The Exquisite Art of Taxidermy, with Dan Moncrief

I may not be an expert, but after seeing my fair share of mounts, I can spot good taxidermy when I see it. Dan Moncrief is one of the experts. He's been a taxidermist since 1986 and is an artist in every sense of the word. His attention to detail, realism, and artistry is truly something special, and is undoubtedly what won him a first-place cougar mount in international competition. In this episode, we dive deep into the process and craftsmanship behind his creations while reminiscing on some of our favorite hunts.

Moncrief Wildlife Artistry
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Chapters

• 3:47 Morel Mushrooms
• 7:18 History of Taxidermy
• 9:05 Working at the Sawmill
• 11:43 Watercolor
• 15:28 Too Close to the Work
• 19:55 Unspoken Language in Hunting
• 23:10 Tracking
• 24:44 Getting into Taxidermy
• 26:22 Where Do Mounts Go Wrong?
• 27:47 Taxidermy Competitions
• 30:47 Critical Feedback
• 33:49 Commercial vs Competition Mounts
• 35:33 Modifying the Mannequin
• 37:43 How to Cape Your Animal
• 39:23 What to Fix and Leave
• 42:30 Big Idaho Buck
• 47:40 Making Habitats
• 50:33 Passing Down Mounts
• 51:27 European Mounts
• 53:21 Bring in a Good Cape
• 57:54 Drawing Tags
• 1:03:40 Enjoying Hunting Through Others
• 1:05:56 African Hunting
• 1:14:20 Mounting Unfamiliar Animals
• 1:15:18 Tanneries and Customer Service
• 1:20:55 Working Up Bighorns
• 1:22:40 Mule Deer Predictions and Management
• 1:30:48 Hire Dan