Got in early last Saturday and snapped a few pics of this month's projects. - Matt

Thats alot of nice mounts!

I love these types of pics.

I like the strap on the board

Which one of those damn good lookin mounts is mine? Both flushing pinnies look top notch! I can't wait to have it on my wall!

Picked up the Woodie yesterday... Awsome job as always..

Who evers wigoen that is... is going to be exteremly, exteremly happy!!!!!!!!

Any chance that jumping Sprig belongs to C. Anderson?
I really like the incoming Mallard!

Very nice!

Looks like ya been busy

sweet

Very nice job on those! Thanks for sharing!

Not that one, but yours is drying Sir

great looking stuff you got there!

awesome pictures

Fantastic work as always. I'm anxiously waiting to see the canvasback I brought you!

We took in a total of 48 Canvasbacks this year...heads are all prepped and bodies are being made as we speak.

Hey Matt, do you do your birds in batches of the same species? Or do you do it by customer?

Brian, that's an excellant question. I work from a Production List starting with the first bird brought in to the last. However in order to make the best use of time a large bird shop (300 plus birds a year) will stop to do batches of the same species (usually pheasants, mallards, Turkeys, Geese, etc) to try to maximize that time.

No matter what, once a batch is done the Production List takes priority. Also, "changing gears" to avoid burnout to mounting a large group of Geese or Turkeys is done on an as needed basis as well. It pays to note that Repetition on the same species can also produce some very high quality mounts.

Still, try as you might to avoid it, sometimes a client will get his bird back before his buddy. Here, clear client communication is required and an assurance to the one still waiting that he will love his mount when it is turned out.

Production schedules can also depend on the specific shop. Some shops are based on volume only and slam the birds out as quickly as possible with very basic poses. I worked in those types of shops in the past and I did not enjoy it. I offer more extreme and varied poses and quality always supercedes turn around time. My most demanding customers building their collections patiently wait up to 18 or 20 months to receive an involved mount back, while a kid's first mallard may come out in 6 or 7 months to keep him from pestering his Dad to death.

On more than one occasion, I've had to pull large Canada Geese out of order and mount them to create much needed freezer space when an outfitter is bringing in a large order of pheasants, etc.

Also "real world" decisions have to be made almost daily. One example is that you've pulled a Wigeon for mounting the night before. The head, body and eyes are all ready to go and when you get the bird out of the bag you realize that the right wing is really shot up. The client wanted the bird flying, but you realize that this isn't going to happen and have to call the client to discuss and alternate pose. His wife says he is in Africa for the next 2 weeks. Ok, now decisions have to be made. You MUST have something mounted each and every day, so you go to the production list and find the next Wigeon in line and mount that bird. You've just jumped past 27 birds to get to the next Wigeon, but if you are running a business you have to make those choices. These are the realities in a bird shop but as long as you are acting ethically when making these decisions you will be fine.

Also, In the past I had to travel to Montana to mount large batches of birds. (I searched the country to find a bird man I could trust with my customers work and the only one was in BFE Montana) Two bird taxidermists working together 6 or 7 days a week from dark to dark can get a huge amount of work done that is top notch quality. (2) sets of eyes can see most everything as well as sharing ideas on varying poses. This is also a situation where birds can be pulled out of order to maximize production time as well.

The other 2 species that are important to note that get pulled by me on a varying schedule are Wood Ducks and Hooded Mergansers. These are the 2 hardest to make look good. They are very time consuming and a Bird Taxidermist has to be in tune when he decides to handle these species. I pull these when I'm mentally prepared to take on a Woodie and give the client the best bird back possible.

With all this said, you have to read the client as well. Some guys are very patient and want the best work possible while others grow itchy after only 4 or 5 months and are ready to have that first bird on the wall. I have worked Saturdays and many late nights my entire career in taxidermy so that I have the extra time to address these birds or other considerations. Examples here would be a special birthday present for a little girl's first bird or mounting a pintail for a Vet returning home from IRAQ so that it can be hanging on his wall when he walks back into his home.

I guess for me, the bottom line is be aware of the Production List (I have a copy in front of me constantly) then ensuring quality no matter the order, then answering the phone and telling folks to please be patient or giving them updates, and no matter what don't rush work out that the client won't like.

I Hope this gives a little insight into what I do at my shop in regards to maximizing production while jumping through hoops to make everyone happy!. - Matt

That is some great info Matt!

Wow! That was a very in-depth answer. Thanks for the info!

FYI - Take as much time as you need on my 4 birds I am in NO hurry!

awesome, simply awesome

Sweet! Thanks! Also enjoyed the philosophy of your operation.

Is that my merganser? I shot that thing almost 4 years ago (no - I haven't been waiting for Matt that long.) Awesome work!

I have a mallard and an sprig with Matt. Can't wait until they are completed!

As usual, great work. And check your pm box por favor.

PM's Checked ...thanks for the nice responses fellas!