Bob Frye / Tribune-Review
Here and below are some examples of the mounts created by taxidermists in past years.
Eating boiled hot dogs can keep you from starving to death.
And, if you never ate anything else, ever, you’d take them for what they were and move on.
One good filet mignon would ruin you, though, right? Hot dogs would still keep you alive, but they’d never taste the same again.
Expect to be ruined – in a good way – if you go to the Pennsylvania Taxidermist Association’s 37th annual show. It’s set for March 16-19 at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Champion, Somerset County.
The show serves as the association’s annual convention. Members are able to talk to vendors, attend seminars, mingle with their peers and what not.
A portion of the show – from 12-5 p.m. on Saturday – is open to the public. Visitors can check out the mounts produced for competition.
There will be some stunning work on display.
If your vision of taxidermy is a musty, dusty stuffed head on a wall, this will open your eyes to what’s possible. It’s no wonder some view taxidermy as an art form.
There will be everything from bears and mountain lions to waterfowl, furbearers and fish on display, and the best works will showcase those animals in all kinds of poses and with all kinds of backgrounds and scenery.
It’s definitely worth a look, especially if you think you might ever want to get something mounted someday.
Cost of admission is $5, though children younger than 12 get in free with an adult. Details can be found here.
