Having been in the restaurant industry for twenty two years and a chef for the past ten, I began to realize my passion as an outdoorsman was becoming overwhelming. I have hunted and fished all my life and now I was thinking about a career in taxidermy. After the local school I wanted to attend closed, I decided to look elsewhere.

Joe Boggs of Artistic Taxidermy had the one-on-one training I was looking for. ...With Joe, I experienced many areas of taxidermy work, including, game head taxidermy, bird taxidermy, fish and mammal taxidermy.  I also observed various African animals and carcass casting.  At the beginning of my sixth month with Joe, I entered three pieces in the Indiana State Taxidermy Competition where I received three third place ribbons for my work.......After opening Open Acres Taxidermy in October 2003, I competed in the VTA (Virginia Taxidermist Association) in March 2004.  I received six ribbons including two second place ribbons at the VTA.

Taxidermy is a field of continued learning, artisanship and perfecting new and everchanging methods.  It is with this belief that I would like to bring your trophy to life, whether it's the buck of a lifetime or your child's first fish.
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