The Taxidermy Podcast

In this Episode, I wanted to introduce myself to you- who I am, my family and background, and how I got started in taxidermy.  I’ll go over a little bit about what I’m currently working on and some of the problems I’ve encountered. Check us out at https://HookandClaw.com If you have a question you’d like for us to answer, click on Ask a Question Link at the top of the homepage. OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:  Check out my Weekly How-to Videos Here: https://hookandclaw.com/how-to-videos/   ☆▪︎☆ SUBSCRIBE TO ME ON YOUTUBE: ☆▪︎☆ Subscribe ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoNWNKZntKzHbseoRA2YhlA ☆▪︎☆ FOLLOW ME BELOW: ☆▪︎☆  Facebook ►  https://www.facebook.com/Hook-and-Claw-1637150973088259/ Instagram►  https://www.instagram.com/hookandclaw/ Twitter►  https://twitter.com/HookandClaw Edited Transcript: (00:01) Welcome everybody. This is The Taxidermy Podcast brought to you by HookandClaw.com. My name is Adam, I'm going to be your host and basically being the brand new podcast, this episode is just going to tell you a little bit about me and my background and what we're going to do here on this podcast or what we're going to try to do. But anyway, my background a little bit, I'm a 33 year old father of two kids, a 11 year old girl, and a little son that's eight months old, and I live here in North Carolina. So I do a lot of hunting, a lot of fishing and basically I got a daytime job, nine to five, like most guys- taxidermists. And I do this on the weekends and at night when I have time. And so by no means a professional, only been doing about two and a half years. (00:53) So I'm learning daily and try to get advice from as many people as I can and help me out. And so right now I'm just in the practicing stage getting my art form better and better every time. And uh, so by no means is this a professional only podcast because basically, we're all students. Uh, whether you've been doing it for one year or 10 or 15, you're always learning something. And so hopefully here we can help each other a little learn more about something you might not know about and just, have a good time. I know when I'm at work, job was pretty mundane, so I listen to a lot of podcasts and there's not one taxidermy podcast and even if there was a short one I'd listen to it at work just because that's my hobby, that's what I like doing.   (01:51) So me and my buddy Adam, the web designer, he actually came up with it, so we're going to give it a try, man. We hope you have a good time. We think we will. And there's a lot of interest out there. And by the way, we got https://HookandClaw.com go over there and check us out. You know, we got doing a Bass Taxidermy series right now actually for somebody that hadn't done any taxidermy, could follow our steps and mount your own Bass. And, it just gives you the basic step by step, having a real good time with it and getting a lot of interest in it too. So, I mean there's people out there, whether it's a grandpa's wanting to mount their grandsons fish or a dad and son wanting to spend time together and do it.   (02:42) And a lot of people been checking our videos out and we're excited about it. But as far as what I like and enjoy about taxidermy, it started when I was probably about preteen, you know, first fish or deer you kill, your going to go get it mounted and stepping into a shop near my house and seeing you know, deer bear turkey, fish on the wall as a kid, it gets you excited and, more, at least for me it did. So I always love growing up through the years, even to when I was an adult going in taxidermy, whether dropping off something, picking up something, you know, as a sportsman, it's one of your happiest days and getting to do something like that. And for me luckily, I grew up with a real good guy, personal taxidermist and he has a good heart, good guy, good Christian Guy. (03:49) So it made it even more enjoyable because this dude was just so cool and uh, did re does real good work and I'm glad to have a bunch of them. But um, anyway, that was great. I didn't really know how this, uh, what to doe or what school around what actually teach it. But luckily there was a text during my, uh, course at a community college about an hour away from where I live and um, classes where every other Saturday. Um, I think for about six or seven hours. So we really got to do a lot of hands on work during that time. And, um, for me that weekend course work for me cause there's not really, that many school was out there full time and I would say if you can't get an apprenticeship somewhere, look into it. I was um, they were really helpful to me and um, a lot of people have done that.   (04:56) But, um, basically that's what got me into it and it's taught me a lot of things. Patience taught me a lot of patience and especially trying to paint a fish, but uh, and it's taught me of it organization skills. You've got a bunch of tools, you got to keep them organized and clean and all that. I should keep my shop organized and um, but uh, basically during this podcast we're going to be talking about maybe any current events coming up or um, in taxidermy world. Don't really confined to deer fish birds or anything. Just anything that would be pretty cool. And uh, we're going to try to have a weekly taxidermy spotlight as far as local taxidermists, um, where we would have a call come in from, um, a taxidermist. Then maybe give them a couple of questions and kind of let them promote themselves and talk about what they're doing at the time being and um, uh, I think that'd be pretty fun. Anyway, the current situation I'm doing right now in my shop is right before Christmas and uh,   (06:31) I got a bunch of fleshing to do. I think I got 15 deer to practice and i on it's a lot of fleshing and um, kind of stressful. Sometimes I learn one thing with a brand new blade on my fleshing machine it will cut a hole so fast through the Cape you won't even know what happened. But anyway, I learned that the hard way. I did better with a dull blade, but that's my current situation right now in the shop. I just finished one up a nice buck for my dad actually for Christmas. He thinks I'm doing a European mount, I'm actually did a shoulder mount on one of his big bucks from a couple of years ago. I'm going to bring it up there to his house the day after Christmas in a hopefully surprise him. And it turned out real good to be my ninth deer.   (07:49) Turned out real good. I think I did improve a little bit. Every deer I've improved in, uh, which is can be kind of frustrating cause I'm trying to get these Bondo ears down and real easy to make a mess with some Bondo. Let me tell you that boys in one ear do fine. Go pour the bondo in the next year and make a big old freaking mess and anyway, they're getting better. And um, like I said, that deer turned out good. I actually did a wall pedestal and uh, with a piece of driftwood come to the side and I was kinda iffy about the driftwood, but looking at it right now, I'm staring at, it's right above me and uh, really looks good. It's actually artificial driftwood from McKinsey, but for 50 bucks, it really sets this wall pedestal out and uh, looks real good but I'm super proud of.   (08:59) Well, only thing is we got to travel four hours within the backseat of the car. So I'm just going to wrap it up with pillows and stuff. And I don't know. I hope a deer does good all the way up there. But anyway, that's what I got going for Christmas. I hope y'all are having a good Christmas holiday. And, uh, remember the reason for the season, you know, Christ Jesus. And without him we wouldn't have anything. So just remember this time of year the King was born and you know, there's only one way to have peace in life and it's through the Prince of peace and he's my hero. And, uh, I wouldn't be doing what I do now if it wasn't for him.   (09:54) So you all remember Jesus, especially this time of year, and if you enjoy what your family and, um, we're going to try to put out a one podcast every week. I think that's our goal. So we got a lot to do to prepare for this next podcast, but I'm looking forward to it and, um, go over to our website, https://HookandClaw.com Check it out.   (10:23) And I like bragging on my buddy Adam, because this guy's a real good web designer and, uh, makes my par content look really good, but, uh, he does his thing and I really appreciate it. And, uh, anyway, uh, go over there and, uh, if you like this podcast, rate it us, give us some stars so we can get on out there. We're on, uh, iTunes and Spotify and Stitcher and I'm hoping you'll subscribe so you can hopefully get this weekly podcast we're going to start sending out and, um, anyway, I think that's about it. I'm going to wrap it up. Thanks for listening guys. And, uh, hope to tune in next week.

Welcome to The Taxidermy Podcast!  This is our first Official Introduction about who we are and what to expect from this Podcast as a whole.  In the upcoming you will be introduced to Certified Taxidermist Adam Rudd who has a passion for helping others get started in their journey of this (in many ways)- rewarding craft. We are here to help answer your questions and listening to your feedback as well as we seek to improve our service to you the listener.  Be sure to head on over to https://hookandclaw.com for Free How-to Videos, Articles, Pictures and many other exciting things. Also, if you have a question and would like the chance for it to be featured right here on The Taxidermy Podcast, you can submit it by clicking the Link Here and we will do our best to answer it in the future episodes!  Just be sure to leave your name so that we can give you the credit for asking! ;-) Don't forget to Subscribe! As always, Click Subscribe if you haven't already and we look forward to seeing you right back here on the next Taxidermy episode! Thanks and Have an Awesome Day!