October 15, 2012
By Brett Miller
Taxidermy is the art of preparing, stuffing and mounting the skin of an animal, according to Mr. Webster . Unfortunately, not all taxidermy is created equal.
For many hunters, the trophy they drop off at the taxidermist isn't the same one they get back. It seems that a few wildlife artists have taken some liberties with their work over the years, and the result can be hilariously bad.What can we do about this problem? Probably not much, but we can certainly find a few laughs in what's become a bit of a trend.
We scoured the Internet to find for you and found the best-worst taxidermy jobs on trophy whitetails. When you're done viewing our best, share your best on our Facebook page .
Bambi's Mom? This is supposed to be a whitetail doe, or at least it is reported to be one. It could also be proof that the chupacabra does exist. Either way, this is one odd mount that would make any taxidermist hang their head in shame.
Count Buck-ula In honor of Halloween, we had to share this classic buck. We'd guess this guy was mainly nocturnal, drank blood and slept in a wooden box. What's really amazing is that he didn't turn to dust in the daylight.
The Puller This one is simply not a good idea. The six-point frame on this buck isn't one you'll see every day, but does he have to be pulling an arrow out of his shoulder? We've finally found an example of a mount that's too straightforward. Go figure.
Dopey This guy doesn't look like the smartest buck in the herd. Add in that he's somehow gained length in his general profile, and you've got one epically horrible mount. But, seriously, why the long face?
The Old Timer This mount is obviously pretty old, but we're not sure if it looked all that good in the first place. From his exposed teeth to the obvious missing parts to his ears and dried out nose, this old boy needs to be put down...again.
A Good End We have all seen this famous style of mount, and some of us have seen a deer's flag more than any other view. How could you not include this in the best-worst mounts list?
The Great White Beer? If a trophy buck and a trophy bear are great, imagine combining them into one super mount: the beer. Simply for the awesome play on words, this one makes our list. Plus, we're pretty sure this economical hunter saved a few bucks (pun intended) on this two-for-one deal.
Speaking Up They say a mount should speak to you, and this buck looks like he is trying to do just that. We guess it adds to his lifelike looks, but he's probably better off just keeping his mouth shut.
Piebalding A piebald buck is rare and one as nice as this is even more rare, so it's no wonder this hunter went for the full-body mount. Unfortunately, this piebald looks more like he's ready to pull Santa's sleigh than chase a doe. Either way, it seems like a good idea put him right beside the kitchen table.
You Scared? We don't doubt facing down a hunter is pretty scary, but did the taxidermist really need to capture that look on this mount? This buck has an amazing set of antlers, but the look on his face is far less than attractive.
The Jumper Only a hunter could have the sense of humor needed to put a mounted buck in a position like this one. This trophy isn't on the list for its poor looks, but we had to include it for the suicidal placement. You've got a lot to live for deer; please don't jump.
