Taxidermist Notes on iPhone: Specimen Measurements, Tanning Formulas & Client Commission Records

Taxidermy demands precision across biology, chemistry, and artistry. A poorly documented tanning batch or forgotten ear liner measurement means remounting — expensive in both time and materials. Nemos gives taxidermists a single place to capture workflow notes without hauling a notebook into the fleshing room.

Why Taxidermists Need Better Notes

Every mount is a unique project with dozens of variables: species anatomy, hide thickness, reference photo requirements, form selection, ear liner type, eye size and color, habitat base design, client preferences. Most taxidermists manage this across memory, sticky notes, and phone photos — a system that breaks down at volume.

A professional studio handling 50–100 mounts per season needs documentation that scales.

What to Capture in Nemos

Intake Measurements Log measurements at intake before the cape freezes or deteriorates: - Nose tip to eye center distance - Eye to ear base measurement - Lip line length - Neck circumference at base and throat - Body length for full mounts

Tag the note with the client name and species so measurements resurface when you pull the cape from the freezer weeks later.

Tanning Formula Records Different hides require different chemistry. A whitetail deer tanned with the same formula as a black bear will fail. Document: - Pickle recipe (acid type, ratio, pH target) - Pickle duration and temperature - Neutralization formula and timing - Tanning agent used (DP, LT, synthetic) - Oil type and application method - Drying time and humidity conditions

When a hide comes out perfectly, you want that batch recipe documented exactly.

Form and Supplier Notes Ear liners from one supplier fit differently than another brand. Document form catalog numbers, adjustments made (shims, ear backing relief), and supplier preferences by species. Next season, those notes save hours of trial and error.

Client Commission Details Capture client expectations at intake: habitat preferences, mount pose, wall panel color, eye color preference, delivery timeline. A quick Nemos note during the intake conversation prevents surprises at pickup.

Reference Anatomy Notes Field dressing a turkey in good light is the time to photograph and note wattle color, spur length, fan spread. Nemos lets you attach voice memos mid-field if hands are busy.

Building a Mount Workflow Template

Create a repeatable note template:

``` Species: Client: Intake date: Measurements: [nose-eye / eye-ear / lip line / neck] Form ordered: Pickle formula + date in: Tan formula + date in: Assembly date: Client pickup: Notes: ```

Duplicate this for each new commission. The consistency makes invoicing and scheduling easier too.

Organizing by Season

Tag notes by hunting season (e.g., "2024 Whitetail Season") so you can quickly review all active commissions for a given intake period. At season close, those notes become your production records — useful for ordering supplies the following year based on actual volume by species.

Chemistry Safety Notes

Keep a pinned Nemos note with MSDS references for your tanning chemicals — acid neutralization procedures, proper disposal methods, ventilation requirements. When an apprentice asks what to do with a pickling bath, the answer is one tap away.

FAQ

Can I use Nemos offline in the shop? Yes. Nemos works fully offline. Notes sync to iCloud when you're back on WiFi — useful if your fleshing room has poor signal.

How do I handle confidential client information? Keep notes general enough to be useful without storing private client data you wouldn't want shared. "Archery buck, 9-point, standard shoulder mount" is sufficient context.

Can I attach reference photos to notes? Yes. Attach photos of reference specimens, client-provided photos, or anatomy guides directly to the relevant mount note.

What if I work across multiple species simultaneously? Create a note per active mount. Use tags or titled folders to group by species type or delivery date. Nemos handles parallel projects cleanly.

Is there a way to track commissions across years? Yes — tag notes by season year. Searching "2023 season" resurfaces all mounts from that intake period.

How is Nemos better than a paper ledger? Search. A paper ledger requires knowing which page to check. Nemos finds any note — by species, client descriptor, formula name — instantly.

Related Reading

• /blog/leather-craftsperson-notes-iphone — overlapping chemical documentation workflows
• /blog/furrier-notes-iphone — fur preservation notes and client intake
• /blog/quality-control-inspector-notes-iphone — systematic inspection documentation patterns
• /blog/safety-officer-notes-iphone — chemical handling and safety reference notes

Sources

• Taxidermy tanning chemistry documentation: National Taxidermists Association technical guidelines
• Hide measurement standards: reference practices from professional taxidermy certification programs

Download Nemos free on the App Store.