Trophy Room Build after 45 years of hunting

[Frederik]

Awesome that tree looks like a Marula tree you are building.

 

[Neophyte]

The bear habitat is nearly completed, here's a look at the Polar scene and the Grizzly fishing scene.

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You put C. J. McElroy’s trophy room to shame.

 

[enysse]

Excellent design, I guarantee a lot of us are living vicariously through you while you build this magnificent trophy room!

 

[RESERVE RANCH]

I got back to the ranch after being gone a week and a few more mounts were placed and the tree nearing completion.

Now my Grand Slam of sheep are all together.

California Bighorn

Desert Bighorn

With the addition of my Mountain Goat, I only lack the Mountain Lion to have all of the North American species in place.

 

[JES Adventures]

The tree looks amazing, we’re shooting to have the Lion mounted by year end.

 

[enysse]

The tree takes a lot of space but I’m sure the leopard in the branch is going to be amazing.

 

[RESERVE RANCH]

Thanks @enysse I agree with you that it does take up a lot of space but once you see it completed with the Lion up on the bait, you will realize why it had to be that size. I've only hunted lions three times, and the bait trees were always of significant size so I wanted to be as authentic to scale as possible.

 

[Mort Hill]

Thanks @enysse I agree with you that it does take up a lot of space but once you see it completed with the Lion up on the bait, you will realize why it had to be that size. I've only hunted lions three times, and the bait trees were always of significant size so I wanted to be as authentic to scale as possible.

Devil is in the details, and that is what I appreciate most about the development of this room. Every thing has been thought through down to the nth degree, with real life experience serving as the foundation.

 

[JES Adventures]

Thanks @Mort Hill I was very fortunate to fond a real artist in Jonathan Cazares. We talk about specific species, I send him pictures from the hunt and he recreates the habitat.

As for the details, my Gerenuk had been mounted years ago and the taxidermist used some sort of artificial tree from Hobby Lobby that in no way represents any of the native flora where Gerenuk live.

The whistling thorn Acacia is one of their primary food sources so I gave Jonathan a photo and this is what he came up with.

 

[mark-hunter]

Amazing! Pure work of art!

 

[Fixfire]

Amazing to say the least!!! Of course the animals were collected years before the habitat was developed. When instructing the taxidermy, did you already have the vision and plan on how they would fit into a yet to be developed diorama??? Everything seems to fit so perfectly!! Like one big plan coming together.

 

[RESERVE RANCH]

Amazing to say the least!!! Of course the animals were collected years before the habitat was developed. When instructing the taxidermy, did you already have the vision and plan on how they would fit into a yet to be developed diorama??? Everything seems to fit so perfectly!! Like one big plan coming together.

Thanks @Fixfire I actually didn't have a plan, nor the vision for what these rooms have become. I chose positions for certain mounts such as the Gerenuk feeding on his hind legs to display any unique habits or traits.

As for everything fitting perfectly, Jonathan started his plan for the various scenes after he viewed all of my mounted trophies in a barn and made notes of positions. Then, the taxidermy that had yet to be completed is being done in such a way to work with the habitat scenes as they are created. There have been a couple of modifications along the way but so far seem to be working out. I am ready to be finished with the construction portion, still struggling with a couple of trades on finish work and punch out.

 

[JES Adventures]

My apologies for the delay in posting, things sort of stacked up on me the last couple of months. I finished the North American 29 with my Canadian Moose early October. I am now home recovering from total knee replacement surgery yesterday.

The trophy room, for all practical purposes is finished. We got furniture and appliances in just before I left for Canada. There will be mounts continually added as the taxidermist completes them.

I finally got sit down in it last week and have a cigar and whiskey and take in all of the incredible work that a number of craftsmen put into this for me and I will forever be grateful to them.

Most especially Jonathan Cazares and his team for bringing the room to life. He is a truly gifted and talented person and I am Blessed that he came into my life.

He has promised to provide me with a drone video of the room so when I get it, I will post it hear.

In closing, a few final photos.

 

[JES Adventures]

The Mountain

 

[JES Adventures]

The Dangerous 7

 

[Mort Hill]

Good luck with the recovery and those PT administers of torture therapy! Pics are fabulous!

 

[JES Adventures]

Africa Savannah to Forest

 

[Smull1010]

Congratulations! Well done!

 

[Hunt anything]

Absolutely STUNNING!

 

[MontanaPat]

Congratulations John Ed, trophy room came out great, beautiful job. Hope the knee surgery rehab goes well