Timberland Taxidermy

04/11/2024

Most of the birds we get to work on as taxidermists are in rough shape. This one was an exception. Such a pretty specimen. They are fun to do when they're this nice.

04/05/2024

These are beautiful animals. This is a Sable from South Africa. It's fun getting to work with animals from all over the globe. This particular client was looking for a unique piece for his home, so we altered a standard shoulder manikin to a one-of-a-kind sweeping wall pedestal with a head tipped down a bit to show off his magnificent horns.

03/01/2024

We did this one a while back, but I never got any pics posted of her. When it comes to moose mounts we don't do many cows, but she looked pretty cool on the wall. I can totally see why they wanted her done.

02/27/2024

This blue goose was just finished up for one of our clients. I love the contrast in the wing and tail feathers. Such a cool bird.

02/22/2024

This pig fatty of a pike was fun to do. I enjoy painting reproduction fish like this as much as anything I do in the shop. While I offer skin mounts as well, I feel reproductions are the way to go when preserving that catch of a lifetime. Zero shrinkage. Zero chance of "grease bleed". Beautiful color and just as realistic when finished correctly.

02/19/2024

Just finished up this cute little fella. This guy was harvested in Maine by a local client. Bears can make really cool mounts. I'm happy with how this one turned out.

01/30/2024

It was only a matter of time before this pack mount fad made it's way to Timberland Taxidermy. This was one of two black bears harvested in Maine by a husband and wife. They both chose similar mounts to display in their home together. I've seen lots of different directions other taxidermists have went when it comes to accessorizing pack mounts. I decided for these I would just keep it clean and simple.

01/26/2024

This waterbuck was harvested in South Africa by a local client. We did some alterations in the shop and converted it to a wall pedestal, then finished it off with the continent of Africa in stone on the back. Waterbucks are one of the animals in Africa that actually have some hair, which makes them much more fun to work with.

01/23/2024

Moose are one of my favorite big game animals. That would explain why I chose a bull moose for my logo so many years ago. They are so beautiful, yet so ugly all at the same time. It would be a dream come true to bowhunt one of these majestic creatures.

01/19/2024

The Gemsbok Oryx is one of my favorites. Originating in Africa, there is now a wild population of them in New Mexico, and can be hunted on the White Sands Missile Range. The tags are distributed by lottery, and it is a difficult tag to draw. Should you be fortunate enough to draw the tag, it is a once in a lifetime license. You cannot enter the lottery again. This Oryx is one of those rare animals, and I was honored to preserve it for a good client.

01/16/2024

This Giraffe was just finished up for a client here in MO. This was quite a job, as we completely altered the original manikin to a pose chosen by the client. Lots of work, and lots of sewing. I sure hope he has tall ceilings.

01/12/2024

Black Death
This big bull Cape Buffalo had so much character. Just looking at him and seeing his scars leaves me to imagine the life those bovine creatures live on the African continent. They really are incredible animals. Good luck to everyone, and have a great 2024!

12/26/2023

I don't know that I'll ever make it to Africa, but if I did one of these would be at the top of my bucket list. On a continent full of amazing animals, I think Zebras are one of the coolest. It was a fun piece to work on, and I'm thankful the client trusted us to do it.

12/21/2023

This was a cool project that went home this week. Finally getting a lot of the bigger projects finished up and out of the shop. It'll be nice when we can move around again. LOL

12/15/2023

While Aoudad are somewhat rare in their native habitat of Northern Africa, their introduction to the SW United States has been quite successful, and there is a free range population of them in parts of TX and NM. This beautiful sheep is a favorite among hunters looking for exotics a little closer to home.

11/23/2023

I’m thankful for my taxidermy family. I’ve gained lifelong friends in this industry. I’m thankful for my loyal and very patient clients that keep me overworked year after year. I’m thankful for everyone that took the time to teach me through judging and seminars, and I’m happy to do the same for others. Most of all I’m thankful for my family for putting up with the blood, ticks, and long hours all these years. Now let’s eat!

Happy Thanksgiving 2023 and may we present the...
National Turkey Champ!!

11/10/2023

Please share this!

If you get a deer this weekend and are required to report it at a CWD check station, you must tell them you’re getting it mounted or they will ruin your cape.

11/10/2023

There are lots of choices when it comes to mounting a deer head. Prices and quality vary greatly from shop to shop. Only one of those options has won hundreds of awards, including 17 State Championships, 4 National Championships, a North American Championship and is a member of the MO Taxidermist Hall of Fame. For over 23 years I’ve been capturing memories for hunters with the highest quality taxidermy available. How much do you value your memories?

Good luck to everyone this fall, and please BE SAFE!

11/03/2023

It's officially November, which is the month a lot of us wait for all year. The deer will be going bonkers for the next 30 days. Good luck to everyone out chasing them. Just a reminder: I will be available for drop off and pick up in the evenings only from now thru Nov. 10th. When fi****ms season opens on the 11th, we will be back to normal hours. You can contact me via FB message or text me at (816) 724-0271. Good luck everyone!

10/30/2023

I will be taking some time to hunt from now until fi****ms season. I am still available for drop off and pick up, it will just have to be after dark. You can always contact me by texting (816) 724-0271 or messaging me here on FB.

10/28/2023

The weather is perfect for deer hunting this weekend. Good luck to all of the youth hunters! Should luck smile on you, I'd love to work with you on preserving that special memory with a mount that will last your child's lifetime. Shoot me a message if you have any questions. Again, Good Luck!

10/27/2023

Pheasant seasons are starting to open up in surrounding states. I really love working on these beautiful birds. I especially liked putting this unique piece together for a client that gave me the freedom to just "come up with something cool". Hopefully he feels we did.

10/23/2023

While a wall pedestal may cost a little more than a standard shoulder mount, it sure does stand out among any other deer you may have displayed. I thought this one turned out really nice for a local client.

10/20/2023

I really liked how this pair of hooded mergansers turned out. This mount hangs on the wall.

10/16/2023

Bucks are really hitting scrapes hard right now. Cameras have been blowing up with different bucks. It's a great time to sit a scrape line!

10/13/2023

I get asked all of the time if we do waterfowl. The answer is yes, yes we do. LOL Neat bufflehead pair for a client.

10/09/2023

Some great deer have been coming in the shop. A reminder: I would be happy to purchase any quality capes from mature deer you are not getting mounted. This beauty had a gorgeous cape in perfect condition, but not all of our clients are that lucky. Sometimes a cape needs replaced, and I'd prefer to do that with local capes when I can.

10/06/2023

Here is the coyote I competed with this year. I was fortunate enough to win National Champion with it at Nationals in SD. I also competed with it here in MO where it won best of category in the Masters Small Mammal category.

10/03/2023

Looks like a strong cold front coming in Friday. Should be a perfect time to catch up with a mature whitetail. I love mounting deer with early October capes like this one.

08/14/2023

Several people have asked for me to share the mounts I took to nationals. I wanted to finish competing with this piece at our home state before sharing him. Really cool color phase gobbler that belongs to a client. It did really well at both nationals, and here in MO. All together it took first place at NTA and MO, MO State Champion Bird, Best of Category Turkey, Van D***s Most Original and Creative, NWTF Best Masters Turkey, and Best Habitat. I included several close ups of the "Easter eggs"hidden within the habitat. I wasn't able to get a critique, but I'd be curious to know if the judge happened to see any of them. I had several people mention the morels, but none seemed to have spotted the toad. lol For my taxidermy friends, the bird is mounted on a Shane Smith STK-10. I followed the steps in Blake's Taxidermy University video and erosion molded and casted the head. As with any competition piece, I learned a lot putting it together and I'm confident my next one will be even better.