Busy Days in the Shop
This week has been another busy one, with bears continuing to come in and the early whitetail season picking up steam. The short-haired capes on these whitetails make for especially striking mounts, showing off every bit of detail and texture.
One of the highlights was finishing a massive brown bear. This mount really shows the true size and power of the animal. In one of the photos, you’ll see Aaron hard at work building the custom habitat base — a piece of craftsmanship that makes the bear stand out even more.
We also completed two beautiful shoulder-mount wall pedestal bears. These mounts are always eye-catching, and the pedestal style really adds dimension and presence when displayed on the wall. Both turned out fantastic, and we’re excited to share the finished results.
A fresh batch of fish went out this week as well. Among them was a giant striper, along with a couple of brown trout that were custom mounted and painted. The colors and detail on these fish are always rewarding to bring out, and they turned out beautifully.
We also had the chance to create a custom northern pike ice fishing scene, which turned into a truly unique piece. The mount features a pike striking at a lure beneath the ice, complete with a tip-up and realistic underwater details. The combination of the fish, the habitat work, and the storytelling element really make this one stand out as more than just a mount — it’s a full scene that captures the excitement of ice fishing.
Several ducks headed out this week too, with a really unique teal/pintail cross being one of the most interesting. A few boar and boar skulls also left the shop, each one a project with its own character.
We also mounted a striking caribou in a strong, straight-on pose with ears forward — a classic look that really fits the animal. In addition, we mounted a custom open-mouth fisher that brings something different and exciting to the lineup.
As we move into October, the shop will be filled with a mix of mounting, fleshing, and prepping as new pieces arrive. Outside of the shop, Austin also spent some time this past weekend working on the ranch, improving the goat enclosure to get things ready for winter
