Around 90 Entries at 2022 Wyoming Taxidermy Show

Sheridan Mayor Rich Bridger checks out the mounts at the show.

Around 90 taxidermists and wildlife artists displayed their works at the 2022 Wyoming Association of Taxidermy Artists Show at the Ramada in Sheridan on April 7-9.

Sheridan Mayor Rich Bridger attended the show and was asked by the WATA to name a Mayor’s Choice Award for this year, and he was impressed by the quality of the mounts on display.

Nate Winterland, who owns Winterland Taxidermy in Sheridan and is vice president of the WATA, said “We have displays from novice up to the master’s division, the quality is great, and there are some great pieces this year.”

Mounts ranged from small, a baby skunk that had been found stepped on by a cow in the pasture, to an African lion and almost anything in between.

Entries were judged on quality of the work, Clint Weber, of Snake River Taxidermy in Baggs, Wyoming, was one of the judges at this year’s show. “We look for anatomical accuracy, skin alignment, grooming, and mechanics, such as ‘drumming’ where the hide pulls away from the form.”

He added that the quality of the work in the show was ‘very nice’ this year.

Ben Simmons, who works at Nature’s Design in Cody, displayed his mounts of a baby skunk, a fox shoulder mount, a coyote looking at a squirrel, and a bobcat painting, said that he has been doing taxidermy for 3 years, and enjoys coming to the shows to see what the judges have to say about his work so he can continue to improve his taxidermy skills.

Several vendors also had booths set up at the show, displaying woodcraft, guns, and artwork.