Hometown: Gadsden
Occupation: Taxidermist/shop owner
Place of employment: Copeland Taxidermy
Number of years in occupation: 20 years
Q. What exactly do you do on your job?
A. I do it all when it comes to taxidermy. I skin, mount and preserve animals for people who hunt them and want to preserve them. I start off by skinning them and filling them with an environmentally friendly polyurethane molding.
Q. What is a typical day like for you?
A. Every day is very different. I receive animal deliveries every day, and around this time of the year is the busiest season. I wake up early in the morning and I am out picking up dead animals for customers.
Q. How did you get in to taxidermy?
A. This whole thing started as a seasonal job back when I was younger and grew into a full-time, year-round gig.
I have always had a fascination with the work and thought that I could make a decent living with it, especially in this area where a lot of hunters are.
Q. What is the favorite part about your job?
A. The most rewarding part about this job is making the finished product look life-like and real. When people see my work, they always come back.
Q. What is the least favorite part about your job?
A. The thing I like the least about my job is the long hours.
