Kindred Spirits School of Taxidermy is:

* Dedicated to bringing out the students' full creative potential, helping you to reach your goals.

* We offer small classes, We have two full time teachers and two part time teachers. We only take three full time students and two part time students per session. That is the most one on one available out there for a open entry /open exit course curriculum. We begin at 8 am and work till 6pm. The second string comes in at 6 pm and works till 10 pm. The taxidermists work on their mounts and teach you right along side .

* We offer the latest and best techniques, stressing perfection and quality rather than speed.

* You have choices: 10 week, 8 week, 4 week and 2 week mini-courses, catering to the students individual needs.All are

   priced at just $1,500 per 2 week session.

* Follow up support and guidance, we specialize in the fact that we are there for you after the paycheck is cashed.

* You mount MORE specimens in the time allotted. In our gamehead class you finish two gameheads and have another

   two ready to mount when you get home.  We have had students even mount three in two weeks. And we do not auto tan.

*Bonded and approved for Federal and State Program funding.

 Jack Tennant , of WOODS TO WALLS  Taxidermy has completed the 10 week

taxidermy course and we are glad to say that Jack was very satisfied with his training.

Yellow Cat Fiberglas Reproduction

Jackson as we call him, with some of his mounts.

Jack mounted 3 deer,3 pheasants,6 migratory waterfowl,

6 fish , lifesize bear,bobcat shoulder ,fox rug,grizzly rug,

lifesize fawn,and a strutting turkey. You can reach him at

319-750-6118. Update, Jack is now as busy as ever,

mounting deer and loving it.

Jacolynn Metcalf, of Salem , Ia. helped us through the summer months,

 while Carey was in Alaska. She had graduated back in May and was

 a great help around here. We mounted the rest of the African mounts

 and She began taking customers mounts at that time, her husband

Mike was building their shop off Hwy 218, Look for Jacolyn's mounts

 and talk with her

at 319-9865355 or 319-931-4675 She and Mike are going to be offering

commercial tanning for local taxidermists and trappers also.

We invite you to contact past students. They do the selling job on our school for us.

Watch for this duo , these two, father and son, Sam and Rob Funk, just completed

the gamehead course and will tell you that ,"best $ investment ever in our futures".

"wonderful experience", "highly recommend that you check this training out".

You can contact us at:   217-428-3692, Decatur, Illinois. or email us at

sfunk@insightbb.com

Vickie Wright, Straight Shooters Taxidermy, Toma, Wisconsin,

 is taking in the work, wow, open for 2 weeks and already 19 gameheads

and 12 fish, coyotes and bears, turkeys and more. She will be a great

taxidermists also. You can talk to her about her experience at Kindred Spirits.

Update: We just went to the Wisconsin Deer and Turkey Classic and Vickie

had mounted the second largest whitetail taken in Wisconsin and it was on

display in our booth. Vickie talked with many prospective students and

told us that she got to mount over 25 whitetails in her first year. She is a

full time taxidermist and is also mounting fish, mammals and birds and

turkeys. Call Vickie, her work is going to be heard about in the future.

 608-372-3615.She mounted

 some awesome mounts for her showroom.

Robert Pinnow, River's Edge Taxidermy, Bettendorf, Iowa. He has done

some of the most creative habitat work,

and his badger rug, and deer. 563-386-9577

Fantastic job Rob, good luck to you.

Todd Keithly, of Troy, Missouri, Wild Things Taxidermy is up and running,

 already 12 shoulder mounts in house at the middle of bow season. Todd is

doing turkeys, birds, and gameheads. His dad, Jim Keithly has completed the

fish course and the two of them can get it done right for you. You can reach

him at Wild Things Taxidermy , 636-262-6681

Update: Todd has taken in over 40 whitetails to mount so far his first year.

And doing a fine job. He recently sat with

us at the Missouri Deer and Turkey Classic, telling people that just a year

ago he was standing right where they were

asking about us and now he is doing it.

Ryan Bridson, Bridson's Taxidermy is also up and running, you can find Ryan

and his fine gamehead work at Elmwood, Illinois, 309-253-3922. He and Todd

were quite a pair to work with as you can probably tell from the photo below. Update: Ryan is doing

awesome work and mounting 12 his first year, plus alot of european mounts too.

He is presently attending the Lifesize Mammal course mounting a

red fox and a bobcat lifesize and a badger rug and a coyote howling shoulder.

We strive to always teach with patience and an understanding that often how well a student does when they leave the school depends on the learning experience that they had in the school. I have taught art for 33 years and been a taxidermist for going on 16 years. We will make every effort to present the best instruction and techniques in all phases of this ever changing field of wildlife art. We feel very fortunate to have discovered taxidermy as a final career and hope that our enthusiam spills over into the classroom every day.  We want our students to leave with the confidence and knowledge that it takes to have a chance to make it out there in the business world. We believe that the finished product is only as good as the method and materials used in the process from the beginning.

 We feel that this give each student a better chance to have more one on one time.  Attending our school allows you to mount what you want to mount. Each student might be mounting say, a different gamehead during the same class. Example: You might be mounting a whitetail shoulder and the other students might be mounting an antelope and an aoudad . In the lifesize class, one student might be mounting a bobcat, another a coyote, another a racoon. You get to learn not only what you are doing but are observing and learning other information at the same time. Why should you loose out , do what you want to do. You make the decisions/choices depending on what specimens you bring or want to purchase. It just makes more sense to expose yourself to the most information as you possibly can for the money.

Carey Owens is beginning his fifth year with me teaching and working as a taxidermist 9 months out of the years , while he is not working in Alaska during the summer months. Carey is a Fish , Bird and Gamehead specialist. Last year he mounted 71 birds for customers and also assistant taught with me part time. Please contact our past students, find out for your self what they think.

Chris Wagenblast mounted this open mouth deer in his two week, $1,500 gamehead course, and another deer closed mouth. Ask him if he was happy with the training that he received.

Trophy Ridge Taxidermy, Carrolton, Ill.

217-942-5156 

Recent Graduates are opening up their new shops,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,here are a few:

Ryan Fernandes,,,,,,,,,,,Prairie Land Taxidermy

Jacksonville, Illinois. Ryan is glad that he made us his choice.

You can contact Ryan at his taxidermy studio

217-243-6778

I  have been a wildlife artist and teacher of art for about 37 years. I began my taxidermy career in 1992 and went to Storey's School of Taxidermy in April of 1993. I began Kindred Spirits Taxidermy in October of 1993. I had suffered a spinal injury and Vocational Rehabililitation and Job Training Partnership financed my schooling. The Iowa Department of Economic Development helped me with a small business loan and I started in a one car garage in Burlington, Ia.

After I moved my business to West Burlington Iowa, I began training students to help me and they left to open up their successful taxidermy businesses. I have been teaching taxidermy since 2000 and opened up the taxidermy school finally in 2001. I recently built on an addition , walk in freezer and expanded the classroom . The tanning bed was designed by my brother David Missavage of Monmouth, Illinois. He and my friends have helped me alot over the years. Thank you very much for all you have done.

In the spring of 2000 , I was fortunate enough to have Jim Kimball come and work with me for two months, helping me get caught up with my bird work after a total right hip replacement. Jim taught me alot and it was here that he worked on his double flying pheasant mount that he took to the Nationals and won Blues on. Thank you to the great vendors that over the past years have helped keep me supplied with the latest and best supplies on the market. Van Dykes Taxidermy Supply Company, WASCO Supply Company, McKenzie Taxidermy Supply Company, Research Mannikins, Joe Coombs Taxidermy Supply, Jonas Supply Company, Noonkester Supply Company, Walnut Creek, New Wave Taxidermy Supply Company. Thanks Alot. JoAnn p.s. There is a sign over the door as you enter the classroom. It reads, "Caution, Adults at serious play!!!!!"Come join us. Let us help you make your dreams come true!

    Thank you for your visit to our website. If you have any further questions you may feel free to contact us at the following email address or phone us at the school. JoAnn Hayhoe

Kndsprt110@aol.com                        319-753-0929-------------or 319-759-1045                                                      or write to us at the following address:        Kindred Spirits School of Taxidermy

                                                                  110 N. Gear Ave. , West Burlington, Iowa 52655

Toni Staats            319-753-6465----------or 319-759-2323

Carey Owens        319-572-2909

http://www.taxidermy.net     Best taxidermy site around.

http://www.taxidermy.com   WASCO , Wildlife Artist Supply Company.

http://www.vandykestaxidermy.com VanDykes Taxidermy Supply Company.

http://www.rmi-online.com Research Mannikins,inc.

http://www.mckenziesp.com McKenzie Taxidermy Supply Company.

http://www.joecoombs.com Joe Coombs Classics,Inc.

http://www.walnutcreekhardwood.com Walnut Creek Hardwood,Inc.

http://www.trapperman.com Trapper Man website                              

A list of schools offering instruction for your taxidermy needs can be found on taxidermy.net along with websites for suppliers and other taxidermists. There is a forum where you can access ForSale, Wanted, and other information about taxidermy . Check it out.....