Capture The Wild Taxidermy: Denver Taxidermist

Capture The Wild Taxidermy operates differently than typical taxidermy shops. Owner Steve Minckley is a graduate of the Colorado Institute of Taxidermy (2005) and certified taxidermist who has won awards in fish, birds, life-sized mammals, shoulder mounts, and art. More importantly, he and his team are hunters and fishermen themselves—they observe animals in their natural habitat, which translates directly into anatomically accurate, lifelike mounts.

Full-Service Studio Services: - Professional tanning - Custom and commercial forms for precise anatomical accuracy - Professionally designed custom habitats and bases - Professional cleaning and inspection services for existing trophies - Free field skinning guidance (call from the field and they'll walk you through proper technique) - Free skinning if you mount your animal with them

"You can see the difference." Their gallery showcases shoulder mounts, rugs, life-sized displays, and waterfowl work. Minckley's pieces are on permanent display at Colorado Parks and Wildlife nature centers, where he donates his time maintaining and inspecting exhibits.

Turnaround time: 6-14 months without compromising quality.