Field Herp Forum

Here in the Prescott, AZ (5,000 + elevation) area they have been spotted way into November. Same with Arizona Black rattlesnakes.



Kerby...

Sorry to hear that.



Kerby...

Six lined race runner.



Kerby...

A reproduction that I recently finished.

Mold, cast and painted by me.



Kerby...

Did this today.



Kerby...

Thanks.

Kerby...

http://www.lonesomevalleytaxidermy.com

Just click on the "ARTWORK" button on my home page.

Walking sticks are $450 and the wood carved "skins" are $300



Kerby...

Water color pencil drawing I did last year.



Kerby...

Thanks SidNeilson, but these are just for show (art work), not for practical use. Walking/hiking sticks don't last very long when used.

They are still available for sale.



Kerby...

Thanks. I know they are not anatomical correct .... unlike my reptile reproductions.



Kerby...

These are all one piece of wood. I carved them, burned in the scales and then painted them. :) Kerby... http://www.lonesomevalleytaxidermy.com/carve-17.jpg http://www.lonesomevalleytaxidermy.com/carvedskinwdb.jpg http://www.lonesomevalleytaxidermy.com/carveskin-blacktail-3.jpg http://www.lonesomeval...

I am in Chino Valley, just north of Prescott and I breed mice and can sell live pinkie mice.



Kerby...
Lonesome Valley Reptiles
http://www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com

There are a lot of other herps (lizards, etc.). Toads are common once the monsoon rains come in July. Never saw a gecko around the Prescott area.



Kerby...

I have lived in the Prescott area since 1990. Snakes that can be found in the Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley area: Ground snake Night snake Gopher snake Patch nose Desert Stripe Whipsnake Coachwhip Longnose California Kingsnake Sonoran Mountain kingsnake Wandering garter snake Black necked ...

I got the grass carp from someone who is licensed (Indiana) to sell fish from his fish farm. Cecil Baird from Indiana. I had originally molded the grass carp and then made a reproduction. One half of the 2-part mold broke. I kept the other half of the mold ..... and then 10 years later decided to po...

Screwing around with an idea, so this was a practice run. 30" grass carp.



Kerby...

Red Tail Green Ratsnake drawing that I just did using Faber-Castell water color pencils. Still going to add some rocks and vegetation.



Kerby...

Loggerhead drawing that I just completed using Faber Castell water color pencils.



Kerby...

Thanks!



Kerby...

Koi carp .... 2nd fish drawing. Water color pencils.



Kerby...

I have been doing taxidermy as a part time/hobbyist since the 70's .... so I have painted plenty of fish (skin mounts & reproductions). I just never did any flat art. Here is a cutthroat trout (reproduction) that I painted for a customer. The fish blank starts out white, then I start adding color wi...

My first fish drawing. New to this drawing stuff. Learned a lot on my first fish. Might do a carp next. I used water color pencils.



Kerby...

Freeze dry taxidermy started in the early 1970's and they still haven't fixed the shrinkage problem. I have never seen a good freeze dry reptile mount. I compete with my reptile taxidermy and freeze dry has too many issure and is sub par.

Kerby...

I live in Arizona and have only seen two in the wild. But they are pretty common. Hunters can buy a over-the-counter tag for around $20. Hunters harvest between 350 - 450 per year in Arizona and they are getting ready to make it two per year. Although most people never see one does make them rare in...

Those appear to be freeze dried taxidermy. I do skin mounts and reproduction reptile taxidermy, as well as all phases of taxidermy.

http://www.lonesomevalleytaxidermy.com/ ... allery.htm



Kerby...

Definitely drawing from reference.

My scale shapes aren't correct (smaller ones).



Kerby...

Winter time blues. Lizard head drawing that I recently completed (my first attempt). Learned a lot and will do better on my next one.



Kerby...

Sorry to hear about the bad eggs.

Kerby...

http://www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com/clutch-2014-1.jpg http://www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com/clutch-2014-2.jpg http://www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com/clutch-2014-3.jpg http://www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com/clutch-2014-4.jpg http://www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com/clutch-2014-6.jpg http://www.lonesome...

I just use ambient room temps for my snake room. For my snakes and for my egg incubation.

My snake room gets into the mid 80's during the day time and high 70's at night.

All I have now are cal kings.



Kerby...

Check out my website. The best thing is to keep the fish wet (ccoler/livewell) until it can be put into a plast bag and in the freezer. For skin mounts it does not matter if the fish is touching something, but for reproductions it helps not to have dents in it, etc... Broken fins can be repaired. I ...

All fish are painted, skin mounts and reproductions. Skin mounts dry to a gray color with some pattern showing (darker scales), and need to be painted. Old mounts that have stains were not treated properly (fleshed & degreased). On this carp I molded and casted the head, fins and gills to make some ...

When I was in Kansas in March my brother caught this 17 lb carp. It is a skin mount with a reproduction head, fins and gills.



Kerby...

:) Kerby... http://www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com/stump-1-frame-a.jpg http://www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com/stump-2-frame-b.jpg http://www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com/stump-3-frame-c.jpg http://www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com/stump-4-frame-d.jpg http://www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com/stump-5-frame-e.jp...

Kerby...

Thanks! And yes I should produce some this year.



Kerby...
Lonesome Valley Reptiles
http://www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com

Will have 20+ pairings this year. Here are a few. :) Kerby... http://www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com/2014-breed-1.jpg Light Phase Ghost x Ghost http://www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com/2014-breed-2.jpg Dark Phase Ghost x Blue-Eyed Blonde http://www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com/2014-breed-3.jpg Purple Pass...

It will be in Manhattan 28-30 March. I believe tbhe show room will be open Saturday from 1230-1300 for People's Choice voting and then open Sunday morning for the public. Four Points Sheraton. I know the fishing and metal detecting will be good and the herping might be a little early, but that is th...

Heading to Kansas next week for a week of herping, fishing, metal detecting, visiting my mom and brother .... and attending the Kansas Association of Taxidermists Convention & Competition. Taking a bobcat and this eastern diamondback rattlesnake. It was a beast. Well over 60" and 10 inches in girth....

I have no problem with it at all ..... if ....

1) It is legal

2) It is a natural diet



Kerby...

Besides herping and breeding California Kingsnakes, I also hunt & fish and have been doing taxidermy since 1974. I do all phases of taxidermy and have competed in numerous state taxidermy competitions, the National Taxidermy Association and the World Fish Carving & Taxidermy Championships. Here are ...

I see you like sawdust in your coffee!

As a taxidermist I quit taking coffee out to the shop. Too much bondo dust and foam dust and paint fumes, etc....

lol



Kerby...

I have numerous e-mails from AZ G&F about Watchable Wildlife (WW). At one time I was thinking about providing a Reptile Guide Service. In Arizona you need a fishing guide license ($300/per year) from AZ G&F to take people fishing for a fee. Same with hunting ($300/year) if you are taking people hunt...

As a taxidermist I have to make my habitat. I mold a lot of rock, mold cactus pads, etc.... Here is a reproduction California Kingsnake that I molded, casted and painted. I also molded, casted and painted the prickly pear cactus (real spines though). http://www.lonesomevalleytaxidermy.com/lvt-calkin...

I do quite a few skulls every year because of my taxidermy. I have mounted numerous monitors, etc and have just sold the raw skulls.

http://www.lonesomevalleytaxidermy.com





Kerby...

I live in Arizona and a couple of years ago I checked with the Forest Service on manzanita and they were selling permits for $5 for 2 tons and you had to buy a minimum of $20 (4 tons). And you could only pick up deadfall. I asked about cholla cactus skeletons and they said no permit needed and you c...

Laws only apply to law-abiding citizens. If one wants to poach, then that is what happens. Poaching (not just reptiles & amphibs) is actually a lot larger than you might think.

Passing gun laws only restricts law abiding gun owners....it means NOTHING to criminals.


Kerby...

**A conventional freezer in the home often reads at 15 degrees**

Then good luck keeping ice cream in that freezer. Ice cream MELTS at 15 degrees!



Kerby...

Thanks!

Kerby...

Did you take the pic of the gecko on a mirror? And with a black backround? Looks great!



Kerby...