I have an Uncle who is an avid game hunter in Indiana and he just has the coolest collection of mounted game. I can still picture the largest bear head I've seen up close (there may be a larger bear head but on a living bear). These animals look so life like as much as you'd like to be revolted, you are in awe of a part of something rarely seen up close.

While I hinge my jaw, this started my fascination with Taxidermy. This is the art and science of creating a three dimensional replica of an animal with its skin mounted on a mold. The effect is life-like when done right, when you surf the net, taxidermy specialists are a handful which makes it easier to spot a good animal trophy maker.

Taxidermy has been around since the 1700's. While establishing the science of taxidermy, this practice was seen as horrible and can scare anyone. This started when hunters brought the skins of their game to furniture makers, paying them to sew the pieces of skin together an maybe patch up where its wound is then stuff it with cotton or fiber. Picture a lopsided pillow and relate it to a wounded animal patched up and stuffed with lumpy cotton, hideous!

As years passed when hunters liked the ferocity and the reputation it'll add to anyones hunting skills for being able to bag a menacing looking creature, taxidermy caught on. As years passed, upholsterers and furniture makers branched out to this practice until it became a specialty service for those who had visions for this skill and craft.

Stuffing became mounts which were made from molds of the animal's body according to its real size. Fishing became big game too and often when the 'big one' didn't get away, it got mounted and displayed for everyone to marvel at.

Today, taxidermy is often referred to more as an art rather than a science which it is (chemicals are used for preservation you know). Most mounted game are 95% accurate and real, synthetics are used for the mouth, soft tissues around the mouth and tongue. While clay and maybe silicon is used for the eye lids, while eyes are of glass. Fish mounting has made a turn which is much appreciated by environmentalists (even the slightest relief). Fishes are measured precisely and then thrown back into the sea- unless it is pictured tail-up in a winch then we can assume it to be dead.

For lack of space, preservation of species may be unlikely so I guess people will turn to Taxidermy for future generations to have an idea what a specie of bear or deer look like…