“Making a re-creation can be frustrating, time consuming, and is definitely not easy. When you do make a success of it, the knowledge gained will help you in your daily taxidermy problems. I have used these skills in repairing slipped spots, missing parts, faded fur, altering forms, and most of all—thinking out of the box.”

For several years now I have been privileged to have the opportunity to hunt a remarkable south Texas low-fence ranch in La Salle County, south of Cotulla, Texas. This is in the well known area recognized as “the Golden Triangle.” It is big buck country where many Boone and Crockett bucks have been taken over the years. Yes, I have taken three nice mature whitetail on this  property with scores over 160 and one very nice cull 8 that scored 154. 

Hunting whitetails is my passion, but the added benefit is the amazing variety of wildlife I encounter. When I'm in a blind I frequently have my Nikon camera in hand with a variable 200–600-mm lens. I have taken thousand of photographs of nice trophy whitetails and the abundant wildlife that populates the mesquite and cactus habitat of this ranch and axis deer has been a prime target for my camera.

Many years ago the owner’s father brought in a few axis deer and they still thrive along the river that runs through the property. The family limits the number of axis deer taken each year so I have the opportunity to see and photograph some pretty nice axis bucks. Considering very few axis are killed each year on the San Cudo Ranch, the population appears to remain fairly steady, possibly because of predators. I know from first hand experience that axis deer have not affected the whitetail population. I usually hunt one or two days along the river in the main home area of the axis deer, and actually find them much more alert and weary than whitetail deer. I often hear their vocal communications and actions, much like the axis deer pictured on these opening two pages.

Whether you are a beginning taxidermist or a seasoned veteran, it is crucial that you stay on top of your pricing and understand exactly how it is calculated. Emotional pricing is the number one reason for small business failure. All too often, pricing is based on the competition and not on the factors needed to run a profitable studio.

The 4th Annual National Taxidermists Association Convention

Dayton Conference Center

Layton, Utah

July 12–15, 2017

Full coverage of this event in the Summer 2017 issue of Breakthrough Magazine, subscribe today! 

I jumped at the chance to go to the North American Taxidermy Championship this past January in Raleigh, North Carolina. I have many supporters and co-creators of Taxidermy Direct and several were going to be present at Big Rock’s show; I wanted to meet them in person: Brenda Duvall (although I already visited The Safari Room last summer and had talked with her at length); Randy Mitchell from Wild Rooms with his amazing habitat designs; and of course, Russell Knight, not for his Mounted in Alaska fame, but for his genuine interest in my success.

Russell, along with a panel of other industry-leading taxidermists, was hosting a taxidermy round table. They were scheduled to listen and answer our questions about running a taxidermy business, industry trends, and anything else we wanted to talk about. The cast of “characters” were Russell Knight, Fred Vanderburg, and Larry Blomquist, all industry leaders and legends in their own right. Knight’s Round Table didn’t disappoint. What follows are the cherry-picked highlights about business.