Taxidermy Truths

The US shows in 2026 confirmed it: the hunting industry is alive and thriving. A renewed energy is evident, with hunters young and old continuing to invest in wildlife across Africa and beyond. Doug recently attended DSC and SCI in Atlanta and Nashville. In this episode of Taxidermy Truths, he shares insights from the show floor and what lies ahead for the 2026 season.

Conservation by the Bullet. A recent article published in the Daily Maverick, highlighting the numbers of hunted animals in South Africa has sparked debate over the last few weeks.  In this episode of Taxidermy Truths – rather than negating the viewpoint, Doug draws a comparison between the hunting industry and the Mohair industry, to highlight the similarities in conservation outcome and economic...

2025 has been an incredible year in the hunting industry, in South Africa and across the world.  In this year’s the final episode of Taxidermy Truths – Doug provides us with a wrap up of 2025. From tariffs and legalities to increasing hunting numbers and advances in technology, Doug unpacks some of the challenges and wins over the last year.  To every listener, partner or follower – we are gratefu...

Small skulls that are making a big impact on the hunting industry.  On this episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug sits down with the team from Skullies.  Skullies create exact replicas of real skulls – in miniature, making them the ultimate safari souvenir. The team from Skullies share what they have learnt over the last few years as the brand has grown and developed. They discuss the ever-changing 3D...

Tagging might seem like a small step in the hunting and taxidermy process - but it’s one of the most critical. From the moment an animal is harvested, every part must be tagged correctly: species, body part, and the hunter’s full name. Proper tagging not only ensures that trophies are legally compliant for export, but also that each hunter receives their correct memories back. But tagging doesn’t...

We are wrapping up Heritage month in South Africa – and we’re excited to launch the third episode of our Only in SA series on Taxidermy Truths.  South Africa has a culture of service, epitomized by the gentlemen at our gas stations that help us get back on the road safely. In this episode, Doug chats to a man with a uniquely South African occupation. Morren is a petrol attendant with a love for pe...

This week on Taxidermy Truths, we are diving into part 2 of our Only in South Africa series.  If you have hunted in South Africa, you would have been accompanied by the incredible men of the bush that are able to spot an animal from miles away, expertly follow their movements and handle the quarry with absolute care once the animal is down.   Doug chats to Melikhaya Faxi, a seasoned tracker and sk...

Only in South Africa!   This episode of Taxidermy Truths is something a bit different.  Doug steps out of the taxidermy and into the taxi and chats to a South African taxi driver.  The driving force behind the South African economy – taxis enable millions of South Africans to get to their places of work each day.  Come along for a bit of perspective and a few laughs – this is one you don’t want to...

The right gear can make or break your hunting experience.  In this episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug chats to Ryan Efurd - the founder of technical hunting apparel brand – Canis.  They discuss important considerations when choosing your gear, common mistakes hunters make and epic personal experiences in the mountains and in the bush.  They also dig into the history of the Canis brand, what it mean...

Truth be Told - your taxidermy questions answered. We get a lot of questions about taxidermy coming through our channels.  In this Q&A episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug tackles some of your most common (and curious) taxidermy questions. Listen in for some practical advice, expert insight, and a few surprising truths about taxidermy. If you have a question of your own, drop it in the comments o...

Ever wondered what lies beneath the skin of a taxidermy mount?  In this episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug discusses the art of creating anatomically correct and beautiful mannikins. Understand the misconceptions and learn how technology has changed the game to great better, more efficient processes.   A great taxidermy piece begins with a strong foundation. If you’d like to know more about the tec...

On this episode of Taxidermy Truths – Doug draws a comparison between the US and South African models of taxidermy.  He discusses the relationships between outfitters, taxidermists and hunters and how these dynamics work. He also gets into the key differences in the production process, staffing and logistics.   While there are clear differences, the goal is the same – to celebrate incredible hunti...

Shipping shouldn’t be scary.  Having the right information and planning ahead can avoid headaches and surprise costs when it’s time to get your beautiful trophies home. In this episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug unpacks the real cost of shipping and discusses ways to make your shipping simple and cost effective.   He digs into: 1. Air Freight 2. Ocean Freight 3. Clearing Agents 4. Insurance.  This...

In this week’s episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug has the privilege of speaking to Ivan Carter, a renowned conservationist, TV personality, professional guide and hunter. A true man of the bush.  Listen to their fascinating discussion about whether is a tool for conservation, and the role hunting plays in maintaining the infrastructure that enables wildlife to thrive.  They discuss the hunter’s lie...

With 25 years of experience in the hunting and taxidermy industry, Doug has learned his fair share of lessons in his career along the way.  This episode of Taxidermy Truths is titled: 5 Things I Wish I Knew - as Doug unpacks the insights that may have helped him when starting out as a taxidermist.  You don’t want to miss this one!

Pooling of clients occurs when multiple hunters ship their trophies in one crate – with one set of hunting documents to save money. This is illegal – and US Fish and Wildlife is clamping down on this in a big way and has every right to confiscate and destroy these consignments.  In this episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug unpacks the misconceptions about savings for shipping, the exceptions to the r...

In this week’s episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug shares some feedback from the annual marketing shows in January in the USA.  He talks about the good, the bad and the general sentiment from outfitters, clients and hunting enthusiasts that visited the shows in 2025. This year in particular there were some big hits and misses - take a listen to hear more.

The first Taxidermy Truths of the year is a truly special one.  Doug sits down with two sisters that have grown up in the taxidermy industry. Kerry and Jess have a rich understanding of the value of hunting and the role it plays in conservation and the economy.  We hear about their experiences in the veld, thoughts on the misconceptions in the industry and some funny stories about growing up in th...

That’s a wrap.  In the final episode of Taxidermy Truths for 2024, Doug discusses the Year in Review.  We look back on what has been an incredible year for our industry - giving insights, reflections and hopes for the future.  Thank you for your amazing support for the podcast – we look forward to sharing more Taxidermy Truths in 2025.

In order to create taxidermy that is anatomically correct, you need to be able to stretch the skin. Tanning replaces the fats, oils and moisture from the skin and takes it to a stable state, leaving it pliable, soft and able to stretch.  In this episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug discusses the tanning process, and some of the science behind the solutions. He gives some insight into the tanning for...

This week on Taxidermy Truths, we discuss skinning for different mount types.  Whether you are considering a shoulder mount, pedestal, half mount, 3D mount or full mount – each display requires different instructions for skinning your animal. Then there are also the rug mounts, flat skins and backskins to think about. Planning your taxidermy along with your safari is a great way to ensure that you...

Doug recently sat down with Dylan Love of PH Journals, to have an open discussion about the role of commissions in the hunting and taxidermy industry.   They also discuss shipping, the client experience, relationships and ethical principles.  Without the hunting industry in South Africa, our wildlife would and our economy would lose value. It’s important that we stand shoulder to shoulder to keep...

Shipping your trophies shouldn’t be scary.  In this episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug unpacks the shipping process and explains the relationship between all parties involved in getting your trophies from the taxidermist to your home.   We speak about the pros and cons of ocean vs airfreight, how shipping rates are calculated and important steps to take to ensure simple and efficient passage of you...

In this episode of Taxidermy Truths, we are talking all things Replicas.  Doug sits down with Sjoerd Leistra, a master mold maker and fine artist.  They discuss the various techniques involved in creating hyper-realistic replica skulls and various other pieces used in the Taxidermy process. This fascinating artform combines age-old methodology and the latest 3D technology to create incredible repr...

The real cost of taxidermy to a hunter is the investment into a quality piece of art that you can be proud of. As hunters, we need to ask: Do I invest in this experience that I cannot get back, or do I risk a cheap deal?  Quality work comes at a cost, but taxidermists should provide value for money to hunters.   In this episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug unpacks the importance of considering the qu...