A NEW AGE?
They are often called trophies. That word is a bit loaded. What kind of competition can end with one being stuffed and mounted over the bar fridge? If not a trophy, then a wall-hanger. But that term is undistinguished. Either way, taxidermy fish and game animals deserve to be displayed and the work of taxidermists celebrated as artists and creators.
Anglers figured it out about thirty years ago with replica mounts. Catch and release hunting has yet to be a thing. In the days before live-wells and camera phones, those so skilled or fortunate to catch a lunker felt obliged to prove their accomplishment. The mighty fish was killed regardless of age. Replica mounts put less at risk.
Real or not, this is an approachable way to share in the esteem in which we hold fish and game. These feelings are genuine and yet hard to compare. Even the most dedicated hot wing enthusiast does not have a flock of taxidermy chickens over the fireplace. As a conversation piece, the thirty-inch-plus walleye has meaning to offer. Rooms might need be constructed for such purpose.
Our taxidermy mounts have accumulated into a bit of a collection as family and friends have passed. Seems different, at first, hanging someone else’s catch, taking responsibility for their whale of a story. Yet there it is, a symbol of a history of good family memories. Or they become a tribute to the fish or animal, what their nature and artistic qualities bring to the home.
It is a bit of a reach, but taxidermy mounts also serve scientific purposes. They are data points that show the diversity of the local environment, and hopefully, they are examples of healthy animals with an associated timeline that could reveal trends. More so as a hunter, each set of antlers can also mark improvement until one is consistently harvesting mature specimens.
THE NEXT LEVEL
Fish mounts become more interesting as aquatic scenes are built around. These displays provide a glimpse into an underwater environment that for many is unknown. They show fish in cover as solidarity hunters or those that prefer to move in numbers and varieties. Incorporate a rock or piece of driftwood from that outing to suggest the type of structure that holds big fish. The lucky lure also gets retired (and a half dozen more purchased).
Taxidermy is a dive so deep that one can recreate the facial expressions of fish and animals. The ferocious death scream is often a default, but a more natural look is worth exploring. If the expression is wrong, that bear’s lip curl might conjure Elvis, for instance, or a perch may appear to be getting the last laugh. If the expression is authentic, the mount will spark that day, all those great days on the water, and for lifetimes to come.
TRUE ARTISTS
Taxidermy deserves a resurgence. The skill set combines multi-media art, mad science, and without substitute, considerable time spent in the outdoors. It does not fit the stereotype of the low brow and cold dead hands of a hunter or angler. The taxidermist requires strength and a delicate touch. They have developed the eye for character and the technique to capture a moment of beauty.
If your best mount is Big Mouth Billy Bass, then take yourself down to the river and leap. Or perhaps it is the local Jackalope, conceived where no antelope play. Do not let an outdoorsperson’s legacy equal a bunch of junk that no one’s else has any clue what to do with. Your prize possessions may be garage sale finds if they stand-alone with proper context.
On the back of a plaque mount is a great place to write or attached a copy of the story of where that fish was caught, when and with who, the lure, presentation, rod and reel, boat and motor, weather, and every other detail imaginable. Especially, how it made you feel.
THE OLD WAYS
My father’s walleye was caught in Falcon Lake. We were trolling spoons in one of the back bays. We took it to the grocery store to be weighed. When the mount returned the belly wasn’t quite as gluttonous as we remembered. Yes, the infamous shrinkage. Regardless of the skill of the taxidermist, real and imagined shrinkage is a growing concern. Thirty-five years later, we regret killing that fish, but that is a lesson on its own and gentle reminder.
A taxidermy mount can represent those experiences that are becoming of an angler and hunter. Again and again, there to lock eyes in that moment where something life changing happened. Find many places in your home for all things wild. It is art and art is sacred.
The field work of Dr. Vince Crichton is now archived at www.docmoose.com. Please visit this dynamic website to learn more about moose in Manitoba and to share in Vince’s writing and resources for moose hunters.