Even though it might seem like a tricky field to get into for a freshly graduated high school or college student, the Walter Gropius Berufskolleg in Bochum, Germany, does provide a stable start into the art of taxidermy. We would like to give you a bit of an insight into our school life, especially our progress in learning how to create a taxidermy piece, as well as the acquisition of the non-practical and scientific knowledge needed to do so. Aspiring taxidermists of all skill levels are welcome in this institution, ranging from beginners with absolutely no experience in the craft, to amateurs who may have already been working in this field before, or got their know-how elsewhere.

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It is finally time to mount the timber rattlesnake. The skin has been tanned with a simple tanning solution and was then frozen while the custom form was prepared. With the form ready to mount and the skin ready, I will take you through my mounting procedure. Except for the head which will be attached later in the mounting process, the mannikin is ready for the skin.

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In Part 2 of a four-part series on quail I will provide information and photo reference on the Northern bobwhite quail. Last issue in Part 1 I gave a brief review of the 9 species of “New World Quail” found in North, Central, and South America. Like all species of animals, there are some recognized subspecies of each and there is debate that some species should be split. For our/my purposes I will present some reference photography over the next few issues of the 6 species of quail that are native and found in North America.

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I have been in many trophy rooms over the years and have seen many distorted hooves on ungulates. Those of you who have worked on ungulates know the frustrations and challenges to get the hooves cleaned out properly. If you have done your fair share of these, I’m sure you have noticed from time to time the pinkish and raw looking flesh you remove from the interior of the hooves, which means the tanning chemicals have never properly penetrated these areas, making them a dinner plate for bug infestation if you do not remove all this material.

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There was a saying I often heard as a child, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” I don’t know about that, but I do know those sticks and stones can make or break a good mount. In this article I will go over some techniques for making realistic habitat parts such as rocks, grass, lichens, and dirt. At the risk of sounding redundant, good reference is imperative. I will build a small base that is strong, easy to clean, and atheistically pleasing to the eye,using all of the aforementioned parts. The rock I will be using was donated by my friends at Habitat Rock. Their rock products are some of the finest in the industry. Whether you mold and cast your own or purchase one, painting it to look real is the goal. Studying the flora to make an accurate habitat base is just one of the steps in creating a pleasing display.

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