(View a slide show of the animals here.)
I just spent the past hour in the judges chambers where a panel of experts is examining hudreds of trophy mounts ranging from the benign (deer) to the outrageous (gorillas). Personally, I liked this piece featuring a turkey vulture fighting a opossum.
Of course, there are even more magnificent fight scenes also on display here.
"It takes profound skill to do this," notes volunteer Craig Lewis. "The most important thing is to remove any part of the animal that might rot, stink or get eaten by bugs."
Lewis, a member of the United Taxidermy Association, flew into town on Tuesday from Washington state to assist in the judging. Like others here, he's quick to inform that "a taxidermist is a really an artist."
And what awesome artists they are. Observe these mounts below from the so-called "masters of masters" taxidermists. Want more photos? Click here.
The conference, at the St. Charles Convention Center, is open to the public tomorrow night from 6 until 10 and again Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Dozens o' deer heads. View more photos here.
A silverback Gorilla comes in at eye-level. View more photos here.
A confused mountain lion. View more photos here.
A zebra head also comes in at eye-level. View more photos here.
A (permanently) resting calf. View more photos.
A lion's feast. View more photos.
