If you do not find the answers to your questions below. Please do not hesitate to contact us. Call us direct or use the form to the left to send us a direct message.

1. Q: Can or should I send a photograph of my fish?
   A: If a photo is provided, our artists can look for details and special characteristics of each particular fish. They will look for a break in the common pattern and any spots or markings that are unusual will be incorporated into your trophy. Our Taxidermy artists are very talented and detail oriented resulting in a very life-like trophy fish mount. However to assist them in the process and to ensure that the final result includes everything that you may have spotted. Send us a note along with your photo and the assigned artist will ensure every detail is reproduced. Examples of common requests; "Can you make the colors more like in this picture". Or "I saw this picture on the gray Taxidermy website and I like mine to look similar..."
   
   
2. Q: How are the fish mounts hung to the wall?
   A: Each fish mount comes pre installed with a strong custom hanger. In the finishing process, each mount is balanced and sized to determine the proper hanger. For locations where wind or theft might be a concern, a special locking bracket can be requested and installed.
   
   
3. Q: How long will it take to create my fish trophy mount?
   A: Our mounts are 100% custom made and subsequently each task requires precision workmanship and must pass inspection before moving on to the next process as well as final inspection. Depending on customization and options chosen the delivery time cannot be determined prior to the order,  We do not sacrifice quality or craftsmanship for turnaround time.
   
   
4. Q: Can my fish mount be shipped?
   A: Yes - We can ship your mount anywhere you like. Matter-of-fact we take great pride and special care of the delivery of your mount. Our crate and shipping staff have built customized crates for customers from all "corners" of our globe. To us your mount is a piece of art and therefore treated as such. Each shipment is also fully insured, in case something unforeseen would happen during the delivery.
   
   
5. Q: Are there any additional shipping and crating charges added to an order?
   A: Yes there are and vary depending on final destination. Crating is an essential part of the service to ensure your trophy fish will arrive in perfect condition. At Gray Taxidermy special care is involved in creating AND delivering each and every fishmount. Smaller fish travel in boxes made of 400lbs test cardboard which proves to be the strongest and lightest material. For larger fish we build a wooden frame around your trophy fishmount and then the entire crate is wrapped with cardboard. Your fishmount is now ready for shipping. In additon all trophy mounts are shipped 100% insured on trustworthy freight carriers to provide you with the peace-of-mind and safe passage to its final destination - your home, or office, preserving your memory of a lifetime.
   
   
6. Q: What material are the fish mounts made out of?
   A: Our mounts are produced out of multiple layers of fiberglass and are surprisingly light in relation to their size.
   
   
7. Q: Is every fishmount custom made?
   A: Yes - Each order is processed individually and with the greatest attention to detail. Each mount is handcrafted to give you a personalized product and lasting memory of your catch. Based on the length, weight and type of your particular fish, we then select a matching mold which is then custom painted to be an exact representation of your specific catch and trophy fish will resemble your fish to the smallest of details.
   
   
8. Q: What do you need in order to produce a trophy mount of an actual fish?
   A: All we need is the TYPE, LENGTH and/or WEIGHT of your fish but in many cases the length enough information for us to create the reproduction. Even though a photograph can help our artists, they are optional. In addition, we like to know the location of where you caught the fish as in some cases special characteristics may be common for a fish from a certain region.
   
   
9. Q: Why is there a visible line the length of the fish that looks like a seam on the front of my mount?
   A: Every fish has what is called "lateral line". This line is picked up in the molding process and only ads to the realism of the fishmount. The lateral line connect to the brain of the fish and it is a sense organ in aquatic organisms (mainly fish). They are used to detect movement and vibration in the surrounding water. Lateral lines are in most cases visible as faint lines running lengthwise down each side from head to tail.
   
   
10. Q: What material are the eyes made of?
    A: We use glass to reproduce the eyes.
    
    
11. Q: What material are the teeth or jaws made out of?
    A: We use dental acrylic(the same as dentists use on humans) to create the jaw or teeth. In case a customer request to use the real teeth we can do so, given they where harvested properly.
    
    
12. Q: Do you use the real teeth from the fish?
    A: If a customer request to use the real teeth or jaw, and given that the fish was harvested properly without damaging the teeth or jaw, we will do so. Alternatively we will use regular dental acrylic to create a fitting jaw or set of teeth.
    
    
13. Q: From where does Taxidermy originate?
    A: The word "Taxidermy" is derived from two ancient Greek words; "taxis", which means movement; and "derma", meaning skin. Which loosely translates to "movement of skin". Today Taxidermy is a general term describing the various methods of reproducing a life-like and life-size, three-dimensional representation of an animal, that can be mounted for permanent display.
    
    
14. Q: Can you customize the mount so it can be displayed other than on a wall?
    A: Yes we can accomodate and recommend various mounting options.
    
    
15. Q: Can I hang my fishmount outdoors?
    A: Yes - Your mount will be handcrafted from materials that are resistant from the usual wear and tear from outdoor exposure such as sunlight, wind, rain, snow, etc. However we do recommend an optional coating of our protective clear coat for mounts that will be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time.