FAQ's
Where do you ship to?
We ship worldwide. Our most common destination is the U.S. but also frequently ship to many European countries and other areas across the globe.
Who handles the shipping?
We take care of all aspects of shipping, from necessary permits, customs clearances, U.S. Fish and Wildlife E-dec's and brokerage. Nothing to do on your part.
How long will it take to receive my mount?
This can vary depending on the type of animal and the type of mount but our usual turn around time is about 8-10 months.
Why does it take so long?
There are several reasons that it will take this long to have your mount completed. Most of our work comes in during the fall hunting season and it takes some time to get through all of this work. There are also several different processes that a mount will have to go through on it's way to completion, fleshing, tanning, mounting, drying and finishing to name a few. We also don't rush any mounts through without putting quality first.
How can I pay?
We accept cash, cheque, debit, and major credit cards. If you are from out of town, you can call with your credit card information.
What is forwarding?
Some of our customers have their own taxidermists that they like to deal with locally. If that is the case we can flesh and dry your hide and clean your antlers so that they can then be shipped to you or directly to your taxidermist.
What is priority service?
Our priority service offers the option to have your mount expedited with a 3 month turn around time, at additional cost. This is subject to availability as we only have so much space at a given time for this service. Payment in full is required so that we can get started on the permit process.
What is the crate charge for?
All trophies that are shipped from our studio are crated in a custom made plywood crate to ensure safe transit to their destination.
What are the additional options for a rug mount?
Your full head rug mount will include an open mouth, a single felt border of your colour choice and a neutral coloured cotton backing. You can also add an additional trim in the same or different colour, foam padding to give the rug some added texture and softness and hangers if you choose to display it on the wall.
Do you use the real skull in the mount?
No, most mounts will use a poly-urethane form in place of the skull and a plastic jaw set or cast lip assembly. We do offer cleaning and bleaching of the skull if received so that it can be displayed on a shelf or attached to a panel as a European mount.
What is a cast lip assembly?
A cast lip assembly is fairly new to the taxidermy industry. Basically the whole interior of a bear's mouth along with the teeth and lip are cast as one piece. This is the ultimate in realism and is used on most of our open mouth black bear rugs or life size mounts.
Is your work Guaranteed?
Absolutely, If you have any issues with the quality of our work just let me know and I will work with you until you are satisfied!
Can I drop off or pick up on the weekends?
Yes, I am usually available after hours and on the weekends to meet my clients needs. Please call or email ahead of times to make arrangements as I am not always available at the last minute. I have to get out fishing once in while too.
Who will I be dealing with if I call or email?
All calls and emails come through me (Trevor).
Do you mount pets?
No we do not mount pets!!!!
How long have you been a taxidermist?
I have been involved in the industry for over 25 years.
How many employees do you have?
There are four of us in the Gates Taxidermy team. My father (Jim) has been a taxidermist for over 45 years. He handles many different aspects of day to day operations including fleshing, mounting crating and general anything else that I might need accomplished on a given day (Thanks Dad!). Crystal Unrau has been involved in taxidermy for over 20 years. She heads up our rug department and handles all of our sewing and rug work. She also has a great eye for detail and is flexible enough to handle other mounting requirements along with most of our finishing work. Angel Gates ( my wife ) Has a full time job away from Gates Taxidermy but still finds enough time to help me out with all of the accounting, book work and permits. I handle all day to day operations, phone calls, emails, mounting, along with all the in shop tanning.
What do I need to bring/send to have my trophy mounted?
This answer will vary depending on a few different things. In short you should always have the original hunting tag with the trophy. If it is coming from outside of Manitoba an export permit from the originating province may be required. If it is a polar bear or grizzly bear, A Manitoba import permit will be required before it is shipped ( we can handle this on your behalf). It is always best to call or email me before hand and I can let you know about any special requirements for certain situations.
Can I come to your studio to see your work?
Yes, In fact I would suggest that you do! We are always happy to show off our work and give you a better understanding of the quality and service you will be receiving. Just give me a call or shoot me an email and I will be glad to make time for you.