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taxidermist?

jloomis

By jloomis
in Deer Hunting-Bear-Elk-Moose

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nonteepical Experienced

nonteepical

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Investigators: Hunting Down Their Bear

Published : Sunday, 13 Dec 2009, 9:17 PM CST

MINNEAPOLIS - A family is trying to fulfill the dying wish of a 16-year-old girl. A girl from Mora, who loved to hunt. They asked law enforcement and the DNR. for help, but it took the FOX 9 Investigators to get what they desperately wanted.

Megan Engblom jumped for joy when she got her bear. It’s a moment her family will remember and will never see her do again. She died November 8, 2007.

It's tough for mom Tina to talk about her girl without tears. This is a close family that includes dad Dave and sister Sheila. They are big hunters and animal lovers.

Megan was just thirteen when she developed leukemia. During her battle she had a wish. More than anything she wanted to go bear hunting. In the fall of 2007, she was in remission so with the help of a non-profit called Kippenberg Creek Kids and Northern Wisconsin Outfitters, Megan went bear hunting. “I think it was God's way to give her the two things she wanted for years was to go to Montana and go on that bear hunt because as soon as the bear hunt was over our world changed.” Megan’s mom said.

Megan she left behind a bear pelt she wanted made into a rug for her bed. The family took it to County Line Taxidermy in Rush City, the eight hundred and twenty dollars was paid in full.

The Engbloms said the owner promised the rug would be ready by May first of 2008.

“I started calling him in May, and he was not answering his phone. The second week of June he finally answered and said I've got it back from the tanners and all I have to do is sew the backing on it. Give me a call in 3 or 4 weeks.” Tina said.

The family says they have been calling ever since. Month after month, they heard nothing but excuses. They went to County Line Taxidermy in person but owner Bruce Jovan would not answer the door for them. They tried law enforcement and the DNR but did not get their pelt back.

The parents know what Megan would do.

“She'd be down there and not leave until she got it.” Her mom said.

So the FOX 9 Investigators went to County Line Taxidermy. We didn't get an answer at the door either. But Jovan did take a call from our producer:

“We're doing a story with the Englbom family whose daughter died of leukemia. They would like their pelt back. “

Jovan agreed to come to his business and give the Engblom's their pelt back. After more than two years of waiting and listening to excuses they walked out with a frozen bear pelt in exactly the same condition as they’d dropped it off. No work had been done. Absolutely nothing.

“This is our bear that we got promised to get done at the County Line Taxidermy, we dropped it off 2 and a half years ago. It's still in the bag.”

Jovan did return the $800. He told us his wife had cancer and he was sorry. But the FOX 9 Investigators found a number of people have taken Jovan to conciliation court over the years. One guy told us he gave Jovan $500 as a down payment for work on a bear rug and elk horns. He's been trying to get his money back for 8 years. The story he says he got? Jovan himself was sick with cancer.

There is one bit of good news. A group of taxidermists has volunteered to turn the bear pelt into a rug for free. They are:

Dean O’Brien, O’Brien Taxidermy

Brett Swanson, Outback Taxidermy

Pat & Chery Grimes, Walker Taxidermy

Jerry Breth, Midwest Fur Dressing

Mike Pendzimas

Todd Bjerk

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mnbuckhunter Enthusiast

mnbuckhunter

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IMO - you get what you pay for when it comes to taxidermy work. I'd be willing to wait to get my mount (or whatever you're having done) back for quite a while if it meant I'd be getting a quality product. Remember, hopefully you'll be looking at it for the rest of your life.

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jloomis Enthusiast

jloomis

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that probably explains why i haven't got mine back yet. tried calling with no answers and i leave a message with no return calls back. next week and it will be a year. should i wait or should i just go ahead and go to the business and get my money and antler with the skin back. i was really surprise to see he still have a ad in hsolist. i hope i'm not the only one out there rite now waiting cause last year when i took mine in there was plenty there also. i just dont want to go there and have it turn out ugly...

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nonteepical Experienced

nonteepical

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most taxidermists if they have any business to speak of, take close to a a year. maybe the bad publicity with channel 9 news made him shape up, i'd show up at his studio next week and see how it's going, if it gets ugly, chicken sh!ts like him turn and run, then just stick out your foot...

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96trigger Grand Master

96trigger

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How much did you put down? After reading the article, I'd be very concerned if I had a mount there. I think I would be there, knocking on his door, and start out as polite as possible asking for my money and my mount back, if he gets mad, just try and get your mount back. You can then decided if you want to take him to court or not. If he doesn't give you your mount back, then I think I would look at taking him to court unless he can show you some sort of progress that has been, or is being made.

Start the conversation as polite as possible. Be as nice as possible. You will need to be the bigger man. If that diddn't work, then I guess I'd start getting ugly with him. If you get your stuff back, once again, I can point you to a couple of good taxidermists down here in the southeast, a little over an hour from the Metro.

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matthothand Proficient

matthothand

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I've also heard countless bad stories about county line. I highly recommend never bringing anything to a taxidermist who'll mount a deer for $279. I've seen these mounts from many taxidermists in the North Branch/Rush city area and all of them look like something I can't say on this family HSOforum. The best shoulder mount I have came out of Outback Taxidermy in North Branch and I had it on my wall within 4 months. I've tried 7 taxidermists and after seeing how quick and nice the deer, striper, fox, grouse, and walleye turned out from outback I can't honestly recommend anyone else.

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jloomis Enthusiast

jloomis

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called them today and finally got an answer. they say they are workin on the last batch from last year. call back in 3 weeks. they say they over booked themselves with heads. i guess they took in 350 heads last year and learned their lesson and for this year they are only taking 100 heads so they can stay up to date on return time. hopefully they stick to their words cause i'm calling back in 3 weeks for sure.

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leech~~ Grand Master

leech~~

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Keystone, Ive heard the same thing about them. Mind telling me what hes getting for a deer? I also heard he does his own and alot of other taxidermists tanning. You know if thats right?

MA if you need some work done send me an email I have a pretty good guy you could call.

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jdw320 Newbie

jdw320

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I used this guy last year on my 8ptr and when I was calling checking on the status, I heard the exact same stories (at the tanners, backed up, too many to do, etc...) I did get it back in 8mos, which isn't too bad, but I now feel I was one of the lucky ones. He actually did a good job but I guess only time will tell how it holds up.

After seeing the video of this story and my wife actually diagnosed with breast cancer, if this dirtbag uses cancer as an excuse just to buy time and/or sympathy, we can only hope justice is served in the end.

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