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Talented Taxidermists Breathed Extraordinary Life Into These Mounts
I’m a deer guy. Deer hunting is what I do. But that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate other game animals. I love to hear that first tree yelp on a frosty April morning. I love to see a lone tom strutting in an open meadow. And I really love the thundering sound of a throaty gobbler.
Because of that, I’ve been attending the National Wild Turkey Federation’s annual convention for going on 15 years. This year, I was especially excited to see all of the deer mounts on display. They held the annual taxidermy contest, and here are this year’s winners.
I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I did.
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Brandon Rainey took home top honors in the Amateur Division. This incredible mount really stood out from the rest of the competition.
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Brandon Rainey also won 2nd place. This big buck was a stud of a deer. And its legacy will live on through Rainey’s exceptional work.
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Jordon Holsonback is known as a prolific taxidermist. This piebald doe is a great representation of the quality work he does.
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Michael Glass is another well-known taxidermist. He captured the life-like moment of this buck in mid-jump.
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Butch Irwin entered the best closed-mouth deer mount in the competition. This mount is as realistic as they come.
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Butch Irwin also won the award for the best open-mouth deer mount. Talk about velvet bucks! This one gets me excited about early-season hunting.
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Okay, so this guy cleaned house. Butch Irwin took home top honors in the Professional Division, too.
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Chip Hayes won the award for the best closed-mouth deer in the Masters Division. This one has late-October, pre-rut deer hunting written all over it.
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Ferrell Cosby took home the award for the best open-mouth deer in the Masters Division. This is a brute. And the attitude instilled in this mount exhibits the very behavior we love to see every November.
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Chip Hayes also won top honors in the Masters Division. This is a classic mount, for sure. Incredible work.
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