The main difference between painting a skin-mounted fish and a replica or carving is the real fish skin has the natural markings to follow so you need to apply the colors lighter than with a replica. On a replica, you need to use good reference to create the markings as close to the real thing as possible. One trick I have used over the years is to use the skin from a real fish. I filet it off and dry it flat on a piece of cardboard. If you soak it in water with a handful of borax added, the markings usually don’t fade that much as the skin dries and gives you a great reference for reapplying the markings on a replica.

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12th Open European Taxidermy Championship • HungExpo • Budapest, Hungary 

Held in conjunction with One With Nature World of hunting and Nature World Exhibition, Sep. 25–Oct. 14, 2021

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I have lived my entire life in Louisiana, and regularly have alligators in our pond and on occasion in our back yard. In my state if you live near a river, creek, or for that matter, a large ditch, pond, or swamp of any size, you will sooner or later will see an alligator. In the southern half of Louisiana the possibility of encountering a gator increases five fold because of the low flat land and numerous bayous and cypress swamps. Living in a state populated with gators does not make one an expert on this reptile’s anatomical features, mannerisms of how they stand, walk, swim or lie in a relaxed position on mud or ground. In fact, most of those folks who encounter a gator keep their distance and remotely observe one of the most intriguing reptiles of North America.

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There are for animal mounts—a bobcat, a rainbow trout, a drake pintail, and a whitetail deer, all perfectly preserved to their natural state. One thing remains before sending these critters off to clients: adding a natural habitat. Realist rocks resembling their former stomping (or swimming) grounds would being these creatures back to life. This is where commercial taxidermists hit a crossroad: what type of rock bases to use? There are so many choices. Pre-made rock bases are detailed using colors, textures, and vegetation with multiple options available. They are ideal for when there is not enough time to build a base. Then there are also unfinished, pre-formed rocks that can be colored and finished with habitat. Rock panels, for example, are perfect for large mounts.

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White crappie are fun and popular fish to paint. The secret to painting a crappie is to apply layers of pearls, silver, and shimmer colors on top of each other to give the reflective effect that is desired. The main difference between painting a real skin-mounted fish and a replica is the real fish skin has the natural markings to follow, so you need to apply the colors lighter than with a replica. On a replica, you need to use good reference to create the markings as close to the real thing as possible. One trick I have used over the years is…

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