Taxidermist wins two awards

John Thomas, owner of Thomas Taxidermy in Naples, took two top honors with a mount of a white-tail deer during the 6th Western Regional Taxidermy Championships in Boise.

Thomas had the highest scoring white-tail and earned the award “Best in the West White-tail.”

Taxidermists from Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Arizona, California and New Mexico - who entered a record 158 mounts - also chose Thomas' buck as the best among white-tails. For that, he got the “Taxidermists' Choice Best of Show White-tail Deer.”

“Competing with a white-tail is very difficult due to the immense talent of many competitors,” Thomas said. “It was the highlight of my career.”

He also received a blue ribbon for a bobcat mount.

A taxidermist since 1992, Thomas specializes in North American and African game.

The Western Regional Taxidermy Championships is held once every two years.