
Backcountry Custom Taxidermy has served Alaska hunters and fishermen since 1998 under the direction of award-winning taxidermist Dan Lewis. With over 45 years of professional experience, Lewis specializes in turning your hunting trophy into a lasting piece of wildlife art. This is a one-man operatio...
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Full description and what we offer
Backcountry Custom Taxidermy has served Alaska hunters and fishermen since 1998 under the direction of award-winning taxidermist Dan Lewis. With over 45 years of professional experience, Lewis specializes in turning your hunting trophy into a lasting piece of wildlife art.
This is a one-man operation. Lewis handles the entire process himself—no assembly line, no shortcuts. He works with top-tier materials and tanneries to ensure realistic, detailed work that hunters come back for year after year.
Specializations: - Alaska big game taxidermy (bears, moose, caribou, mountain goats, sheep) - African and exotic wildlife mounts - Birds and waterfowl - Full-body mounts, rugs, pedestal mounts, and custom designs
| Service | Details |
|---|---|
| Alaska Big Game Taxidermy | Bears, moose, caribou, dall sheep, mountain goats |
| African Exotic Game | Lion, elephant, antelope, and other international trophies |
| Birds & Waterfowl | Migratory and upland game birds |
| Trophy Expediting | Logging, tagging, inspection, re-salting, and shipping coordination |
| Crating & Shipping | International and domestic trophy transport |
| Specialty Work | Detachable antlers, velvet stripping, antler bleaching/staining, velvet preservation |
| Restoration & Cleaning | Restore and refresh older trophy mounts |
| Insurance Appraisals | Professional valuation for insurance claims |
Licensed Guide & Outfitter Discount: 10% off all taxidermy work. Competitive pricing on all services.
Taxidermy takes time. You're typically looking at 9-18 months from drop-off to finished mount. Here's why:
1. Seasonal surge - Guides and outfitters deliver trophies in waves, not evenly throughout the year. Dan once received 16 bears (brown and black) in just two weeks in May.
2. Professional tanning required - Lewis uses Wildlife Gallery and New Method Tanning, industry-standard commercial tanneries. These have 3-month turnarounds on their own. Lewis then needs at least another month to complete the mount.
3. One person, no shortcuts - This shop doesn't scale. Precision Forms bodies and top-tier materials mean quality work, not rushed work.
"His work is Superb if you don't mind waiting awhile. We have a beautiful grizzly bear rug. Alan and I could not be happier and will enjoy this rug for years to come." - Customer review
Whether you're hunting in Alaska, Africa, Canada, or anywhere worldwide, Lewis handles the logistics.
From the field - Two shipping methods:
Ship Frozen: - Wrap trophy in plastic - Insulate with 2-3 inches of paper - Mark box "Perishable" and use next-day or overnight air - Contact shop before shipping
Ship Salted: - Ensure hide is completely dried - Eyes, lips, ears fully turned - All excess meat removed - NO plastic—use paper or burlap wrapping - Split large skullcaps for easier shipping - Protect antlers with packing and hose pieces over tines
International imports from abroad: Address shipments: ``` Your Name c/o Backcountry Custom Taxidermy 7933 Jewel Lake Rd Anchorage, AK 99502 ```
Airport proximity advantage: New Anchorage location is close to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, making trophy pickup convenient for customers and easy handling of shipments.
For international hunters exporting trophies, Lewis can arrange: - Export permits and inspections required to leave Alaska - CITES compliance for protected species - Federal identification tags for migratory waterfowl - Processing typically takes up to 2 weeks
"We couldn't be happier with the work of Backcountry. They truly know their craft and execute it with genuine pride. We had to wait a while but the wait was worth it." - Customer review
Serving Alaska since 1998. Good hunting.
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