Stuffing an animal takes only a couple of hours,

Stuffing an animal takes only a couple of hours, according to Rick. For the time being, he runs his taxidermy shop from his bedroom. “It really isn’t messy,” he quickly added. Taxidermy shares space on Rick’s desk with school work from a correspondence course he’s taking in conservation. The lessons emphasize forest and game management. An avid hunter and outdoor enthusiast all his life, Rick hopes to tie a career directly to his interests.

“I want to have two things going at once. I’d like to be a part-time forest ranger or game warden and a taxidermist both.” With the possibility of employment with the game commission or forestry division, he’s also studying for his high school equivalency exam, a requirement for state jobs.

To date, Rick has stuffed animals and birds for himself and for friends but plans to hang out his shingle soon for regular business. “I have to get a taxidermy license first. It costs $25 and the license year runs from June to June. There’s not much sense in getting one now,” he explained with an eye to economy. “By fall, I hope to be ready to do mounts as a business.”

In the meantime, he pays the rent and buys groceries with odd and end farm jobs, right now pruning apple trees for his landlord, Capt. George Sharp. By tailoring his lifestyle Jo a limited budget, he^Teaves himself plenty of time to pursue his first loves, hunting and fishing.

The friend who taught him taxidermy is also giving him lessons with a bow and arrow. When deer season opens this fall, Rick plans to leave his rifle at home and take to the hills with his 45pound bow. “You’ve got to be like a log in the woods to use a bow and arrow. I'm learning but it offers a lot more challenge than a rifle,” he said.

Relaxed, .self-assured and undismayed by the obstacles he confronts, Rick Talley is tackling archery with the same determination he shows ’ in mastering taxidermy or a correspondence course in conservation. He’ll probably bag his limit on opening day.