FISH REPLICA WEEKEND AND TURKEY CLASS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO WINTER SCHEDULE, ENROLL  NOW! 

                      WISCONSIN                             

WINTER 2025 4 WEEKS

BIRD COURSE -1WK JAN 13 - JAN 17

MAMMAL COURSE - 1WK JAN 20- JAN 24

DEERHEAD COURSE - 1 WK JAN 27 - JAN 31

FISH COURSE - 1WK FEB 3 - 7

FISH REPRODUCTIONS - 2 DAYS FEB 8 - FEB 9

TURKEY COURSE -1WK FEB 10 - FEB 14

SUMMER 2025 1 WEEK

EASTERN RINEHART TAXIDERMY SCHOOL - ABINGDON, VIRGINIA

JUNE 2025

DEERHEAD COURSE - 1 WK JUNE 9 - JUNE 13

WISCONSIN

SUMMER/FALL, 2025 4WEEKS

BIRD COURSE 1 WEEK AUGUST 11-15

MAMMAL COURSE - 1WEEK AUGUST 18-22

DEER COURSE - 1 WEEK AUGUST 25-29

FISH COURSE - 1 WEEK SEPTEMBER 1-5

WISCONSIN

WINTER, 2026 4 WEEKS

BIRD COURSE 1 WEEK JANUARY 5-9

MAMMAL COURSE 1 WEEK JANUARY 12-16

DEER COURSE 1 WEEK JANUARY 19-23

FISH COURSE 1 WEEK JANUARY 26-30

FISH REPLICA WEEKEND 2 DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 1

TURKEY COURSE 1 WEEK FEBRUARY 2-6

Tuition Assistance
For information regarding tuition assistance, use the site menu or click one of the logos below.

Course Offerings There are five ways to attend the Full-Time program at Dan Rinehart Taxidermy School. See the detailed descriptions below.

Northern Pike by Dan Rinehart

#1 

Professional Taxidermy Course- All 4 courses

Bird, mammal, deer head, fish- one week each. A total of four weeks comprised of 176 hours of instruction.
Saturday instruction- based on individual class needs

The full course is the most comprehensive education in taxidermy. As a full-time student, you will learn and master all the techniques of a high-quality professional taxidermist. After graduation, you will have the knowledge and credentials needed to start your own professional taxidermy studio. Full-time students have the best success ratio, so enroll today and start your future as a professional taxidermist.

#2 

Bird Taxidermy Course - One Week Course

Week one- Bird Taxidermy
44 hours total. Specimens required: Upland game bird (pheasant) & Waterfowl (mallard)
Day 1-Registration and welcome by school administrator. Review rules of conduct and equipment check. Pheasant skinning lecture and demonstration. Specimens issued and students start skinning.
Day 2-Student bird skinning, pheasant mounting lecture and demonstration.
Day 3-Review mounting procedure, student continues pheasant mounting with instructor evaluation.
Day 4-Waterfowl skinning lecture and demonstration, followed by students skinning their own waterfowl.
Day 5-Students continue mounting waterfowl. Lecture and demonstration on finishing mounts and airbrushing.
Day 6-Finishing waterfowl.

The secret of bird taxidermy is learning the proper techniques and procedures. Rinehart instructors have mounted thousands of birds and have developed techniques that are revolutionary to the taxidermy industry. Breakthrough procedures and techniques will make your bird taxidermy more accurate and efficient. Training includes all techniques from beginning to completion.

#3 

Medium Mammal Taxidermy Course - One Week Course

Week two- Medium Mammal Taxidermy
44 hours total. Specimen required: Gray fox.

Day 1-Medium mammal registration. Lecture and demonstration on skinning and fleshing. Students start skinning specimen.
Day 2-Student skinning, lecture and demonstration on fleshing and tanning.
Day 3-Lecture and demonstration on manikin preparation.
Lecture and demonstration on habitat base creation.
Lecture and demonstration on mounting the mammal.
Day 4-Students mount mammal.
Day 5-Finishing work on mammal. Instructor/student mammal evaluation. Lecture.
Day 6-Demonstration wrap-up.

Mammal taxidermy is one of the most profitable and exciting areas in taxidermy. Whether a raccoon or a Grizzly Bear, Rinehart instruction provides you with the knowledge and "hands-on" training needed to perform the highest quality mammal taxidermy. Enroll today and learn the secrets known only by the BEST taxidermists.

#4 

Deerhead Taxidermy Course - One Week Course

44 hours total. Specimen required: Whitetail deer cape and antlers

Day 1-Deer head registration followed by lecture and demonstration of skinning cape. Students begin skinning deer.
Day 2-Lecture and demonstration of tanning, students start tanning process. Lecture and demonstration on detailed fleshing techniques.
Day 3-Lecture and demonstration on mini-flesher, table flesher, different tanning methods and manikin preparation. Students then mini-flesh, tan and prep manikin.
Day 4-Lecture and demonstration of mounting deer, students begin mounting their own deer shoulder mount.
Day 5-Students continue working on their deer.
Day 6-Finishing technique lecture. Instructor/student evaluation. Students own completed mounts.

This is the BIG one! More whitetail taxidermy is performed in the United States than any other type of taxidermy. Rinehart instructors have numerous Blue Ribbons from International Taxidermy Competitions in the category of Whitetail Taxidermy. Each instructor is also know for their superior quality "professional" taxidermy. By attending this course, you will gain the professional techniques that have taken Rinehart instructors a lifetime to learn.

#5 

Fish Taxidermy Course - One Week Course

Specimens required: 1 Warmwater fish (Largemouth Bass 15” and up, Smallmouth Bass 15” and up, Walleye 22” and up). 1 Coldwater fish (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout – all trout 14” - 25”)

Week four – Fish Taxidermy
Week four - Fish skinning, scraping, mounting, and airbrushing.

Day 1-Skin and scrape two fish – skinning, cleaning and preserving fish skins.
Day 2-Mount two fish – pre-fitting manikins, mounting skins, positioning fins, filling cheeks, setting eyes.
Day 3-Airbrushing principles and coloration – Airbrush set-up. Instructor lecture and demonstration on airbrush techniques and maintenance.
Day 4-Fish finishing – Instructor lecture and demonstration on flexible fins, hanger/backboard, epoxy work and seam repair.
Day 5-Fish airbrushing – Instructor lectures and demonstrates fish airbrushing. Students airbrush fish.
Day 6-Finish airbrushing and clean-up.

Enroll in this course and receive a COMPREHENSIVE education in the field of fish taxidermy. Again, Rinehart instructors have won numerous International Taxidermy Championships in the area of fish taxidermy. This is your chance to absolutely learn from the BEST! You will learn everything from beginning to end - skinning, preserving, body carving, finishing work. Fish are excellent "money-makers" and you can get the best education at Rinehart's.