TaxidermyXTreadwell Custom Taxidermy of MN
Taxidermist in Maple Lake, Minnesota
Big Game
Fish
Birds
Small Game
ExoticAbout Treadwell Custom Taxidermy of MN
Treadwell Custom Taxidermy of MN is a taxidermy studio located in Maple Lake, Minnesota, run as a full-time professional shop for passionate outdoor enthusiasts.
Owner and artist David Treadwell focuses on custom-crafted work that emphasizes lifelike realism, attention to detail, and a “living expression” in every piece.
The studio operates on a fully custom, one-at-a-time basis rather than mass production, with hides tanned off-site by professional partners.
Animal Mount Types
big game
- • Life size deer
- • Antelope
- • Moose
- • Elk
- • Mountain lion
- • Whitetail deer
fish
birds
- • Ducks
- • Pheasants
- • Canadian geese
- • Snows geese
- • Blue geese
- • Specklebelly geese
small game
- • Fox
- • Bobcat
- • Coyote
exotic
Animal Mount Details
They work on a wide range of big game, small game, birds, and fish, including African, exotic, and North American species.
Available mount styles include shoulder mounts, life-size and full-body mounts, bird mounts, game head mounts, bear rugs, and other custom configurations.
David Treadwell has been a full-time taxidermist since 1980 and brings decades of hands-on experience and wildlife knowledge to each project.
The studio highlights meticulous detail, natural poses, and individualized designs so no two mounts are identical, with photos offered only as close representations.
Pricing & Turnaround
They publish a detailed 2025 price list with per-piece pricing—such as bear rugs at $350 per foot, lifesize bears at $950 per foot, deer shoulder mounts at $950, life-size deer at $3,000–$5,000, lifesize predators like fox, bobcat, and coyote at around $1,200–$1,500, and popular fish and bird work like panfish at $375, bass at $450, ducks at $475, pheasant and grouse at $475, and Canadian geese at $900—while asking you to call to confirm current prices, especially for African and exotic work.
They do not guarantee completion times and note that tanning delays since 2020 can cause long waits, so turnaround can range from very quick to extended, with customers contacted if anything is needed or when a mount is finished.
What Customers Say
Reviewers largely describe the mounts as top-quality, realistic, and highly detailed across fish, deer, and birds, with many saying the work looks alive and ranks among the best they have seen, though one review rates the quality as only average.
Most customers find Dave and his wife personable, helpful, and willing to explain the process or arrange convenient handoffs, but at least one reviewer reports very poor communication and unanswered calls.
Turnaround is often praised as quick—even under a month in some cases—yet reviews and the studio itself stress that waits can also be very long due to tanning and supply issues, so reliability on timing is mixed despite overall positive satisfaction with finished work and value.
Find Out More
The studio is located in Maple Lake, Minnesota, near Buffalo and about an hour west of the Twin Cities, serving hunters and anglers from this broader region.
You can call or text Dave for the fastest response, check their Facebook page for updates and pricing, and reach out directly to discuss your specific animal, mount style, and current availability.
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