Quality is
number one.
John dreamed of doing taxidermy and book-studied the craft from the time he was a teenager, but never found an avenue to truly learn it. Later in life, he taught himself.
North 40 started in 2015 taking in deer for European mounts. That work paid for equipment and more education, and around 2021 the shop began taking in hide mounts.
Setting expectations
North 40 is still part time. John has a day job that can compete for time during the day, but most times we can work around it. Texts are answered as soon as possible, usually within the hour. Calls may have to wait for a callback.
There's no pretty showroom. Most of the work happens in an old house and an unfinished basement, and sometimes we may meet at the tailgate of John's truck at another location. None of that changes the standard every mount is held to.
The two tiers
Premium mounts are processed in-house from start to finish. Basic hides may go to an outside tannery, and that's the difference in turnaround. The finish work is the same either way.
What we take in
Right now, deer and turkeys only. Appointment only, so no walk-ins.