Black Forest Taxidermy

12/24/2023

The time has come that the shop is closing to the general public. I will take a select few of my best previous clients under certain circumstances such as those that did not blow my inbox up every single day asking when their piece would be done after just dropping it off, those that picked up in a timely manor, those that actually shared the work and left reviews and those that did not try to change things half way through the process or last second.

11/09/2023

Now through Sunday, November 12, 2023, all euros are 25% off for veterans, active duty and retired with ID. As a veteran owned studio, Black Forest works like to say thank you from the bottom of our heart for all of your sacrifices you have made and we continue to support our troops, both home and in theater. Thank you!
Sqoosy the squirrel says “come on by!”

10/29/2023

Best of luck to all the youth this weekend! As with last year, euros will be free for any of the youth hunters. The only catch is you have to video the harvest during the youth weekend. Due to interstate transport laws I can only take in Tennessee deer for euros.

*edit: I apologize for the late post but for some reason the post did not load Friday. Same rules apply for interstate transport laws but changed it up and now through the end of the 2023 season, all youth 16 and under are free for euros, with a video of the harvest, that’s the ONLY catch and the only way to get a free euro.
Thank you all for being such awesome clients and best of luck to everyone, especially the youth, the rest of this season!

10/10/2023

Working on giants this week along with the other projects. Getting started on another 6’7” Gator Gar plus another head mount of a 12’+ North American Alligator. Will be posting finished mounts on TikTok so be sure to like and follow!
This head I just can’t get the camera to do it Justice I’m size but for reference that’s a 6’ long freezer and a 4’11” Green Iguana directly being it.

09/23/2023

I don’t post on here much at all anymore but wanted to share this one. A beautiful 38” Shortnose. I appreciate you letting me work on this moo cow of a shorty!
Couldn’t get great lighting outside this time so it appears more silver in the photos than it actually is and the LEDs in the shop makes it look too dark but here she is.

08/10/2023

Velvet season is coming in hot, and the temps aren’t dropping so take care of your trophy and get it to a taxidermist as soon as possible. Black Forest no longer mounts deer but in the unfortunate event you have spoilage of your velvet, the shop does offer velveting services. Basic rebuilt tips and webbing as well as several add on options are available.

08/06/2023

Another great year at the TTA state show. Some tough competition to go up against but ended up coming home with best of category for my Blue Lobster, most artistic for my recreation Vampire Bat and Competitors Award for highest average score of 3 mounts between the professional and masters division with my Blue Lobster, Western Diamondback and Spiny-Tailed Iguana. I’ll be posting detailed pics on my TikTok later on of each piece so be sure to like and follow. Thanks so much for all of your support. I couldn’t be where I was without you all.

https://www.tiktok.com/?_t=8ecgwrn3luA&_r=1

07/13/2023

Another giant put the door. Not getting on here too much anymore due to the overwhelming amount of fake profiles so go check me out on TikTok.
6’ 4” Alligator Gar.

https://www.tiktok.com/?_t=8dxY2S4dnDu&_r=1

02/17/2023

One of my favorite pieces I’ve done so far. Love making bases.

02/11/2023

Another one finished up. Awesome Gator Gar.
Pics of the other of these 2 to come. Super vibrant light body colors with a dark head. Love how much variance these dinosaurs have from one to another.

01/28/2023

Well since there has been very little action with the TikTok from here, here is the just the pictures. I will slowly be transitioning from this platform due to an outrageous amount of scammers.

01/27/2023

I might be wrong but I believe I am the first taxidermist to do “The stringer look” with a gar. Definitely something different. 55” Longnose. Skin mount.

55” Longnose skin mount. You always see the bass, crappie, walleye, etc. stringers so why not change it up? You saw it here first.

12/18/2022

Another awesome piece finished up. Sometimes these darker fish are hard to show all details in pics but this was another awesome one to work on. Ended up going with a custom molded replica from the actual fish.
Have a great weekend everyone.

11/16/2022

Big news everyone!
Alright, so many of you know, I’ve pretty much vacated the deer shoulder scene and I’m mainly focusing on fish, reptiles, etc. however, I do still do Europeans. I try to really push keeping the kids outdoors and the youth hunt weekend is a pretty big deal but I didn’t have anything planned this season for a giveaway for kids. So to make up for it, now through Christmas all deer euros for kids will be free.

Here’s the only catch: The harvest must be recorded. Video only, no exceptions.
All normal hunting regulations apply; tags, licenses, etc.
17 and under only.

The only fall back with this is due to the CWD/EHD regulations, the only legal deer that can be brought in for a euro is from the state of Tennessee or Fort Campbell.
This goes for doe or bucks.

11/15/2022

Another one of those goofy looking Sheepshead finished up. These are some of the strangest fish. lol
I hope you all are having a great week and staying warm.

11/04/2022

Another velvet set finished up today. Completely stripped, cleaned and re-velveted. A lot of time and effort goes into artificial velvet.

11/03/2022

Still taking in euros this year as well as skull cap panels. Full cleaning, degreasing and whitening.

10/28/2022

Velveting and re-velveting offered. Do you have that mount that has been hanging on the wall for 20 years and you just want to change it up? Maybe you have a euro that you would love to see in velvet, or maybe you got that velvet deer this season but it was shedding hard and you want the rack cleaned up. This rack is just a demo to show a before and after of artificial velveting. There’s a few options to choose from from ripped velvet, clean, full velvet including veins, etc.
I hope you all have had a great week.

10/10/2022

Tn state record Bowfin ready to head out. Remember to keep your fish if it’s not a common species like bass, crappie, etc. because there’s not many options for replicas.
This one was kept properly which is imperative to the start of a good mount. I would like to thank Buckley Pepper for bringing in such an awesome fish and trusting me on it. Check out his charter if you’re in the north Tennessee area and looking for a guide. Nock Life Bowfishing
Hope you all are having a great week.

09/29/2022

Well the 2023 catalog arrived and looks like the Iguana made it 2 years in a row.

09/22/2022

A couple of new species out the door today. A Blue Tilapia and a Sheepshead. Haven’t posted much lately due to trying to just focus on work but these 2 were pretty cool fish to work on.
I hope all of you are having a great week!

09/04/2022

Another couple out the door I had not posted yet. Just a heads up to everyone that I’ve notified of supplies on back order, I’ve got all current supplies in and I’m working as diligently as I can to catch back up. Unfortunately the supply issues have hit a lot of taxidermist, as well as many other businesses so I want to personally say thank you all so much for being understanding! I hope you all have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!

09/01/2022

PSA: For some reason messages are not always coming through. Over the past two weeks I’ve gotten several calls about messages sent with no response but they are not all showing up. Please note that I always respond to messages by the end of the following business day at the latest so if you haven’t recieved a response by then it’s almost a guarantee the message did not come through so please call. I apologize for any inconvenience it has caused and I am working to get the issue resolved. Thanks all and have a great day!

08/19/2022

Some better pics of the Jonah Crab. I do have a few of these available for commission. Each one will be mounted as it comes in line with the other clients including, fish, reptiles and other specimens. Feel free to send a message to inquire!

08/10/2022

Some better pics of the Blue Crab scene. This was a long process in the creation. I made the base specifically for this piece with an indent for the appearance of the trap sunk in mud.
The chicken leg I molded, cast and painted. “We ate the rest of the pack”.
The trap, believe it or not, I modified solely from PVC. All of the welds were individually hand laid for a natural appearance.
Both crabs are actual skin/ shell mounts.
Hope you all enjoy!

08/08/2022

To all of the amazing bowfishers out there, please check out this tournament. It is for a great cause to help the Kentucky flood Victims. This is a great way to help the community out so if you are able please help to support this cause and help all of them get back on their feet. Stay safe out there.

08/07/2022

Well after working 7 days a week, 12-14 hours a day for the past 2 1/2 months, Black Forest decided to take a break for a birthday when and finally compete in a Taxidermy Competition. Extremely happy with the hard work and results from it.
Took home a 2nd Place Ribbon in Professional Fish Division on a Red Bellied Piranha “Replica”.
Took home a 1st Place Ribbon in Professional Fish Division on a Jonah Crab with Whelk “Actual Skin/ Shell”.
Took home a 1st Place Ribbon in Professional Fish Division on a Blue Crab scene “Actual Skin/ Shell”.
And finally the one that took the cake, took home the New Horizon award for winning over all other first time entries, and took over in the Professional Division with my Red Swamp Crawfish “Actual Skin/ Shell”. Super happy with how the weekend went. Thanks to all of you for giving Black Forest the opportunity to work on your Whacky and Wild pieces!

07/30/2022

Well all of the gator parts left the shop on their way home to Texas. Took a pic of the largest rug for size reference but had 2 others.
If you are ever in Louisiana and looking for a guide to put you on some beasts check out Captain Dwain Hodge at Marsh Reapers Bowfishing.

07/23/2022

A gorgeous Alligator head mount ready for its home back in Texas. 18” length. Actual head, not a reproduction.

07/22/2022

A couple of nice gator euros ready to head home to Texas.