Jake, post this question over at taxidermy.net and you'll get pretty much the same responce over there. The best way is to find someone that will work you as an apprentice, and learn from otjt. If you can't make that work then find you the best videos you can get your hands on and join your state association and attend every seminar and training you can. And get you some animals and start practicing. Then if none of those work for you go to one of the schools get you some basic training, then go back to #1 and start doing taxidermy. After have said all that I went to Central Texas School of Taxidermy for the 6 week course. Then I joined the TTA I am still making every siminar I can and go to as much training as I can work in or can afford. It took about 3 years of mounting my own stuff and all I could talk friends and family into before I felt comfortable enough to take in customer work. After all that I still have my "bad hair" days.