Just like many sportsman out there, I try to do as much as I can to save a buck or two by doing things myself, for example I process all of my own wild game. Some years back, I harvested a coyote and decided it would make a great looking mount. After talking to local taxidermist about prices, I decided I did not want to spend close to a thousand dollars on a coyote; it's not like it was a once in a lifetime trophy deer, it was a coyote, and they are a dime a dozen where I hunt. For some reason, I still wanted this animal mounted, so I thought to myself, it can not be that difficult; boy was I wrong.

I spent some money on tons of instructional DVD’s and basic tools to start out with. Eventually, I mounted that coyote, it was not the prettiest by far, but it was all my doing, and I was proud of it. Did I mention that when skinning I managed to turn most of the skin to swiss cheese? Instead of a full body mount, I had to settle for a shoulder display. I started saving the capes of does that we harvested off the lease, and I even purchased a couple of capes online for some small sets of horns we had laying around the camp, and I just practiced.

The day came when a friend of mine got his chance at harvesting his first bobcat. After all the practice I had on tanning and mounting, I did not think twice about mounting this cat, and it turned out great. Over time, I started mounting bobcats, coyotes, and even deer for fellow members of my hunting club at the cost of just materials. Eventually word of mouth got around, and their friends were calling, and their friends were calling, and so on. Now today I am pleased to say that within 5 years I have built a 15’ X 40’ studio/shop in the backyard and am now a part-time taxidermist. I mount everything from snakes to fish and all mammals. I do not mount migratory waterfowl because I have not yet obtain a federal permit for migratory animals, but I am hoping to apply for one before this coming season.

All of this was made possible with that stinky coyote. Now, recently I have posted some pictures on the forum of a small 8 point buck shoulder mount, and a couple of other deer mounted European style for some clients. I have received great comments from the members, along with a few questions about doing the European mounts. So what I will do, for everyone, is a step by step tutorial with detailed pictures of the entire process, and will submit it to the Talk Hunting Magazine editor, and hope to have it published in one of the monthly editions before the end of the year. Unfortunately, I have just finished up on all the buck mounts from last season, and won’t have any more come in until after the fall season kicks off.  Have no fear, I do have a doe to shoulder mount for an 8 year old girl’s first deer, and I also have a gray fox for a life-size mount, so I will use one, or possibly both of these skulls, solely for this tutorial. Keep an eye on the magazine articles in the upcoming months, and I hope you all enjoy and benefit from it.