Love the display, but would hate to pay the taxidermy bill. Ralph P. Stuart
A simple Google search for the term “taxidermy” will likely link to dozens of examples of poorly created animal artistry. Indeed, when done well, taxidermy is an awesome way to memorialize a trophy and a memory. When done wrong, bad taxidermy can haunt your dreams. In taxidermy, a specimen should be an exact replica of the animal as it appeared in the wild. Perhaps the finest examples of wild game taxidermy today were on display at the Safari Club International convention in Reno, Nevada. Here were some of our favorites:
A brown bear-wolf showdown on the tundra. Ralph P. StuartA lynx with a freshly caught ermine in the winter woods. Ralph P. StuartA true Mexico turkey double: a Gould’s (left) and an Ocellated gobbler. Ralph P. StuartMichigan’s Legends Taxidermy does killer diorama work on all sorts of game, but we’re partial to their bear mounts. Ralph P. StuartWoodbury Taxidermy from Ingram, Texas can both process your game and turn hide and horns into museum-quality mounts. Ralph P. StuartThe snarl only a lion hunter can love. Ralph P. StuartA “Down-Under Semi-Slam”—tahr, red stag, and chamois. Ralph P. StuartTo the uninitiated, Roan are South African antelope. Here’s the SCI World Record. Ralph P. StuartAwesome red stag and tahr from New Zealand. Ralph P. StuartCape buffalo are simply bad-asses through and through. Ralph P. StuartPhil Soucy from Libby, Montana specializes in big cat taxidermy. Ralph P. StuartA Soucy-mounted lion. Ralph P. StuartAmazing realism on another leopard. Ralph P. StuartA lion eyes its prey. Ralph P. StuartFinality on an Alaska caribou hunt. Ralph P. StuartA gator on a gar. Ralph P. StuartTundra ptarmigan surprise. Ralph P. StuartCat of fine tales. Ralph P. StuartWe don’t think that these butterflies were free. Ralph P. StuartA dog with a bone. Ralph P. StuartPeacock bass supersized. Ralph P. Stuart
