Van Dyke's: The Honest Supplier Story
Van Dyke's Taxidermy Supply has been around since 1949—longer than most hunters have been alive. They're not the biggest supplier (McKenzie holds that title), but they've built a loyal following through honest pricing, exceptional customer service, and a genuine commitment to customer success. For more details, see our McKenzie comparison.
This review covers company history, their actual product range, and where they genuinely deliver value versus where competitors might be better.
Company History: 75 Years of Family Business
Founded in 1949, Van Dyke's has been family-owned and operated since the beginning. They're based in South Dakota and have maintained a regional focus while still serving nationwide customers.
The acquisition that didn't happen: When McKenzie acquired much of the taxidermy supply industry, Van Dyke's remained independent. This independence preserved their company culture and customer-first philosophy.
Why this matters: Independent means their decisions aren't driven by shareholder pressure or corporate efficiency mandates. They can afford to spend time with customers and customize orders because they're not beholden to margin requirements.
What changed over 75 years: They expanded their product line, modernized their operations, and built reliable shipping systems. But their fundamental philosophy stayed the same: help taxidermists succeed.
Product Range: Curated Over Comprehensive
Foam Forms
Van Dyke's carries a solid selection of quality forms from multiple manufacturers. Not as exhaustive as McKenzie's inventory, but covers common species comprehensively.
Specialty strength: Small mammals, rodents, and less common species are consistently available. Larger suppliers sometimes deprioritize these, but Van Dyke's keeps them stocked.
Pricing: $80–$120 for whitetail forms (10–15% cheaper than McKenzie). Quality is comparable to what McKenzie offers at their price point.
Availability: If something's not in stock, their supplier relationships allow special orders within 5–10 business days at reasonable prices.
Glass Eyes
Van Dyke's carries a diverse selection from Tohickon, Paas-Bergen, and other quality manufacturers. Less extensive than McKenzie's thousands of options, but adequate for most applications.
Strength: Willingness to special-order unusual colors or sizes. They don't penalize you for requesting something outside stock.
Pricing: $6–$12 per quality pair. Slightly cheaper than McKenzie across the board.
Ear Liners and Components
Standard inventory covers most species adequately. Custom or exotic options may require special ordering.
Strength: When they don't have what you need, they help you source it rather than just saying "out of stock."
Adhesives and Chemicals
Van Dyke's carries both proprietary and brand-name adhesives. Their selection is smaller than McKenzie's but includes all the essentials.
Pricing: $15–$20 for foam-safe adhesives (cheaper than McKenzie's $20).
Tools
Curated tool selections emphasizing value. Beginner kits are exceptionally good value at $60–$100. Professional options available at $150–$250. For more details, see our tools overview.
Philosophy: They avoid overwhelming customers with excessive choices. You get good options, not 47 varieties of the same tool.
Bases and Display Hardware
Practical selection of plaques and hardware. Quality is solid. Pricing is fair. Not the most elaborate options, but adequate and well-priced.
Pricing Strategy: Value Without Sacrifice
Direct comparison (whitetail deer shoulder mount):
- Form: Van Dyke's $80–$110 vs. McKenzie $95–$130
- Eyes (quality): Van Dyke's $6–$12 vs. McKenzie $10–$18
- Foam adhesive: Van Dyke's $15–$18 vs. McKenzie $20
- Ear liners: Van Dyke's $8–$15 vs. McKenzie $10–$20
- Beginner kit: Van Dyke's $80–$120 vs. McKenzie $100–$150
The cumulative effect: Buying a complete kit from Van Dyke's costs 15–25% less than McKenzie for equivalent quality. This isn't rock-bottom pricing—it's fair pricing.
Customer Service: The Real Differentiator
Van Dyke's legendary customer service reputation is justified. Their approach is fundamentally different from larger suppliers.
What you experience:
- Phone consultation where staff actually listen to your project and goals
- Personalized recommendations based on your specific needs, not upselling
- Patient answers to beginner questions (no question is too basic)
- Fast problem resolution and generous returns
- Follow-up contact checking on your project success
- Willingness to special-order items without penalty
- Community focus that emphasizes mentorship over transaction volume
Real example: Call Van Dyke's and describe your first shoulder mount project. Their team spends 15–20 minutes understanding your goals, your skill level, and your budget. They recommend a specific kit and maybe suggest skipping certain premium options because you don't need them yet. You leave the call feeling confident rather than overwhelmed.
Contrast with McKenzie: McKenzie's support is expert and helpful, but transactional. Van Dyke's feels like working with mentors.
Quality Assessment: Honest and Consistent
Van Dyke's carefully curates their product offerings rather than stocking everything. This actually improves quality control—they exercise oversight rather than depending on massive volume. For more details, see our complete supplies guide.
Quality consistency: Forms don't have dimensional inaccuracies. Eyes maintain clarity and color saturation. Adhesives perform reliably. Customer complaints about quality are rare.
The trade-off: Smaller inventory means sometimes waiting for special orders. But what they stock is vetted.
Shipping and Processing
Processing speed: 2–3 business days. Faster than most competitors including McKenzie. Small team advantage—they move quickly without bureaucratic delays.
Shipping rates: Competitive with industry standards. Free shipping on orders over $150 (similar to McKenzie).
Reliability: Orders arrive on time in good condition. Problems are exceptional.
What Van Dyke's Does Best
- Fair pricing without feeling cheap or compromised
- Exceptional customer service from people who genuinely care about your success
- Fast processing and shipping despite smaller size
- Quality products in commonly-needed categories
- Beginner-friendly approach with patient guidance
- Willingness to special-order without penalty
- Community focus and educational content
- Personal relationships with long-time customers
Van Dyke's Limitations (Be Honest)
- Smaller inventory than McKenzie (may require special ordering for unusual species)
- Limited selection of specialty or exotic species materials
- Fewer eye color/style options than McKenzie's massive range
- Less emphasis on premium/ultra-high-end products
- Website is functional but less sophisticated than modern retailers
- Printed catalogs can't keep pace with online competitors
- No physical store locations (phone/mail order only)
Comparison to Major Competitors
Van Dyke's vs. McKenzie
McKenzie offers broader selection and slightly more premium options. Van Dyke's offers better pricing and superior customer service. McKenzie is better for rare species or premium materials. Van Dyke's is better for most standard projects and value-conscious hunters.
The honest truth: Van Dyke's is the better choice for 70% of hunters. McKenzie is better if you need their specific breadth.
Van Dyke's vs. Artworks Studios
Artworks emphasizes budget pricing and beginner focus. Van Dyke's offers better quality at slightly higher prices. For absolute lowest cost, Artworks wins. For quality and support balance, Van Dyke's wins.
Van Dyke's vs. Specialty Retailers
Specialty retailers excel in specific domains (eyes, specific forms). Van Dyke's is your one-stop solution for balanced quality and value.
Real Customer Feedback
Van Dyke's consistently receives praise for:
- Personal attention and helpful guidance
- Fair pricing without sacrificing quality
- Fast, reliable service
- Beginner-friendly approach
- Loyalty—customers stick with Van Dyke's for decades
Rare complaints: Sometimes wait for special orders, smaller inventory selection.
Ideal Customer Profile for Van Dyke's
Perfect fit:
- Beginner and intermediate hobbyists seeking guidance
- Small professional shops wanting reliable relationships
- Budget-conscious hunters unwilling to sacrifice quality
- Customers valuing personalized service
- Anyone appreciating family-owned business support
- Hunters with standard projects (whitetail, common species)
Less ideal:
- Hunters needing exotic or rare species materials
- Professional shops with massive volume needs
- Price-shopping minimalists (though Van Dyke's is still competitive)
- Specialists requiring every variant of a category
Getting Started with Van Dyke's
First-time customers should call directly and explain their project. Their team spends time understanding your needs and recommends an appropriate kit. This approach dramatically improves success rates and satisfaction.
Their beginner kits are recommended throughout the taxidermy community as the best starting point for learning.
Value Proposition: The Real Story
Van Dyke's doesn't offer the lowest price (Artworks might beat them on budget items). They don't offer the broadest selection (McKenzie does). But they offer the best combination of fair pricing, quality products, expert guidance, and personal service.
For most hunters, this combination represents the best value even if not the absolute lowest price tag.
Final Take
Van Dyke's represents the ideal middle ground: quality products at fair prices with exceptional personal service. They're not the biggest, not the cheapest, but they're genuinely the best choice for most practicing taxidermists.
Their 75-year history isn't nostalgia—it's evidence of consistent quality and customer satisfaction. Their willingness to remain independent speaks to their commitment to their philosophy over profit maximization.
For beginning through intermediate hobbyists and small professional shops, Van Dyke's is the preferred supplier. They've earned that position through relentless focus on customer success.
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