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My leopard is back from the taxidermist!
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I shot this leopard while hunting with HHK Safaris (guided by Ivan Carter) in Zimbabwe (2002).



For a variety of reasons, I did not send it off to the taxidermist until recently.

I am posting this here as the base chosen was different than is typically seen for a leopard. I can not believe how good it came out after having been wet tanned in my freezer for the last 7 years!














The work was done by

Dan Catlin
http://www.thewildlifegallery.com/taxidermy.htm
The Wildlife Gallery

Here is a link to the story about hunting this cat

http://forums.accuratereloadin...271028701#4271028701
 
Posts: 276 | Location: hendersonville, nc 28739 | Registered: 18 June 2002Reply With Quote
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Stunning !!!!!!!


Gerhard
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Posts: 1659 | Location: Dullstroom- Mpumalanga - South Africa | Registered: 14 May 2005Reply With Quote
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Ron,

Absolutely magnificent! You must be very satisfied.

Dave
 
Posts: 2270 | Location: Zimbabwe | Registered: 28 February 2007Reply With Quote
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Ron,

That's very nice and definitely one of the best I've seen.

Congrats,

Mark


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Posts: 13088 | Location: LAS VEGAS, NV USA | Registered: 04 August 2002Reply With Quote
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Incredibly stunning pose, and beautiful beyond belief. Congratulations! I still sit down in front of mine, and remember the hunt like it was yesterday.
 
Posts: 1517 | Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho | Registered: 03 June 2004Reply With Quote
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Ron,

FANTASTIC !!!! Excellent work and pose.

In which HHK Concession did you get the leopard?


Kathi

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"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page."
 
Posts: 9535 | Location: Chicago | Registered: 23 July 2003Reply With Quote
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From the looks of your mount, we should all keep them in our freezer for 7 years.
Another vote for stunning! thumb
 
Posts: 64 | Registered: 21 August 2006Reply With Quote
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Very beautiful!
 
Posts: 18581 | Registered: 04 April 2005Reply With Quote
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WOW Inredible work on a BIG TOM. Sure one of the best Taxidermy work i ever have seen.

Seloushunter


Nec Timor Nec Temeritas
 
Posts: 2298 | Registered: 29 May 2005Reply With Quote
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WOW. That is possibly the nicest leopard mount I have ever seen. I am usually very disappointed in how the face turns out in most mounts I have seen. I really like that one. Congrats and kudos to your taxi for a great job.

Cheers
Canuck



 
Posts: 7123 | Location: The Rock (southern V.I.) | Registered: 27 February 2001Reply With Quote
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Kathi

I hunted Chete in Zimbabwe for the leopard.

I couldn't believe how life-like the cat was when I first saw it. Part of my delay in getting it mounted was that I understood the difficulty in getting the cats face and eyes to look alive. Ivan Carter recently sent me several photos of another cat the Dan Catlin did which also came out stunning. Go to his website and you will see more of his work with cats.

This cat was entered into competition this last March at the Michigan State Taxidermy Competition. I am told that it took first place in the large life sized mammals division and there were over 300 entered. Dan claims to have three World Champion Taxidermist working in his shop and one of them mounted my cat.



The other interesting thing it only took less 3 months to get the work done. Now granted, I had the hide already wet-tanned before I sent it to Dan but the turn around time on this project was exceptional.

 
Posts: 276 | Location: hendersonville, nc 28739 | Registered: 18 June 2002Reply With Quote
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Your leopard mount is among the very best I have ever seen.

Excellent cat and excellent taxidermy.

Congrats, Ron!


Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
 
Posts: 13757 | Location: New England | Registered: 06 June 2003Reply With Quote
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Nice mount.
 
Posts: 11651 | Location: Montreal | Registered: 07 November 2002Reply With Quote
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Beautiful mount, nicely done.


Jerry Huffaker
State, National and World Champion Taxidermist



 
Posts: 2017 | Registered: 27 February 2002Reply With Quote
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Ron, do you have any idea how much the leopard weighed? Estimate from Ivan or others? It's a fine cat for anywhere, but a truly fantastic one for the Valley - it looks like a lowveld leopard. My guess is 150+ pounds, 7 foot 4 inches.....

Dave
 
Posts: 2270 | Location: Zimbabwe | Registered: 28 February 2007Reply With Quote
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Amazing, but for God's sake man, get that goblet of red wine the hell away from that cat. That stuff stains! Smiler


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Posts: 2897 | Location: Boston, MA | Registered: 04 January 2005Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Kamo Gari:
Amazing, but for God's sake man, get that goblet of red wine the hell away from that cat. That stuff stains! Smiler


If it's the first goblet it should be okay Smiler
 
Posts: 2270 | Location: Zimbabwe | Registered: 28 February 2007Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by David Hulme:
quote:
Originally posted by Kamo Gari:
Amazing, but for God's sake man, get that goblet of red wine the hell away from that cat. That stuff stains! Smiler


If it's the first goblet it should be okay Smiler


Not if his friends are anything like mine. They're a clumsy lot of sods! Wink


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Posts: 2897 | Location: Boston, MA | Registered: 04 January 2005Reply With Quote
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David

You were right on the money! My journal says that it was 7 foot 4 inches and 150 pounds.

We were just having a glass of red wine to welcome the leopard. Nothing was spilled.

The leopard is presently sitting in the middle of our dining room table. I have told my wife that it is her new center piece. As you can see, she is forcing herself to smile.



The leopard will be here for a couple of days and then up out of the way of people.

quote:
Originally posted by David Hulme:
Ron, do you have any idea how much the leopard weighed? Estimate from Ivan or others? It's a fine cat for anywhere, but a truly fantastic one for the Valley - it looks like a lowveld leopard. My guess is 150+ pounds, 7 foot 4 inches.....

Dave
 
Posts: 276 | Location: hendersonville, nc 28739 | Registered: 18 June 2002Reply With Quote
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Picture of Bill C
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What an outstanding mount, as others have said, the best facial expression that I have ever seen. A true work of art!
 
Posts: 3153 | Location: PA | Registered: 02 August 2002Reply With Quote
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Bill

I had asked the Dan Catlin to have his ears forward in an inquisitive look. Dan also suggested that we have his mouth open as if he was panting. It was the perfect combination!
 
Posts: 276 | Location: hendersonville, nc 28739 | Registered: 18 June 2002Reply With Quote
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That is a very nice mount! Congrats!


Antlers
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Posts: 1990 | Location: AL | Registered: 13 February 2002Reply With Quote
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Can someone explain what "wet tanning" is? That is a beautiful mount BTW.
Thanks, Peter.


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Posts: 10515 | Location: Jacksonville, Florida | Registered: 09 January 2004Reply With Quote
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Awesome! WOW!


Rusty
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Posts: 9797 | Location: Missouri City, Texas | Registered: 21 June 2000Reply With Quote
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WOW, and I thought I had a nice leopard! I think yours beats mine out. Maybe I should have let mine sit in the freezer awhile...unfortunately I couldn't wait!



You have a wonderful trophy and an awesome mount. I tip my glass to you and congratulations are in order! beer

Dr. Tim
 
Posts: 166 | Location: Caledonia, Michigan | Registered: 15 August 2006Reply With Quote
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Ah, Dr Tim, your cat is mighty fine too. Also 150+ pounds?

Dave
 
Posts: 2270 | Location: Zimbabwe | Registered: 28 February 2007Reply With Quote
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Those guys friggin nailed it. That is by far the best Leopard mount I have seen. Am saving the link to the shop...
 
Posts: 7828 | Registered: 31 January 2005Reply With Quote
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Absolutely beautiful. The hardest part of a cat is the face and that is perfect!


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Posts: 839 | Location: LA | Registered: 28 May 2002Reply With Quote
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Picture of Canuck
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quote:
Originally posted by Ron L:
David

You were right on the money! My journal says that it was 7 foot 4 inches and 150 pounds.

We were just having a glass of red wine to welcome the leopard. Nothing was spilled.

The leopard is presently sitting in the middle of our dining room table. I have told my wife that it is her new center piece. As you can see, she is forcing herself to smile.



The leopard will be here for a couple of days and then up out of the way of people.

quote:
Originally posted by David Hulme:
Ron, do you have any idea how much the leopard weighed? Estimate from Ivan or others? It's a fine cat for anywhere, but a truly fantastic one for the Valley - it looks like a lowveld leopard. My guess is 150+ pounds, 7 foot 4 inches.....

Dave


The more I look at it the more impressed I am. It looks alive in the photo with you and your wife.

Most true-to-life leopard mount I have ever seen...no doubt about it.

Cheers
Canuck



 
Posts: 7123 | Location: The Rock (southern V.I.) | Registered: 27 February 2001Reply With Quote
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Great mount indeed, congratulations.

I am also expecting mine to be delivered next week it was also shot with HHK but in Omay area.


Ahmed Sultan
 
Posts: 733 | Registered: 29 June 2007Reply With Quote
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Looks great !!!


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Posts: 759 | Location: Germany | Registered: 30 March 2006Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Ron,

That's very nice and definitely one of the best I've seen.

Congrats,

Mark


x2 beer
 
Posts: 5886 | Location: Sydney,Australia  | Registered: 03 July 2005Reply With Quote
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But Ron:

How did You survived this: If I would keep aleopard 7 years in my freezer, my wife is going and kill me... !!!

Roll Eyes Big Grin beer


life is too short for not having the best equipment You could buy...
www.titanium-gunworks.de
 
Posts: 759 | Location: Germany | Registered: 30 March 2006Reply With Quote
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Great work!


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Posts: 777 | Location: Socialist Republic of California | Registered: 27 February 2005Reply With Quote
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Leopards are tough to get right. Yours is a beauty.


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Posts: 19380 | Location: Ocala Flats | Registered: 22 May 2002Reply With Quote
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The minute I saw it I said 'That looks like a Wildlife Gallery mount ! '' Nobody does a better job on their stuff than Dan, Brad and their team.
Dan is doing a 14 foot croc lifesize for me and I can't wait till I get it home. Really a fantastic cat , a great memory forever captured in your trophy room. When Ivan gets back from Zim I will tell him to look it up as I know he will want to see it. Great job all around !


Dave Fulson
 
Posts: 1467 | Registered: 20 December 2007Reply With Quote
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Don't know what to say that has not been said,but...WOW that is a work of art
congratulations on the Leapard
 
Posts: 1662 | Location: Winston,Georgia | Registered: 07 July 2007Reply With Quote
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Absolutely beautiful!


Have gun- Will travel
The value of a trophy is computed directly in terms of personal investment in its acquisition. Robert Ruark
 
Posts: 3831 | Location: Cave Creek, AZ | Registered: 09 August 2001Reply With Quote
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That Sir is one magnificent cat.

Well done






Member NRA, SCI- Life #358 28+ years now!
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Posts: 3611 | Location: LV NV | Registered: 22 October 2002Reply With Quote
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As noted -- the eyes and face of a cat is truly one of the most difficult items in the world of taxidermy to get right -- and this mount has achieved that in spades!!---
Awsome!!-- I may irritate him but am sending these picturs to my taxidermist
G


OMG!-- my bow is "pull-push feed" - how dreadfully embarrasing!!!!!
 
Posts: 933 | Location: 8K Ft in Colorado | Registered: 10 December 2005Reply With Quote
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