Frequently Asked Questions

“What is your turnaround?”
It depends on if you are getting the
item wet tanned or dry tanned. The
turn-around also depends on the time of
year we receive your item. This is a
feast or famine business. We always
concentrate all of our resources on
getting the regular wet tanning done as
soon as possible during the height of
the season. Then we concentrate on
completing the regular dry tanning.
If you need it faster than that, we
can do a wet tan rush service for 50%
extra and have it done in 28 days or
less.
The dry tan process takes longer.
Large African and large North American
items, whether wet or dry tanned, always
take longer.
“Why do you charge more for extra
length on capes and what is considered
extra long?”
A standard shoulder mount form does not
include the forelegs. In the last few
years some forms have come on the market
that fall in between a half life size
and a standard shoulder mount. These new
forms typically include the forelegs.
They typically also cost more than a
standard shoulder mount form. Therefore
the capes for these forms cost more to
tan because they require more shaving.
The same can be said about pedestal
forms versus standard wall forms.
A cape is considered extra long when the
forelegs are still on the cape and/or
when the back or briscuit of the cape
extend well beyond where the forelegs
were.
Our extra length charge should not be
confused with the charges that some
tanneries put on deer with larger neck
measurements or that charge different
prices for different species of deer.
Other tanneries have simply raised their
prices on all capes to cover the cost of
tanning extra long capes. So everyone
pays for extra length even when some
capes are not extra long. We’ve chosen
not to penalize taxidermists who take
the time to trim their capes to the
necessary length.
“How do you measure square footage?
What is linear inch/foot?”
We measure skins when they come out of
the pickle, when they are wet and being
shaved the first time. Some species are
billed by the square foot, some by
linear foot, and some by linear inch.
To measure the square footage, we
measure from the top of the hide down
the spine to the base of the tail
(length) and we measure across the
middle of the hide (width). For example,
a elk hide that is 6’ long (to the base
of its tail) and 5’ wide across its
middle = 30 square feet x $11.50
To measure linear inches, we measure
from the nose down the spine to the base
of the tail. For example, a wolf that is
4 and half feet long from the nose to
the beginning of its tail = (4.5 x
12"=54") x $3.25
Please note that on snakes, we
measure the entire length from tip to
tip.
**Note** For linear measurements the
width of the item does not matter, only
the length.
To measure linear foot, we measure from
the nose to the base of the tail or the
end of the cape. A bear cape would be
measured from the nose over the top of
its head to the end of the cape. On a
life size bear, we measure from the nose
down the length of the spine to the base
of the tail. For example, a life size
bear measured 63”= 5.25 feet x $40. Please
note, on alligators and crocodiles: we
measure these items from top of the hide
to the tip of the tail.
**Note** Once again the width does not
matter for linear calculations.
“Do you do all of your services
in-house, or do you sub contract it
out?”
This is a question you should ask every
tannery you do business with. YES, all
of our tanning services including
pickling, shaving,
and
tanning are done in-house on
our property.
“Are you fully insured against fire,
flood, natural disaster and theft? Do
you have Bailee’s coverage on my skins
while they are in your possession? ”
This is a question you should ask every
tannery you do business with and if they
sub contract it out; do the sub
contractors have the proper insurance?
YES, we have both full coverage
insurance PLUS a rider with Bailee’s
insurance to cover YOUR customers’ skins
in the event of a loss due to fire,
flood, theft or natural disaster. If
your tannery doesn’t know what a
Bailee’s policy rider is, chances are
they don’t have it… they may have
insurance for the replacement of their
building and their equipment but without
the Bailee’s policy you or your
customers’ trophies would not be
covered.
“Do you offer a discount shipping
program to your customers?”
YES, we refer to it as the “call tag
program”. We have negotiated discounted
rates with UPS because of the volume of
boxes that we ship annually. We offer
our customers in good standing the
opportunity to ship boxes on our UPS
account which gives them access to our
discounted rates. This allows our
customers to not only ship boxes to us
for less but also to ship boxes from
their studio to their customers for
less. Please read page 3 of our
pricelist entitled “Call Tag Program”.
“Do you offer a discount for wet
tanning?”
YES, our wet tan prices are 10% cheaper
than our dry tan prices. Please note
that in order to get this discount; your
wet tan order must be pre-paid either by
sending a check in your box or by
keeping a credit card on file in our
system.
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