Issues with the Artistry of Wildlife

[Royal27]

Royal and k-man are not alone. There are others like them that have been waiting for years. How many of them have not had their taxidermy done because items are lost like in royals case?

I liked Shakas post as well. I don’t know him. Did I just come out of the woodwork as you insinuated?

If you go back through all the posts Dennis has posted showing finished work, you will see that I have liked or commented on the good job he has done, so it’s not like I have something against Dennis.

Yes Dennis has had health issues but the problems of finishing work or misplacing items goes way back before any health issues came up.

I hope that everyone with delayed work or missing pieces get their property back in a timely fashion.

In full transparency Bob and I are personal friends. I liked his post real quick though not because we are friends, but because it is factual, concise, and substantiated.

This is what AH is about - sharing of information, positive and negative, so that clients and business owners can make an informed and intelligent decision.

 

[chiefdale]

I think we are missing the point of the initial post to inform members of african hunting of a valuable sponsor of this site was ill and for words of encouragement for healthy recovery and prayers for Dennis and his family. I personally think taking pot shots at an individual when they are down is somewhat rude. I do not know Dennis but some of his recommendations in the taxidermy section of african hunting have been informative and helpful. I for one have had terrible experiences with american taxidermists (no getting back fish or hogs with excuse freezer went out and lost animals and never notified or deposit returned to absolute terrible work done by highvelds on my first african trip. I like to see members stick to the nature of the post instead of what I see alot is a question from a member and next thing you see is post going in all different directions .

 

[kevin masters]

I think we are missing the point of the initial post to inform members of african hunting of a valuable sponsor of this site was ill and for words of encouragement for healthy recovery and prayers for Dennis and his family. I personally think taking pot shots at an individual when they are down is somewhat rude. I do not know Dennis but some of his recommendations in the taxidermy section of african hunting have been informative and helpful. I for one have had terrible experiences with american taxidermists (no getting back fish or hogs with excuse freezer went out and lost animals and never notified or deposit returned to absolute terrible work done by highvelds on my first african trip. I like to see members stick to the nature of the post instead of what I see alot is a question from a member and next thing you see is post going in all different directions .

I have one simple question, Do you have taxidermy with Dennis? I used this post to wish Dennis a speedy recovery months ago and I reverted to this post
When no other lines of communication worked. I have never said anything disparaging about Dennis and have nothing disparaging to say now.
My point is you may not have/do not have all the information you need to talk down to people on this subject!

 

[ChasingHemingway]

In full transparency Bob and I are personal friends. I liked his post real quick though not because we are friends, but because it is factual, concise, and substantiated.

This is what AH is about - sharing of information, positive and negative, so that clients and business owners can make an informed and intelligent decision.

Love how you brought it back to what this forum is about. That people can share their individual experiences, positive or negative, so that others can either use someone's business or not.

I see one post defending Dennis which he/she is entitled to, but then attacking others who have had a negative experience. The people who have had a negative experience and are not alone: specific to communication and timelines. This forum enables people to make an educated decision based off of people's previous and/or current experiences. Thank you AH!

 

[harden]

Please send your concerns and questions to my email. cremudgeon34@yahoo.com

 

[Royal27]

Please send your concerns and questions to my email. cremudgeon34@yahoo.com

Not sure why you can't respond to the text I sent you (nine minutes after the last text you sent me), the FB message I sent, or the post I placed here earlier, but OK, I will play.

The below will be sent to your e-mail per your request:

Dwayne sent some of my stuff to another taxidermist before he left your company as you're aware. Based on our communication the other day it turns out that he sent a honey badger and a duiker that are not mine. I'd like to send someone else's capes back to you ASAP but can't get you to respond with your shipping address so that I can do so. I'd like to get those items back to you regardless of when you're able to find the items of mine that are still lost.

In the meantime, I would appreciate it if you'd ship out the capes that you have located - civet, honey badger, bushbuck, and Vaalie. I understand that you haven't yet found the horns for my Sable, bushbuck, or Vallie.

There are also a variety of skulls that I do not know if they are missing or found. If you can give me an update there that would be great.

Candidly, I'm getting more frustrated by the minute. I want nothing from you but:

1. To get an address so I can get hides that aren't mine back to you - I obviously know what it's like to have stuff missing
2. Have my stuff out of your shop
3. Get a bill for any tanning that you paid on my stuff - will pay same day

What I've asked for should take 15 minutes of your time, tops.

 

[Royal27]

Please send your concerns and questions to my email. cremudgeon34@yahoo.com

e-mail sent

 

[K-man]

Please send your concerns and questions to my email. cremudgeon34@yahoo.com

Well. OK If you read my post I sent you an e-mail 2 weeks ago. I also can repeat it as well, I want to do everything on my part to help everything along. E-mail will be re-sent soon.
(edit) I looked back at my e-mails. May 1, June 11, June 19. No responses to any of them yet.
Still hoping all can be fixed and life can continue.

 

[tedthorn]

I was contacted about this thread and asked to share my experience.

I won't re live the past....it flippin sucked!!!!!

I will say that I'm far and away better off today for my decision to fire Dennis Harris and cut all ties with the Artistry of Wildlife Taxidermy

 

[Tanks]

He doesn't get it.

Potential customers, use him at your own peril

Based on his posts he is not taking new customers and website has been taken down. So, I don't think there will be any potential customers.

 

[wesheltonj]

Let me say my experience with Dennis was excellent. My expectation was that it would take 2 years from harvesting to hanging on my wall. And it would have taken exactly that time to the day, had Dennis crated and shipped the work. Instead it took and extra month to have Dennis personally deliver them. I have no complaints on the time line. As for communication, I received an email upon Dennis getting my shipment from Coppersmith and another when my skins were back from the fur dresser. (I was shocked at how fast Dennis had received the skins from the fur dresser, considering the turnaround time posted on their website.) At time of poses I received a text and set a time to discuss on the phone. I felt that the communications was adequate. When I hire someone, I expect them to get the work done, and I don’t need an update, unless they’re an exception that needs to be dealt with. Some folks need updates, to each is own. Based on my experience with Dennis I would certainly used him again.

 

[K-man]

Let me say my experience with Dennis was excellent. My expectation was that it would take 2 years from harvesting to hanging on my wall. And it would have taken exactly that time to the day, had Dennis crated and shipped the work. Instead it took and extra month to have Dennis personally deliver them. I have no complaints on the time line. As for communication, I received an email upon Dennis getting my shipment from Coppersmith and another when my skins were back from the fur dresser. (I was shocked at how fast Dennis had received the skins from the fur dresser, considering the turnaround time posted on their website.) At time of poses I received a text and set a time to discuss on the phone. I felt that the communications was adequate. When I hire someone, I expect them to get the work done, and I don’t need an update, unless they’re an exception that needs to be dealt with. Some folks need updates, to each is own. Based on my experience with Dennis I would certainly used him again.

That is quite good to hear, and I am glad for your experience. If I can ask, what dates would this fall around? It sounds similar to my experience several years ago.

 

[tedthorn]

Quality coming from The Artistry of Wildlife Taxidermy had come way way down in the five year "relationship" that I had dealing with Dennis Harris.

These are pics of my elk that I recieved the first week of February.

 

[BnC 04]

Quality coming from The Artistry of Wildlife Taxidermy had come way way down in the five year "relationship" that I had dealing with Dennis Harris.

These are pics of my elk that I recieved the first week of February.


View attachment 358282 View attachment 358283

Yep that wouldn't have made me happy.

 

[Tanks]

Quality coming from The Artistry of Wildlife Taxidermy had come way way down in the five year "relationship" that I had dealing with Dennis Harris.

These are pics of my elk that I recieved the first week of February.

...

What was the response when you pointed it out?

 

[tedthorn]

What was the response when you pointed it out?

I sent an Email to The Artistry of Wildlife Taxidermy after 5 years of the absolute worst communication asking for an invoice for the balance for what I owed....finished and unfinished.
I paid my bill and collected all of my property from The Artistry of Wildlife Taxidermy.
One finished elk and a box of frozen tanned capes and a box full of boiled skulls/horns

It was only after getting the elk home and hung that evening that a hunting friend pointed out the poor eye details and cracks.

I'm having a local taxidermist fix The Artistry of Wildlife Taxidermy work as I type this.

I hope anyone who moves forward has better communication and cooperation from Dennis then I did.

Decent guy to talk to until I fired him.....not a good guy after that.

 

[TravisB]

It seems strange that someone who had as much time to post up pics of their work on an Internet forum in an effort to drum up business has (had?) such a hard time finding time to respond to customer’s direct communications. It appears this was an issue before the health issues.

 

[tedthorn]

Not sure why you can't respond to the text I sent you (nine minutes after the last text you sent me), the FB message I sent, or the post I placed here earlier, but OK, I will play.

The below will be sent to your e-mail per your request:

Dwayne sent some of my stuff to another taxidermist before he left your company as you're aware. Based on our communication the other day it turns out that he sent a honey badger and a duiker that are not mine. I'd like to send someone else's capes back to you ASAP but can't get you to respond with your shipping address so that I can do so. I'd like to get those items back to you regardless of when you're able to find the items of mine that are still lost.

In the meantime, I would appreciate it if you'd ship out the capes that you have located - civet, honey badger, bushbuck, and Vaalie. I understand that you haven't yet found the horns for my Sable, bushbuck, or Vallie.

There are also a variety of skulls that I do not know if they are missing or found. If you can give me an update there that would be great.

Candidly, I'm getting more frustrated by the minute. I want nothing from you but:

1. To get an address so I can get hides that aren't mine back to you - I obviously know what it's like to have stuff missing
2. Have my stuff out of your shop
3. Get a bill for any tanning that you paid on my stuff - will pay same day

What I've asked for should take 15 minutes of your time, tops.

Good luck with this......it sounds like a fine mess

 

[johnnyblues]

Quality coming from The Artistry of Wildlife Taxidermy had come way way down in the five year "relationship" that I had dealing with Dennis Harris.

These are pics of my elk that I recieved the first week of February.


View attachment 358282 View attachment 358283

Wow! I can’t believe what I’m seeing here. This is unbelievable considering the horn that Dennis blows. I m so happy I’ve never been able to pull the trigger and send him work. I’m very very satisfied with my guy. Hopefully everyone gets their issues straightened out soon. The old saying how the mighty have tumbled.

 

[Dewald]

Rack, Try to keep my time to a year, it does run longer at times for some pieces and has sometime been shorter. My deliver time isn't perfect but my MOUNTS are. Your going to look at your trophy for 30-40-50 years. I mount all the pieces myself, quality control, Have helpers but built the business on the type of mounts I produce and I'm a perfectionist. I guarantee I'm more picky about the absolute smallest detail of your mount that you are. Tanning takes 6 months then your capes are thinly prepared painstaking re stretched over days of rehydration, to get optimum size back after the shrining salting and tanning closes he fibers down into tighter leather. I have a manager now that handles most of the phone calls and my work load now. he works a 40 hours week and so do my helpers and finisher. Happy workers make great workers . I work 80 + hours a week and have a backlog ,of yes, a year for the demand I have for my work. You can get mounts done in 90 days some places. Who's doing the work? Not the owner like here. Promise you that. If someone can't wait the year or so I'm not the guy to work with. Quality and creating the BEST MOUNT possible is number one HERE. Thanks !

So the majority of claims in the post qouted above is BS? Who would have thought...?!

As I mentioned on that thread, I truly believe badmouthing others, as the cornerstone of marketing your own business is a bad move and poor style, and I further believe it is unsustainable, and will catch up with you. Let your work and professionalism speak for itself, and good business will follow.

For obvious reasons, as a South African, I do not take kindly to the constant bashing of the entire SA taxidermy industry. Of course, and by all means criticize when indicated, and have high standards, but sounding like a broken record about our industry, whilst not having your own house in order is simply not on.

I trust that good health will follow after your extended sickbed Dennis, and that you will get better by the day, with the aid of an excellent rehab team. I hope the taxidermists you employed work out well, and that your business does great with the new team, producing top quality work like before.