TaxidermyXTaxidermist in Ripon, Wisconsin
Bird Zone Taxidermy is a taxidermy studio located in Ripon, Wisconsin that focuses exclusively on bird work and operates as a full‑time, federally and state licensed, fully insured shop.
Run by Jeff and Olivia Herrick on their rural Herrick Hollow property, the studio positions itself as an art‑focused, competition‑level bird shop rather than a high‑volume production operation.
They concentrate on waterfowl and upland birds with custom habitat and display design for hunters and bird enthusiasts.
The studio ONLY works on birds, including waterfowl, upland birds, turkeys, and other game and specialty birds.
They create full‑body bird mounts in flying, standing, and dead‑mount style poses with custom habitat and display options.
Jeff has pursued avian taxidermy since 2014, becoming an award‑winning, competition‑level bird taxidermist with honors such as the Breakthrough Award and Judges Choice Best of Show, while both he and Olivia remain active leaders in the Wisconsin Taxidermists Association.
They emphasize rigorous study of bird anatomy, ongoing education with world‑class bird taxidermists, and high‑detail, realistic mounts rather than fast, high‑volume production.
Bird Zone Taxidermy publishes detailed species‑specific pricing, with standard ducks around the mid‑hundreds and higher rates for larger or more complex birds and custom options, and they encourage you to confirm final quotes at drop‑off since prices can change.
Typical turnaround averages about 18 months to two years with limited yearly intake, while select birds can qualify for an expedited 90‑day completion for an additional fee and swans and sandhill cranes booked into dedicated slots are automatically completed in 90 days.
They offer custom in‑home habitat and commercial displays, restoration of existing bird mounts, professional training classes, wholesale bird work when workload allows, shipped‑in birds by arrangement, finished mounts and decor items for sale, and an online store with habitat components and branded products.
Reviewers consistently describe the bird mounts as outstanding, highly realistic, and among the best bird taxidermy they have seen, often saying the work brings birds back to life and exceeds expectations.
Customers praise the service as fantastic, honest, and educational, noting responsive phone communication, clear explanations of bird condition, and helpful guidance on poses and preparation, with many planning to use Bird Zone exclusively in the future.
Reviews highlight reliable, on‑time completion and “great” or “pretty quick” turnaround relative to expectations, with no recurring complaints about delays and some comments that pricing feels fair for the quality.
The studio operates from a dedicated building on a rural property near the southwest tip of Winnebago County north of Ripon, Wisconsin, and serves hunters and bird clients locally and beyond, including shipped birds by prior arrangement.
All drop‑offs and pickups are by appointment only, so you should call ahead, be prepared for limited cell reception on site, and monitor their Facebook page for updates on when they are accepting new work.
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