Cutchin's Trail Taxidermy

Cutchins Trail Taxidermy operates both taxidermy services and a full tannery operation in White Hall, Maryland. The owner is a graduate of NorthWood Institute of Taxidermy and studied sculpture and visual arts at Carver Center for the Arts—credentials that show in the detail work.

• •Full taxidermy mounts - shoulder mounts, life-size game mounts, and custom work
• •In-house tanning - complete hide preparation from raw skin to finished leather
• •Official scoring - B&C and Pope & Young Club entry verification and scoring
• •Field care consultation - detailed guidance on proper handling before delivery

Their tannery isn't a quick operation—it's methodical. Raw hides go through multiple stages: salting and drying, rehydration, pickling to lock hair and eliminate bacteria, neutralizing, tanning oil application, and final hand-drying with air brushing. Each hide is dried individually by hand, not in a tumbler, allowing careful inspection throughout.

• •The math: This takes time because it's done right. No shortcuts, no bulk batch processing.

They provide specific field care tips to prevent common mistakes: - Don't punch holes in ears for tags - Avoid dragging or getting hides wet - Never cut the throat or hang by the neck - For shoulder mounts: cut 8 inches behind the shoulder, skin toward armpits, leave the entire armpit area intact

Multi-State Taxidermy Association Member & Award Winner

They're responsive to questions—call or email with photos or details about your project.