Burning. One unusual item he offers

Burning. One unusual item he offers is a bear rug. Once the bearskin is provided by a customer, Mr. Smoot readies it for being made into a rug. Felt is added to the bottom of the hide, and many types are available. He said that that biggest problem in working with a bear hide is to get s the odor put of the hide. It takes several applications of salt to get the grease out of it, and can take a year to dry completely.

When a customer brings an animal to Mr. Smoot, such as a bear or fox, he will send it to a tannery in North Carolina. The tanning cures the hide and sets the hair. When the hide is returned to Mr. Smoot, he soaks it in water to get it back to the original shape. He then takes specific measurements, such as the total

length, nose to eye measurement,

“Taxidermy is hard

work and it

requires a lot of

patience.”

—Mike Smoot

—--*etc.,

so that he pan order the form which goes inside the body.

!’

The skin is then mounted on the form, after any tears or holes are repaired. “There is a lot of sewing involved,” said Mr. Smoot. Tiny pins are inserted around the mouth and eyes to hold the skin in place until it is dry. It then takes from three to five weeks to dry, depending on the animal and on the weather. Mr. Smoot also uses an air compressor to blow out any dust or other particles from the hide.

One of the finishing touches is to paint around the eyes and do any touchup needed. The animal is then attached to a base or plaque for display.

A deer shoulder mount will take six to eight hours from start to finish. Bears, because of their size and greasiness, take the most time. ‘Taxidermy is hard work and it requires a lot of patience,” said Mr. Smoot. But he feels a great deal of satisfaction and pride when an animal is completed and ready for pickup by its owner.