Taxidermy Training:

Six Weeks Taxidermy Training (240 Hours) Novice - Hobby Training Course Syllabus

• Capping of trophies for full mount and shoulder mount
• Preparing of skins and horns for trophy mounting
• Tanning of skins for mounting
• Mould making
• Casting of forms
• Alteration of forms
• Mounting of shoulder mount
• Mounting of full mount
• Finishing of shoulder mount
• Finishing of full mount
• Habitat making for full mount
• Novelty making
• Skull mounting

Three months advance taxidermy training (480 Hours)

With this taxidermy training you will be fully equipped to start your own business. You will have all the experience in each category and will have your own mounts to show to your potential clients in your studio.


1. Field Preparations for trophies | Taking field measurements | Plaster of Paris print of animal | Photo’s for references
2. Capping of trophies | Shoulder mount | Full mount | Birds
3. Preparing of the skin for mounting | Preparation of the skin in the veldt | Preserving of skin 
    Preparation of skull and horns | Preserving of skull and horns
4. Tanning process | Tanning of shoulder mount capes | Tanning of full mount capes | Tanning birds | Tanning of reptiles, fish
5. Sculpture of form for trophy | Sculpturing methods | Making fiberglass moulds | Cast a form | 
    Changing of existing form Animal anatomy
6. Mounting of trophy | Shoulder mount | Full mount | Finishing of trophy and after care of trophy
7. Finishing of trophy | Shoulder mount | Full mount finishing | Making of habitat and base making
8. Reproduction of horns, tusk, tongues etc | Preparation and making of form | Different methods and material used 
    Finishing of reproduction horns etc
9. Mounting of birds
10. Making of curios out of horns and bones
11. Skull mounting | European mounts | Predator skull mounts | Tusk mounts
12. Administration | Record keeping of each trophy | Costing of processes | General office book keeping | Marketing / advertising |
      Marking of trophies for identification| Measuring of trophies for Rowland ward
13. Dip and ship | Exporting of raw products and trophies | Preparation of Dip Ship trophies) 
      Law enforcement and permits | Packing, crating of trophies for export
14. Law enforcement | Cites | Ordinances | Veterinary standards 


 Examinations to qualify
 Six week taxidermy training and the 3 months taxidermt training

 During the taxidermy training examinations will be written on each module of the course – the students completed trophies will be judged by qualified judges.



For further enquiries relating to training please click on the following link info@kotoko.co.za

           End result for George (taxidermy training at Kotoko) - Blesbuck mount-  3rd place During the 6 week taxidermy training George made different mounts; Blesbuck half mount, Black backed Jackal full mount, Bronze Blesbuck skull and Redknobbed Coot  full mount.

  

Above - Student of 2009 (Paul Smith from Relive Africa Taxidermy)- 1st Prize Tasa trophy competition 2011

"From my corporate office desk and never having mounted a single animal to being the owner of an export approved taxidermy business in a year is something I woud have not deemed possible.  This short term success is argely due to the training I received during my 3 month professional taxidermy training source with Pierre, Anel and the rest of th Kotok staff.  It covered all aspects of taxidermy from skinning, mould making and from changing to finishing, export applications and curio making.  With Anel's commercial tannery also on the premises the esposure to skin treatment processes is an added bonus.  The best aspect of the training is that it is all hands on and at your pace and because it takes place in the commercial taxidermy business enviroment you get exposef to the day to day running of such a facility so you see the good and the bad.  All the staff is open with their knowledge sharing and the post course support and guidance I have reveived from Pierre has been invaluable.  I would recommend that anyone who is contemplating a career in the taxidermy field give serius consideration to doing their training with Pierre ans Kotoko, there will be no disappointment.

Again I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to Pierre, Anel, Cosi, Erna and the rest of the Kotoko staff for the wounderful 3 months I spent with them alst year; it was a dream come true for me.

Thanks again

Paul Smith"

 

Dina with her trophies after her six week taxidermy course in 2010.

Johanna Pritinheimo is from Finland.  She completed her three month course successfully in 2011.

Philip Veitch completed his three month course successfully in 2011.

          

  

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