 My
path into taxidermy started at an early age, wandering the fields and wood
lots in pursuit of rabbits, pheasants and whitetail deer. It was
a tradition to be pulled from school for the opening day of Maryland’s
small game season. At first, I was the bird dog until I was old enough
to carry a shotgun. The sounds of the cackling pheasant or the flash
of a cottontail rabbit raised the level of a young boys heart rate.
I was hooked on the outdoors.
Spanning
3 generations of outdoors men found us as a family pursuing big game
in the western states. We bow hunted elk and mule deer in Colorado and
Montana, chased javelina in Arizona, stalked the badlands of North Dakota
for pronghorn antelope and deer, and waded the swamps of Maryland’s eastern
shore in search of sika and whitetail deer. We also found time to hunt
ducks, Canada and snow geese, as well as pheasants on the prairies of North
Dakota.
 Growing
up with a sketch book in hand, I found wildlife to be my primary subject.
Melding the two loves together, art and wildlife, it was only natural
to turn to taxidermy as a profession. I attended Pennsylvania Institute
of Taxidermy in 1984. After graduation, I opened my business in Mount
Airy, Maryland, and continued developing my skills and broadening my knowledge
through competitions and seminars.
Nature’s
Best Wildlife Artistry is located in central Maryland. Being situated between
the mountains of western Maryland and lower Eastern shore has given me
the opportunity to mount all of Maryland’s wildlife, but I especially enjoy
the life-size mounts of the fox and black bears.
I
have over 20 years of experience mounting African and North American big
game.
As
well as small game, waterfowl, upland birds, both fresh and salt water
fish and european skull mounts. |
