McNutt has been participating in the South Dakota Taxidermist competition for the past eight years. “I was actually a registered member the first year the SDTA competition started in 2001 and backed out because I was scared to be critiqued. I finally went to my first convention in 2008, still not taking any entries just sitting in on the seminars. In 2009, I finally took my first entries and I’m
so glad I did. I learned so much from talking to the judges and getting critiqued, I wish I wouldn’t have waited so long. The quality of my work has really improved and my business really took off. I would advise every taxidermist to join the SDTA and don’t wait like I did. Your quality of work will never improve if you do not get professional critiquing to show you what is wrong and where you need to improve and how to do it.”
McNutt who had been doing taxidermy in his basement all these years is now a full-time taxidermist. He has worked very hard on building up his clientele and with that out grew the basement; a new building was built the summer of 2012 to house “A Trophy of a Lifetime Taxidermy Studio.” McNutt does all ranges of taxidermy, but really enjoys working with fish, deer and mammals. He is also known for the extra art that he tries to put into his mounts. “I don’t care for just the plain shoulder mount or flying pheasant, I like to add something extra with it!” McNutt strives to keep his prices as low as he can and still make a living and has a guaranteed 8 month turn-around. “I hate going to outdoor shows and hearing comments from people that their stuff has been at the taxidermist for 2 or 3 years. I want you to remember what your trophy looked like when you took it to get mounted. With several taxidermists in the surrounding areas, I think my quality of workmanship, honesty, prices and turnaround time is why I am growing so rapidly and have many returning customers.”
“I would like to thank my wife and the rest of my family for believing in me. I was very humbled the evening of March 17, 2012 as my name was being announced for all the different awards I won, I knew it was the start to a great future. I really enjoy doing taxidermy and all my years of dedication and hard work are finally paying off.
