Last year Skip Sims reached the league of master taxidermists. This year he is recognized as their best.
Sims, operator of Garden of the Gods Taxidermy near Humms Wye in Pope County, unexpectedly advanced from the Professional Division to the Master's Division during the Grand National Wild Turkey and Whitetail Deer Taxidermy Competition of the National Wild Turkey Federation in 2009.
On Feb. 20 and 21 he won awards with his wild turkeys for Masters Best of Show, Masters Best Strutting, Masters Best Group and for his deer head he won Masters Best Deer.
Sims was humbled simply to advance to the Masters Division. He looks at his work as art, but also as his livelihood. Except when he takes off hunting, a typical day is fitting hides over molds or air brushing turkey heads from about 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in his shop. Though he has been a taxidermist since he was a teenager, he never expected recognition as the best of the best.
"I really didn't expect to do this well. I kind of thought I was moving a little too soon. Competing against the big guys was overwhelming," Sims said.
Sims' turkey submission depicted a moment in the lives of two male Rio Grande turkeys in their native ground of west Texas.
"This scene represents the Texas hill country in the panhandle with love grass and sand," Sims said.
Both birds are strutting with their feathers outstretched. One has its head lower than the other. The bird with the higher head is the dominant tom of the drove.
-- DeNeal receives e-mail at bdeneal@yourclearwave.com.
HUMMS WYE —
