ON THE COVER: This beautifully spotted bobcat mounted by Abel Everage was one of the 2024 Breakthrough Award winners featured on pages 64­–78 in this issue. It also scored an impressive 94 in the Master Division at the 2024 World Taxidermy Championships®. Abel is from Versailles, Indiana, and is married to 2024 Best in World Whitetail winner Jena Everage. Here is what he said on Facebook a while back about this bobcat: “I never posted pics of this cat I mounted as a competition piece back in the spring [2024]. It is a beautifully spotted south Texas cat! I molded the rocks, sculpted the tree, and the form is a carcass cast. The pose really shows off the spot patterns and markings on its back.” Master cat taxidermist Phil Soucy commented and wrote on FB, “One of the most elegant and captivating mounts I have ever seen.” We agree with Phil, and that is one of the reasons we selected it for this issue’s cover.

IN THIS ISSUE:

            2         The Breakthrough Gallery: 2024 World Fish Carving Winners

            8         Obituary: Bryan Eppley       by Larry Blomquist

            12      Back to Basics: Making Antlers Natural Again   by Larry Blomquist

            24      2024 World Fish Carving   All Entries

            28        Warthog Lips            by Jerry Huffaker

            34      Complete Study of Fish Taxidermy, Part 5          by Tim Gorenchan

            42      Recreating a Pterosaur       by Vili Koskinen

            56      The Art of Business in Taxidermy, Part 2            by Sam Gaylord

            61      Innovative Products: Hunt30App  by Larry Blomquist

            64      Breakthrough Award Winners from 2024            All Winners

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