after 6.5 years, finally

Got my lion back from taxidermy!

I got him 2/26/18 in the Bighorns. The taxidermist I originally brought it to ended up getting sick then finding out he had stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He was a real good guy and taxidermist, sad, he was young around 50. He had a backlog and with being sick, my lion was there for 3 years. One of the taxidermists that took over some of his work reached out to me to see if I wanted it finished (hide was wet tanned and frozen) as a mount or rug. He was backlogged for about 2.5 years so I said lets continue with the full body mount and I can wait another 3 years. I happy with the way it turned out and the wait was worth it. I had to compromise the location in the house though as my wife isn't super happy about a full size cat on the wall (she doesn't like cats, period).

Note that the tail is short with no tip. My guide figured as a young male he probably lost it in a fight or possibly frost bit. Anyway, little different looking.

338weatherby said:

Got my lion back from taxidermy!

I got him 2/26/18 in the Bighorns. The taxidermist I originally brought it to ended up getting sick then finding out he had stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He was a real good guy and taxidermist, sad, he was young around 50. He had a backlog and with being sick, my lion was there for 3 years. One of the taxidermists that took over some of his work reached out to me to see if I wanted it finished (hide was wet tanned and frozen) as a mount or rug. He was backlogged for about 2.5 years so I said lets continue with the full body mount and I can wait another 3 years. I happy with the way it turned out and the wait was worth it. I had to compromise the location in the house though as my wife isn't super happy about a full size cat on the wall (she doesn't like cats, period).

Note that the tail is short with no tip. My guide figured as a young male he probably lost it in a fight or possibly frost bit. Anyway, little different looking.

View attachment 602657

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That is beautiful, definitely worth the wait.

This looks amazing! Definitely the full mount was the way to go.
Where did you kill him?

bdlesh said:

This looks amazing! Definitely the full mount was the way to go.
Where did you kill him?

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West slope of the Bighorns. It was -23 that morning and about 3' of snow on the ground. Felt like home accept for that dang thin air!

Patience paid off, that's a beautiful mount, congratulations

You definitely earned that cat!
I would have never survived the weather. I am a southern boy....40's are my limit.

Congratulations! Thank you for sharing

Well-installed, congratulations!

Very nice mount.

Wow,Congratulations! Thank you for sharing.

I think cat faces are some of the hardest to make look right. This one turned out great.

I like the position in the house, too.

lancetkenyon said:

I think cat faces are some of the hardest to make look right. This one turned out great.

I like the position in the house, too.

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Thanks. The expression was my biggest concern when I decided to get it done. I'm happy with it. I wanted a relaxed look as that is how I remember it. I originally thought I'd want it looking at you when in the room. As it is now, it's looking out the window to the left.