Taxidermy

The thrill isn't in the kill, but in the skill of bringing to life a prized possession. Join Natalie as she introduces us to a man you can call a wildlife artist as we go Traveling West Virginia to Elkview.

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Natalie Tennant
Traveling West Virginia
Chad Cole is a hunter's best friend.

Chad Cole
Cole's Wildlife
I can't paint and I can't draw anything.

Natalie Tennant
Traveling West Virginia
But he lets hunters cherish the day they bag their trophy buck.

Chad Cole
Cole's Wildlife
The artistry involved is making the animal look real, putting him back in the natural habitat.

Natalie Tennant
Traveling West Virginia
That's what chad does. He's a Taxidermist. His thrill comes from the challenge to bring the lifeless hide back to life and make it a trophy prize and center of conversation.

Chad Cole
Cole's Wildlife
It's a story they can always tell someone, they would always remember that day for the rest of their life, they have a mount to look at.

Natalie Tennant
Traveling West Virginia
Just like any artist, chad gets better with years of work and patience. He has learned the modern techniques of taxidermy like using a hard styrofoam form.

Chad Cole
Cole's Wildlife
A lot of people think that it's the actual deer and everything is still inside it.

Natalie Tennant
Traveling West Virginia
After the meat processor, the hide and antlers are brought to chad and his tedious work begins. He must flesh out the skin, tan the hide and form it over the mold.

Chad Cole
Cole's Wildlife
I'll trim off this excess lip tucked up under.

Natalie Tennant
Traveling West Virginia
But it's his detail work that makes the difference.

Chad Cole
Cole's Wildlife
Every little details to make sure it looks real, like the oil glands.

Natalie Tennant
Traveling West Virginia
When you think of mounting a deer, you think of putting it on the wall or a plaque, but that's what makes Chad's work unique. He can mount you something on a pedestal. His imagination can go as far as your wallet.

And the finished product would be the pride of any hunter's trophy room.

Cole's Wildlife is located in Elkview and you can call 965-9005. You can also see some of Chad's work at this year's Hunting And Fishing Show later this month at the Charleston Civic Center.