Huntforever
AH veteran
I have a leopard hunt planned for this July and looking for a taxidermist that goods really good leopard mounts. I would appreciate the help.
Not in Texas, but would highly recommend looking into Kanati Taxidermy. They are in Pennsylvania though. They are unbelievable on Leopard.I have a leopard hunt planned for this July and looking for a taxidermist that goods really good leopard mounts. I would appreciate the help.
"HF",I have a leopard hunt planned for this July and looking for a taxidermist that goods really good leopard mounts. I would appreciate the help.
@Huntforever - I’ve seen several Leopards mounted by Kanati in PA that were outstanding and I’m very critical of taxidermy work - especially “Cats”. Kanati has mounted a Bobcat and two Lynx for me and one large Cougar for a friend —- all four were well done. Considering a Leopard might be a very special trophy I think you are smart to be researching where to get it mounted. While Texas may have as good or better taxidermists - I would Not restrict my search to one State —- it’s too important of a mount and a little extra travel or expense might be worth it.I have a leopard hunt planned for this July and looking for a taxidermist that goods really good leopard mounts. I would appreciate the help.
@Anbessa Gedai - Outstanding Leopard & Mount. I agree with everything you wrote about researching the best Leopard Taxidermist you can find and sparing no expense or effort to get the work done. Mounting “Cats” seems difficult for most taxidermists —- yours looks how it should “Life like and GREAT”"HF",
My response suggesting a taxidermist in Montana admittedly falls outside the parameters of your thread's subject line, so a little latitude is respectfully requested . . .
In my opinion, and it's just that . . . I'm not trying to impose it on anyone, but offer it up as something to consider . . .
If there is a single animal that justifies resisting any sense of frugality about taxidermy cost, or other logistics, proximity to one's home base, etc., it is a leopard.
MANY that have hunted in Africa have not and will never collect a leopard.
It is not uncommon that several hunts are required before a leopard is bagged.
Being a CITES Appendix II animal, export/import is highly regulated, and indeed prohibited by some countries. Even in those countries that allow import (like the USA), the process is subject to approval on a case-by-case basis, and how much longer this will be possible is uncertain.
And not to mention . . a leopard hunt is typically a fairly expensive undertaking.
As said, many hunters would like to have collected a leopard, but far fewer have done so, and in many of those cases they will stop at ONE leopard.
So if you're like most, you'll have one chance to get it mounted right!
Having said all the above . . . if you are successful . . . choose carefully and select the very best leopard taxidermist you can find (regardless of cost or location). You're doing well by consulting the forum and getting an early start in identifying a short list of ones whose work you like. Keep in mind, leopard are possibly the hardest animal to mount well. Deer, pronghorn, impala, kudu? ?. . . most any competent taxidermist can do an acceptable job . . . but leopard?! . . . I'd want to find the best I can find.
I bagged my second in November 2016, and at the SCI convention of 2017 (where most, if not all of the best taxidermists in the world exhibit) I spoke in detail with each of them. My father was a taxidermist, and I grew up working in the family business so I'm more familiar than most with good vs mediocre taxidermy. I went back and forth over all four days narrowing it down to a few quite renowned taxidermists . . . and I concluded the best leopard taxidermist in the universe is Phillip Soucy in Libby, MT. Once my shipment arrived, I drove it up to Phil myself and we discussed the pose. I learned that he does not use commercial forms and every leopard is mounted using a custom made form specific to your leopard, and your desired pose. I've seen lot's of lousy leopard mounts . . in fact many more lousy than those that are "acceptable". The thing to remember is you'll look at it for the rest of your life and every time you look at it, you'll feel a sense of pride and the majesty and power of the animal, OR . . . well you know. From my own experience, you should state your ideas about the pose you are favoring but be very willing to balance your thinking with the expert's advice. I've seen some mounts that were just awful, and I suspect the taxidermist's advice if it was offered, was rejected.
Here is my cat on display at the SCI convention in Las Vegas in 2018.
There was usually a crowd around it, I think it got more attention than those ladies in high heels and zebra striped pants selling raffle tickets!![]()
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And if you think the mount has a "less than athletic" belly, here is a trail cam photo from a few days before my hunt started . . .
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These are 2 proper examples of cats...open and close mouthed. Also, the first one I've seen with a wolverine incorporated. Well done.Here are two of the cats. The other is at my folks’ house and I unfortunately don’t have any photos of it on my phone.
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