermy on last years bear except for the skull.
Apparently that's pretty quick and easy.
No more mounts for me.

I was told months ago the guy I’m talking about lost all his help Also.
I ended up contacting DNR to see what recourse I’d have. Was told it’s probably a smart idea I didn’t show up to his place of business (his house). There’s multiple people I’ve talked to that he’s done this to or flat out lost their animal.

Probably not a good sign if the dnr agent in the county has no clue who the taxidermist is

 

[furtaker]

It seems like at some point, a taxidermist who refuses to complete a mount would be in possession of stolen goods.

 

[antharper]

It seems like at some point, a taxidermist who refuses to complete a mount would be in possession of stolen goods.

Seems like he’d be long out of business

 

[cj580guitar]

Happen to me years ago with a taxidermist here local to me. Lost my money and animals.

 

[Darkhorse]

The first thing I would have done is list his name in Bold capital letters. Why protect him at this point? Other people need to know who to stay away from.

I went through this with a sailfish we caught off Jacksonville back in the 80's. I visited his shop and he wouldn't talk to me. Same thing when I called. Finally I threatened legal action and he sent me a sailfish. In a cardboard box which was torn. Inside was a scarred mount with the bill and sail broken off, it didn't even measure the same as mine did.
Originally he got the fish through an agent who owned the place I kept our boat and one day we complained about the whole stinking mess....The reaction was immediate. Don't worry about a thing we'll take care of this. We can ruin his buisness for life if he is treating our customers like this.
A few weeks later we got a call from the owner where we kept our boat. "Come get your sailfish. It looks real good." So we drove back down there and got our fish. It was perfect and does still look good. Just the way it should have looked in the first place.

If you can get no satisfaction from the sherriff or a lawyer then try social media. Does he have a website? Facebook? Get your story out there for others to see and hopefully affect his buisness a little. Maybe he will come around.
This is not for everybody but I've always been the aggressive type and usually get satisfaction in cases like this.