I have lived in the eastern section of Pennsylvania my entire life, and only occasionally did I see rattlesnakes. Only when I started actively seeking them on Blue Mountain, which is the first mountain in the Appalachian chain of mountains when heading north from southeastern Pennsylvania, did I begin discovering their natural beauty. I enjoy working with all species of wildlife, but reptiles, especially snakes, are one of my favorites.

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Featured are all entries and major awards from the 2023 NTA Convention in Sioux Falls, SD.

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This article is about some of the mistakes that competitors make with their whitetail deer mounts that can hurt their overall scores when competing in state, national, and World Shows. We will be exploring these boo-boos, starting at the deer nose pad and working our way to the back of the head.

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Coatimundis (Nasua Nasua), are members of the raccoon family, and are interesting little critters to mount. Coatimundis range from Arizona and parts of southern New Mexico in the United States through Mexico (except the Baja peninsula and central Sierra Madres), and Central America to Panama and marginally into South America in areas west of the Andes, especially in Colombia. Coatis walk with their ringed tails held high, and when climbing, their tails are used for balance. Their ankles are double jointed and extremely flexible, enabling them to descend trees headfirst. With their elongated noses and miniature bear-like faces, coatimundis present a few taxidermical challenges that are not difficult to overcome. A little attention to details and preparation will ensure a unique and stunning mount for your client.

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One of the most challenging game animals taxidermists will encounter is a bull cape buffalo. Be it a lifesize or shoulder mount, a cape buffalo offers a multitude of challenges in hide preservation, horns, anatomy, skin and muscular features, mounting procedure and finishing work. Selecting reference showing areas of primary importance that will help us capture the essence and correctness of this African legend.

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