Wilson's Taxidermy

1. Final Shot Pro
2. Final Shot Cast
3. Netflix Tony Parker
4. Final Shot 2017

Final Shot is a powerful ranged skill that sharpens your senses and lets you fire arrows at an extremely high velocity. It also boosts the aiming speed of your ranged skills and allows you to get hit by arrows without staggering or getting knocked down. By clicking on a nearby location while holding the Shift key, you can also teleport to that location, dodging an enemy that is about to attack.

1. Taxidermy Software System Pro for Download. Taxidermist around the world. Hands Down the best software in the business. Try before you buy. There are many Taxidermy Software Programs out there but take them for a test drive and make sure you are getting the best Taxidermy Software Program money can buy.
2. As the Suns look towards the playoffs, WL and the team are revisiting the collection. The Phoenix Suns x Warren Lotas “The Final Shot” collection will be available at the Suns’ team shop on April 10, 2021, starting at 9 a.m. Take a look at the shirt and hoodie below. If you’re in the Valley of the Sun, you won’t want to miss this.
3. Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story is an American 1992 sports drama biography television film about the life of Loyola Marymount basketball player Eric 'Hank' Gathers, written for Tribune Entertainment by Fred Johnson, Don Enright and Ed Fields, and directed by Charles Braverman.

​This is the best software for a taxidermy specific business I have found. Prior to getting TSS Pro we looked at many different systems but none matched up to TSS Pro. The thing I like the most is when you have a problem any time of day or night you can call Ryan and he will actually answer his phone. No emailing and waiting for a response.

An example of this is last year I had installed an anti virus program on my computer. I did this on a Saturday night. When I went to get into my TSS Pro the following morning the anti virus had erased all my files and would not allow me to get into the program. At around 8:00am Sunday morning I called Ryan he answered and set up a shared session and after about an hour he called me back and had it fixed. He also installed a free anti virus system which I have had no problems with.

The fix was at no cost because of my yearly membership. I highly recommend the yearly subscription. If I would have bought the software outright this fix probably would have run me around $150.00. This software will also help you if fish and game shows up. I had two game wardens come to the shop this year and they were looking for a head that a customer had shot illegally. After getting the head for them, I printed off a signed copy of the disclaimer Ryan provides with the software and printed off all of the customers check in information. After one look at all the documentation and the ease that I pulled it up with they were more than satisfied and needed to look no further. If needed you can run a fish and game report and it will show all your customers license and check info for every mount you've ever put into the system.

Another benefit to the software is tax time. My wife inputs the receipts as they come in, the software breaks them down into categories and at the end of the year all that is required is to run your expense report and all payments report and that is it. It is all broke down and ready to take to your tax person. This saves me a bunch with the tax person because they don't have to organize it. The software does it for you. All you have to do is input the information and the software takes care of it. I can't really say enough about the software and most of all the customer service. Ryan is great guy to do business with. Thanks so much for your great product and service.

Brett Wilson Wilson's Taxidermy

'A couple of years ago I purchased another taxidermy software program that was compatible with my Apple computer, but it wasn't very user friendly. Before my first year with that program was even up, I decided to bite the bullet and purchase another computer and the Taxidermy Software System Pro Program that I really liked the best in the first place after researching the programs that were out there. It was absolutely the best decision. The program is extremely user friendly, keeps all my customer records very organized, is easy to print invoices, and best of all...it keeps my income and expense records organized so that I can print them out in just a few minutes when tax time comes. One more thing, the support I have received is top notch. When I first purchased the program, it was remotely installed for me, and all my questions about the program in the first weeks and months were quickly addressed and answered. And when my computer recently had problems and had to be reset, Ryan St. Louis spent over 4 hours today remotely installing it again, put all my backup information back where it needed to be, and added an antivirus and anti-malware onto my computer for me to help decrease future problems with my computer. If you are looking for a program for a taxidermy business, don't waste time as I did. Just get this one, because it is the best!'

https://jeffreynoldstaxide.wixsite.com/mounts
- J Reynolds​

​​​​​​​'As an office assistant for a taxidermy shop that takes in over 1,000 animals a year, this software is an absolute life-saver!! The reports that are automatically generated are so handy and helpful, the work orders, the invoices - I LOVE IT ALL! There were a couple things I had in mind that would be nifty features, so I sent an email to the creators, wasn't planning on hearing anything back, but I got a response from Ryan that same day, saying he'd bring up my ideas for the next update - now that is some top-of-the-line customer service! I'm so glad we utilize this software, thanks for an awesome product!'
www.wernerfamilytaxidermy.com

- V Werner

' I've been using this software for almost a year and I'm not sure how I survived without it. It keeps me organized and I have less papers floating around the shop. The tech support is outstanding! When first started with the software, I could not get the software to work properly. I called Ryan and he spent 7 hours fixing the problem. It turns out that the problem was with my computer and not the software. Anytime I have a question about the software I get a quick response and professional help. I highly recommend this software.'
www.wildlifehaventaxidermy.com

- J Herrington

'I have been using this system for the past few days. This is pretty much the best thing since the fleshing wheel. It's very simple and easy to use, but once you get into it it is a very valuable tool in itself. It has already saved me time and money. It has so many useful tools in it from ordering materials to keeping up with costs of your production and tracking your progress Thru the year with your work. I was skeptical at first but I sent an email to get the trail and the developer himself called me and spent his time with me on the phone while going thru the software and showing me the basic workings of it. Part two of this is whenever I have had a question or wanted to know how to do something or why something was or wasn't doing anything tech support is just a phone call away and you don't get an automated system. You get a real human! For $249.00 a year and all the free tech support I need this is hands down a no brainer for everyone in this business. I was spending more than that on custom invoices/year. Whether you do 20 mounts/year or 2000 I believe you could benefit from this.'
- J G.

'After this past tax season and many hours speaking with my accountant and looking for receipts and invoices, I knew it was time to invest into a software system for my taxidermy business. My needs are very specific and I'm not one to buy into a lot of needless bells and whistles. I needed a program that was user friendly easy to navigate and projected a professional appearance for my customers invoices and receipts. Taxidermy Software System Pro does just that and then some. I spoke with Ryan several times prior to the actual purchase of this software 'his customer support is second to none' He's a real person that actually answers his phone and all my questions. If your looking for a no nonsense business orientated software for your taxidermy business your search has just concluded.'

- Steve Pucko owner AJ's Taxidermy Phillipston Mass.

'I spoke with Ryan, the owner of Taxidermy Software System Pro more than two years ago. He told me about his new taxidermy software and asked me to try it. It couldn't have come at a better time. I was looking to change from a software I had been using, as they wanted to charge me $250 to simply change my address within the old software. I had moved from Gilbert Arizona to the town of Show Low Arizona, and simply wanted our new address to be shown on our invoices. Even though I had helped in the beta testing of my old software, when Windows 7 came out, I was told that didn't matter, and the charge of $250 to change my address within this software was still required. I dropped them immediately. It is then that I discovered Taxidermy Software System Pro. I gladly use Taxidermy Software System Pro in my everyday taxidermy business, and showcase it in my taxidermy school. As for my history, I am a taxidermist for more than 40 years. Tracking my business from expenditures to profits is important to me, and having a taxidermy software in which I personally can administer simple changes such those explained earlier, and therefore at no cost to me, is paramount. I highly recommend Taxidermy Software System Pro over any other available taxidermy software in the market today - Ryan, the owner, is a stand up individual and a pleasure to work with. Give his software a chance - you'll like what you see!'
- Dale Kuhlman , AZ Wildlife Creations

' I was using another Taxidermy Software Program and it was so complicated that I couldn't even find out how to track my profit not to mention the fact that it had so many buttons and options that I finally gave up and started looking for another taxidermy software program. That's when I found Taxidermy Software System Pro. I am not good with computers but after watching the video demo that Ryan made it was a no brainer. The video showed me from start to finish everything I needed to know and it was easy to understand. I am a small business and I too track every part just like Ryan does. His customer support is great! He took as much time needed to walk me through the download and setup and after talking with him on the phone I now consider him a great friend! I would recommend his software to anyone in the Taxidermy business.'

- Matthew Taylor, TX

'Just wanted to thank you not only for the software program but also for the support you have given me after the purchase of the program. The other accounting program I was using had to many bells and whistles to suit me and was also to hard to navigate. Im a bottom line type of guy and your program plus your experience in taxidermy gave me only what I needed to conduct my taxidermy business.Now for the thank you!!!! for your support!!!! Anyone thinking about getting this software let me tell you about the support that I received from Ryan. My computer had been hi-jacked or gotten a bug that resulted in me not only losing my new taxidermy program but some of my other programs. I called Ryan and told him my problem. He was able to remote access my computer to find the problems. Three and half hours later... he fixed my computer that had malware on it that I had no clue how to remove or fix, he not only had all my programs back (did not loose any of the input) but he also cleaned it up and fixed my computer to make it more secure and prevent this from this ever happening again. I asked Ryan how much I owed him; to which he replied, 'nothing'. You tell me of anyone that would spend that length of time fixing something that he had nothing to do with and not charge you something.

Thank you again Ryan!'

​- Danny carpenter

Final Shot - Release Triggers

But first, this opening tirade. I am writing this as the nation is recovering from the horrific mass murders in Las Vegas. While we might know what prompted Stephen Paddock to shoot all those people by the time you read this issue, we can hope learning that might help prevent another such massacre. Meanwhile, we can only express condolences for the victims and their families. Of course, the print and television media are clamoring for gun control (again) and while it might seem logical to assume readers of this magazine are not in favor of such legislation, the impact of Mr. Paddock’s actions might have some of you understandably teetering on the “fence.”

It’s easy for pro-gun folks like me to say gun control won’t work, but it’s better if the reasons why are provided. First, there’s the old adage that when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. It’s true because even if the government were to go as far as banning the manufacture of firearms, effectively shuttering the facilities of American manufacturers like Remington, Ruger and Smith & Wesson (just to name three well-known ones) and require all dealers to surrender their unsold inventory to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms so law-abiding United States citizens could no longer purchase additional guns, criminals would still be able to obtain them. How? By stealing yours and mine or by obtaining ones smuggled into the country. So yes, the outlaws would have guns.

The second reason gun control won’t work revolves around the fact “street drugs” are not permitted in this country. How’s that working? Obviously, given the number of drug overdoses our medical centers are treating and the frequency of drug-related arrests reported in our news media, not at all. All banning guns will do is place another thug selling guns across the street from the one pushing recreational pharmaceuticals.

Final Shot Pro

Finally, a ban on guns will impact the personal safety of our children and grandchildren. They will be the ones who cannot buy guns, so since the outlaws will have guns as well as the knowledge their prospective victims will not, our kids and their kids will be easy targets. You’ve heard the old saying about taking a knife to a gun fight — well, our successors will be doing just that.

I hope you noticed I haven’t even mentioned how such legislation would rob our children and their children of the enjoyment of hunting, target shooting and all the other shooting sports. Also, not to be overlooked is the fact qualified young people frequently receive full scholarships to colleges with shooting teams, something that obviously wouldn’t exist if there were no guns.

This incident and the resulting renewed media push for gun control legislation will replicate the impact on firearm sales that the Obama elections did. All of the above will drive everybody and their dead aunt to buy all they can just because they may not be able to in the near future. The “get ’em while you can” mentality will set in again, putting even more of those “dreaded things” in the hands of Americans, effectively setting off a huge backfire of gun ban legislation. Our son is a good example of that. He is buying the parts and pieces to assemble an AR simply because he might not be able to buy that stuff sometime in the future.

Rant over. I just wanted to get that off my chest.

Okay, Let's Release Some Triggers
What is a release trigger? It simply is a trigger that is first set (pulled and held back) and then released when the gun is to be fired. That sounds horribly confusing as it is exactly backwards from what we consider “normal” operation, but it really is not all that challenging IF your mind is “right.” My first time using a release was about 25 years ago when I bought an engraved 1986-vintage Krieghoff KS-5 trap gun that came with a release hook (more on the parts involved later) already in place. Those old guns could be changed from a pull trigger to a release trigger by simply turning an Allen® screw in the trigger. A hole in the trigger guard was even provided so that could be easily accomplished along with adjusting the pull trigger weight via a second screw. Product litigation concerns in today’s legal climate have rendered such conveniences excessively risky, so external methods of changing triggers like that no longer exist.

One night while shooting practice, I decided to give the release a try. After just five targets, I declared anyone would have to be nuts to use one. But it’s amazing what the mind can adapt to when it knows it must. When I started to flinch several years later, I had a 14 on my first trap with the release and a 24 on my second trap! Besides curing my flinch, the release also smoothed my mechanics. When you use one, you relax a muscle to fire the gun instead of tightening one, thus removing the inclination to stop the gun.

Double guns can have one or both triggers work as releases. “Double release” is the term used to describe a gun with two release triggers, while release-pull is the most common setup if just one trigger is a release. Some super-serious doubles shooters use release-pull even though they do not use release triggers for any other shotgun discipline because it is faster than pull-pull. With that latter setup, the shooter must pull and release the first trigger then pull the second one. Release-pull requires just those two movements after the first trigger is set.

“Sears” in a gun have no relation to the department store of the same name. They are the surfaces used to control the action of the trigger with regard to making the gun fire. When a firearm is cocked, two surfaces come into contact with one another with the trigger sear bearing against the firing pin or hammer sear. When you apply pressure to the trigger, sear pressure is relaxed, allowing the pin or hammer sear to disengage from the trigger sear and the pin or hammer to travel towards the primer. Converting a shotgun trigger to release requires the installation of a “hook” with a second sear that “catches” the hammer or firing pin after the first sear releases it, and holds it until the trigger is released.

The photos of a Remington 870 trigger group that have been converted to release hopefully are the pictures that speak a thousand words. One photo shows the trigger cocked and the other, the one with my wife holding the trigger back (or set), shows the trigger group after the trigger has been pulled and is being held back prior to being released.

The amount of sear engagement determines how fast the release(s) will be. That speed refers to the amount the finger pressure on the trigger must be released before the hammer or firing pin is allowed to go on its way. Stoning or filing those sears will change the speed of the release(s), and shooters have different preferences for that speed. I prefer a fast but not lightning-quick release and honestly feel anyone who can handle a slow release probably doesn’t need a release trigger in the first place. There probably is a visual reason for their flinch that can be addressed via shooter mechanics rather than trigger mechanics.

Having a trigger converted to release isn’t inexpensive, as most good trigger specialists charge about $250 and up for one trigger in a break-open gun. That may sound excessive but, remember, if something happens to cause that trigger to allow an unwanted discharge, that gunsmith could wind up as a defendant in a lawsuit. And, there can be a drawback to having a gun’s trigger(s) converted. Its resale value could be reduced unless you happen to luck into a buyer who would be having the gun converted if it wasn’t already. Otherwise, you can wind up with an expensive restoration job. Been there, done that.

Many years ago, I passed the Krieghoff Model 32 top single combo with which I enjoyed my most trapshooting success along to son Jason who at that time used pull triggers (and still does). Because of how the trigger and hammer sears were reshaped to function with the release hooks, the resulting pull triggers were horrible and borderline unsafe. That was not the fault of sloppy gunsmithing, as that conversion to double releases was performed by a former Krieghoff International gunsmith. It is just a potential result of that conversion, especially if faster releases are desired.

In order to restore the gun to good pull triggers, the hammers had to be replaced and the trigger group rebuilt. The total job, with parts, exceeded a thousand dollars and that was with me being extended a discount on the work. In fairness, Krieghoff parts aren’t cheap but regardless of the brand of the gun, the job isn’t one paid for with pocket change. So consider everything before pulling the trigger (pun intended) on a release conversion.

I’ve mentioned this several times in the past but one thing you absolutely MUST try if you start flinching is lowering your gun holdpoint because many flinches, especially those that occur with release triggers, are caused by a visual disconnect with the target. Holding lower allows your brain more time to establish that connection, without which it resists giving the “fire” command to your finger. A release trigger can be a shooting career extender, as it was for me. Always make sure you really need one first.

Ed’s Mail
Jim Kester, the president of the Library Sportsman’s Association near Pittsburgh, thanked me for the column on New York targets. His club had just received a supply of them, and he was anxious to shoot at some.

Final Shot Cast

Greg Nagurney asked for some help with powder selection for 16-gauge reloading. I was unable to offer much in the way of help but did allow a slower powder than customarily used in 12-gauge shells might be in order, as I used slower powders when I reloaded for Jason when he starting shooting at age nine with a 20 gauge.

Greg Gerou asked for advice on the purchase of a trap gun and specifically wanted information about the TriStar TT-15 DT. I told Greg while I have never shot one of those guns, the local gun shop I patronize sells them and I have handled a few. I think they are a lot of gun for the money. The biggest negative I could detect was you must possess the strength of the Incredible Hulk to open and close one until it “breaks in.” I put Greg in contact with that shop.

Netflix Tony Parker

Until next month, please keep the comments, questions and especially suggestions for column topics coming to me at eclapper19@comcast.net. SS

Final Shot 2017

Ed Clapper started shooting trap in 1974 but quit six months later due to limited ability and a sore jaw after every shoot. He tried again in 1989, but this time had friends who helped him overcome the obstacles. He liked the sport and became a student of it, attending several shooting clinics, some more than once. In 1989, he was automatically low man on the squad; in 1994, he broke his first 100-straight and won his first registered shooting trophy at the Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Fish & Game Association. His first 200-straight came in June, 2000, at Elysburg during the Pennsylvania State Shoot, where he came in third in a seven-man shoot off for the state championship, finishing as Class AA winner. He earned his 27-yard pin that July. Ed wrote for Trap & Field for many years and began writing for Shotgun Sports in 2002.