How to get your Best trophy

Once you harvest an animal/fowl/fish that you decided needs to be memorized you must immediately begin preserving it.  Caring for the hide/feathers/scales is the most important step to getting a wildlife work of art.  Immediately get the whole specimen or properly  skinned specimen cooled down or frozen.  For antlered animals that have velvet intact treat the antlers like raw skin, freeze them immediately if you prefer the real velvet.  We do however use the best synthetic velvet on the market.  Contact Rough Country Taxidermy as soon as you can and set up a drop off time or come by during business hours.  

Hunting big game animals in the high country or away from home requires you to do some or all of the caping of the animal.  It is preferred that we do the skinning of the face and delicate parts so if you can bring in the cape with skull still intact.  DO NOT CUT CAPES to short!  The more hide the better, we will dispose of it at no cost.  Make sure your cuts are well behind the back of the shoulder (12" preferably).  If you are unsure of what to do consult the Internet and watch detailed videos or come into Rough Country Taxidermy and we will give you a hands on lesson. 

In this day and age, reproduction fish mounts are truly the way to go.  When you catch the fish, carefully and quickly get the length and girth of the fish and snap a bunch of good pictures before letting it go.  Close ups and simple grip and grins work but for detailed or unique patterned fish, snap a few close ups of the parts that you find interesting.  

Skin mounts still have there place however and definitely look good on the wall.  As soon as you catch the fish you need to get the similar reference photos and then get the fish cooled down in ice water.  Don't beat the fish or damage the scales, letting the fish dry out on the bank or heat up in the bottom of the boat will not produce a good mount!  Just put it in an icy cooler.  When you get home wrap him up in plastic wrap and wet towels and get it in the freezer.  Contact Rough Country Taxidermy and drop it off as soon as possible to prevent freezer damage.    

This is super common and we at Rough Country Taxidermy are very familiar with it.  Contact us prior to leaving on your trip and we will get you the information you need for shipping mammals and getting them through customs.  If you catch a trophy fish just plan to get a high detail reproduction done, we use the best reproductions on the market!  Snap some photos and get the measurements we'll handle the rest. 

Yes!  We will clean and fix any damage to your mount or base no matter how old it is.  If the hide is damaged and needs to be replaced we will can replace it if the antlers/horns/fins are broken we can fix them.  We aren't magician but we are very skilled in refurbishing.  So bring Grandpas' old muley in to Rough Country Taxidermy and let us fix him up.  

First and foremost bring the specimen!  We do accommodate after business hour drop offs just call and set up an appointment.  Second bring the valid license for the animal you are dropping off.  If it is animal that requires a seal or tag leave the tag on the animal.  We will not accept animals with out a valid license number.  Lastly bring deposit money!  Rough Country Taxidermy requires a 50% deposit on all mounts at drop off time.  If you need a quote before coming in call or email and we can give you an amount. 

Note:  We will inspect your specimen at time of drop off or when it thaws.  A detailed report will be started for all damage or deformities.