CLASSES
We offer a complete 7-week course, as well as weekend mini-classes for
specific animals. Students
may tape record or videotape classes for future reference, if they wish,
but are responsible for bringing their own equipment to do so.
COMPLETE 7-WEEK COURSE:
Classes for the complete course will run Monday through Friday,
beginning promptly at 8:00 AM. Students
are expected to be in the studio and prepared to begin on time.
Classes allow for 15-minute morning and afternoon breaks and 30
minutes for lunch. Classes
will break for the day by 6:00 PM.
In
the 7-week course students will learn:
·
to mount game heads,
life-size mammals, birds, fish, and reproduction fish
·
the art of rug-making
·
skinning, fleshing and
shaving hides
·
tanning hides
·
how to mount on commercial
forms, as well as how to modify and sculpt forms
· various methods of mounting
·
freeze-drying procedure
·
airbrush painting
·
base and habitat making
·
laws and business
management
Everything is furnished for the class, including specimens and all
supplies need to prepare and finish the piece.
However, students are welcome to bring their own trophies to
mount, if desired.
Students will keep all the pieces they mount, which will provide them a good collection to display in their own studio.
During the complete 7-week course,
students will mount the categories listed below. Depending
on availability, students will have some choices of specimens, unless
the student has brought their own trophy to mount in that category.
·
1 deer head
·
3 life-size mammals -
one of each size, with choices of:
·
Large:
coyote, bobcat, or otter
·
Medium:
raccoon, fox, or badger
·
Small:
pine martin, mink, or squirrel
·
3 birds - with choices
of:
·
pheasant, quail, chukar
partridge, duck, crow, or pigeon
·
3 fish - with choices
of:
·
bass, walleye, or crappie
·
1 reproduction fish
·
1 rug - with choice of
coyote, bobcat, or badger
Students will
also receive a tool kit of the following items:
·
Skinning knife
·
Tape measure
·
Lip tool
·
Airbrush
·
Scissors, needles and
sewing palm
·
Instruction manuals
Students keep their tool kits and mounts, as well as receive a
Certificate of Completion when they have successfully completed the
course.
MINI-CLASSES:
We also offer mini-classes for deerheads/gameheads, birds, fish,
mammals, and turkeys. As
with the 7-week complete course, all specimens and supplies (forms,
eyes, paint, etc) are furnished with the cost of tuition and are the
student's to keep. Students
may bring their own trophies to mount, if desired.
Students also receive a Certificate of Completion when they have
successfully completed the section.
As
with the 7-week course, mini-classes are limited to four students in
order to provide personalized instruction.
Mini-classes
are periodically scheduled around seasons and the 7-week courses;
however arrangements may also be made to fit the student's schedule.
While there is a maximum four students per session, there is no
minimum. We also will
negotiate special arrangements for those who must work on weekends, but
have weekdays available - providing a 7-week full course is not in
session.
Mini-classes most often begin at 9:00 AM.
Some days during the session may begin earlier or later depending
on a majority vote by the students.
Some of the days may be just a few hours, while others will be
all day, depending on the tasks at hand (see the description for each
category of class).
By-the-Day Seminars:
We also offer by-the-day seminars for those who are already in the
business and have not been previous students of Hutton Valley School of
Taxidermy. The cost is $300
per day.
Contact
the school to arrange sessions by the day on any aspect of Taxidermy for
which you could benefit from extra hands-on, personalized instruction.
These sessions will be devoted entirely to you - so you'll be
expected to bring your questions, capes, racks, mounts - whatever
you're working on - so we can together work through your problem
areas.
·
Deerheads/Gameheads:
Students will mount a deerhead. For
weekend classes, this session takes six days spread over four weekends.
Day 1:
Skin; measure and order forms and other supplies; scrape; turn
the ears, eyes, and lips; and salt.
Approximately 5 to 6 hours.
Day
2: Re-hydrate
and pickle. Approximately 1
to 2 hours.
Day
3: Shave
the cape. Approximately 2
to 3 hours.
Day
4: Drum
and prep cape for mounting and prepare the form. Approximately 2 to 3 hours.
Day
5: Mount
the deerhead. Approximately
5 to 7 hours.
Day
6: Finish
and paint their mount. Approximately
3 to 4 hours.
·
Birds:
Students will mount either a duck or a pheasant.
Weekend bird classes take three days spread over two weekends.
Day 1:
Skin, flesh and degrease; size the body.
Approximately 5 to 6 hours.
Day
2: Finish
prepping and mount the bird. Approximately
5 to 6 hours.
Day
3: Practice
painting with an airbrush, then paint and finish the bird.
Approximately three hours.
·
Fish:
Students will mount three fish using three different techniques.
Weekend fish classes take four days spread over two weekends.
Day 1:
Skin and flesh, as well as pattern and carve the bodies for all
three fish. Approximately 4
to 6 hours.
Day
2: Mount
all three of fish. Approximately
4 to 6 hours.
Day
3: Set
eyes, fill shrinkage, prepare fins, and prep fish for painting.
Approximately 4 to 6 hours.
Day
4: Practice
with an airbrush and learn airbrush techniques; paint and finish the
fish. Approximately 5 to 7
hours.
·
Reproduction Fish:
Students will learn to paint a reproduction fish, which will take two
days.
Day 1:
Prep the fish. Approximately
4 to 6 hours.
Day
2: Practice
with an airbrush and learn airbrush techniques; paint and finish the
fish. Approximately 5 to 7
hours.
·
Mammals:
Students will mount one life-size mammal.
Depending on availability, choices of specimens will likely be
raccoon, fox, coyote, mink, pine martin, or squirrel.
Mammal classes take five days spread over four weekends.
Day 1:
Skin, flesh, and salt; measure and order forms and other
supplies. Approximately 6
to 8 hours.
Day
2: Re-hydrate
and pickle. Approximately 1
to 2 hours.
Day
3: Drum
and prep cape for mounting and prepare the form. Approximately 2 to 4 hours.
Day
4: Mount
the mammal. Approximately 6
to 8 hours.
Day 5: Practice with an airbrush and learn airbrush techniques; paint and finish the mount. Approximately 3 to 4 hours.
·
Turkeys:
Turkey classes
take four days spread over two weekends.
Day 1:
Skin, flesh and degrease; size the body.
Approximately 6 to 8 hours.
Day
2: Prep
form, tail, head and legs. Approximately
6 to 8 hours.
Day
3: Mount
turkey. Approximately 4 to 6
hours.
Day
4: Practice
painting with an airbrush and learn airbrush techniques; paint and finish
the bird. Approximately 2 to
4 hours.