Local taxidermist awarded for work at Idaho Taxidermists Association Convention

A local taxidermist was recently awarded for his efforts, winning several prominent awards at the recent Idaho Taxidermists Association’s 2016 Competition and Convention in Boise earlier this month.

John Thomas, owner of Thomas Taxidermy in Naples, entered a full-size chamois (a goat-antelope genus native to mountains in Europe) that he hunted in the wilds of New Zealand in 2008. Despite the scenic terrain, the hunt itself was anything but routine.

“The chamois was on a small ledge and when I shot, he went airborne,” Thomas said. “I watched in horror as he slid, rolled and tumbled down the mountain, at times launching 10 to 15 feet off the ground doing cartwheels. It took a half hour to work our way down the 1,500 feet he fell. When we reached the chamois, both horns were gone and his lower lip area was badly damaged. Absolutely no meat was salvageable. Three of us searched for the horns for at least two hours. Luckily both were recovered and set on his head for photos.”

Thomas tanned the skin himself, and was able to repair the broken horns. He mounted the chamois for a competition in 2014, but at the last minute was unable to attend. He stored the mount in his basement until deciding to enter the Idaho State competition earlier this month.

“Anyone from any state can can compete in that competition,” Thomas said. “There were competitors from California, Montana, Wyoming, Utah and a lot from southern Idaho.”

Thomas’ mount cleaned up at the competition, winning 1st Place in the Masters Division, Best of Category Lifesize, Taxidermist Choice Best Lifesize, Best African / Exotic entry and Van Dyke’s Taxidermy Supply Most Original and Artistic Entry.

It’s always exciting to win,” he said. “This was my first time competing in the Masters Division, which is the highest bracket of the competition. It was a great honor to be recognized like that.”

Thomas began honing his taxidermist skills part-time in 1991. A logger by trade, Thomas had built a solid reputation and clientele that he was able to work as a taxidermist full-time beginning in 2009. He attributes his love of wildlife and the outdoors for stimulating his interest in the craft.

“I was a timber cutter my whole life, and taxidermy became another option other than that,” Thomas said. “I had been doing it part-time since 1991, and then decided to give up the woods and jump into it.”

Aside from New Zealand, Thomas has also hunted extensively in Africa and Canada, experiences he always treasures.

“I love the adventure of it, hunting in different countries,” he said.

“Even more than the hunting, I enjoy the adventure of meeting the people. It’s a special experience.”