Keeling Taxidermy

James Keeling mounts what hunters kill. He's been doing it since his grandfather taught him at age 8 in central Oregon—starting with a squirrel, fishing line, and paper towels. Now it's his career, and he takes the work seriously.

Keeling Taxidermy specializes in North American big and small game. Every mount gets hours of detail work. No rushing. The goal is simple: get your trophy back properly preserved and on time.

Keeling handles the full range of taxidermy work:

• •Life-size mounts – Full body poses with custom habitat or wildlife scenes (6-12 months)
• •Shoulder mounts – The standard trophy display (6-12 months)
• •Half-life size mounts – Scaled versions for tighter spaces
• •Pedestal mounts – Wall or floor mounted with simple base construction included
• •Horn mounts & European mounts – Faster turnaround (4-6 months)
• •Rug mounts – Full hide displays
• •Custom scenes – Habitat and wildlife backdrops built to spec
• •Specialty work – Trophy restoration, replacement capes, antler repair, velvet preservation, detachable antlers, artificial velvet application

All hides and capes receive professional tanning. All materials used are high quality. Pedestal mounts are available. Life-size mounts come standard with simple base construction.

• •Your hide's condition in the field determines your mount's quality. Keeling's website includes detailed field dressing and caping instructions because damage in the first few hours after death is when most trophies get ruined. The key points:

• •Get it cooled and skinned fast
• •Leave plenty of hide on the brisket—extra hide beats cutting too short
• •Store in breathable material (burlap), never plastic bags
• •If freezing, double-bag in heavy-duty garbage bags, roll out air, seal with duct tape
• •Don't drag with rope—use a sled or four-wheeler to avoid hide damage
• •Caping (especially the delicate nose, mouth, eyes, ears) is best left to the taxidermist

For remote hunts with no freezer access nearby, ask about salting the entire cape including the head—the only preservation method that works in those situations.

Turnaround depends on the mount type: - Horn and European mounts: 4-6 months - Shoulder and life-size mounts: 6-12 months (varies based on complexity and current workload)

Call for pricing on specific mounts. 50% deposit required before work begins. There's a 3% charge for credit/debit card transactions. Prices don't include tax.

Contact: - (208) 946-7030 - [email protected] - Blanchard, Idaho

Keeling sees taxidermy as an art—a way to preserve memories. Your kid's first deer. A trophy hunt from years back. Something worth saving and celebrating. That's the work he does.

"Being an outdoorsman is my way of life. I take my work very seriously! I spend many hours on each mount to get every detail right, never rushing through a job."

The Keeling family hunts, fishes, and camps. They also support military and police. Walk in with a fresh hide, stay patient during the process, and get back a mount that looks alive.