Most people have seen the famous cartoon of a hunter happening upon a bear peacefully drinking water from a pond, shooting him, and then mounting him in a ferocious pose, arms raised and teeth bared. It's funny enough, but also makes an important point about taxidermy: the pose of the mount is all about making the piece say what the owner wants it to say.
To the casual observer, one deer mounted on a wall plaque might look pretty much like any other. The skilled taxidermist can give distinctive character to an otherwise run-of-the-mill game head. Should the elk's head be fully raised, mouth open as he bugles? Or crouched low, wary of potential danger ahead? Is the mountain lion in the full-body habitat stalking its prey, or regally resting on a rock, or jumping with open mouth and extended claws? Each of these poses makes a different statement: a stalking cat might bring the animal's cleverness and craftiness to the fore, while a regal pose suggests a romantic nobility imagined in nature, and a jumping pose stresses the raw power and savagery of a hungry mountain lion. The taxidermist's job is to determine what the client is trying to make his trophy say, and then bring forth that statement through the finished product.
An experienced and creative taxidermist can also suggest possibilities to the client. A moose head might look fine in a traditional pose on a wall mount, but perhaps the client didn't realize he could have a moose head with a mouthful of pond lily, complete with simulated dripping water. Or the bear, rather than displayed in the attack mode seen on so many mounts, might be sniffing at huckleberries. Many clients may also not realize that a larger installation might be possible, either with a pedestal or a habitat. These options increase the client's ability to make a statement with his mount.
As always, the more experienced the taxidermist, the more likely he or she will be able to offer such varied pose options to the client. The best way to expand one's knowledge and experience in the short term is to study with a taxidermy instructor in a setting in which in-depth, one-on-one consultation is possible.
Longtime taxidermist Shawn Dawson has competed at the state, national and world competitions, winning numerous ribbons and awards. Shawn is a recipient of the National Taxidermists Association (NTA) Award of Excellence --a very high honor which puts him in the Master Taxidermist division. He's also a NTA Certified Judge and an instructor for the Academy of Realistic Taxidermy in Havre, Montana. As a one-on-one taxidermy workshop instructor, he offers a comprehensive, thorough training regime centered on individual attention. Shawn's website is http://www.taxidermyworkshops.com
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