GRAVETTE — The sign at Gravette’s newest business reads “Backcountry Taxidermy - Making Outdoor Memories Last.” And when you walk through the front door, you are greeted by the handiwork and talent of the man who helps make those memories last.
Chad Smith, who has been in the taxidermy business some 15 years was busy mounting the hide and horns of an Aoudad when we visited him recently. He explained the process as he held the sheep horns in place on the form which is the base for the mounted trophy.
“The Aoudad is a sheepnative to the Barbary Coast of Africa,” he explained. The pelt he was working on came from Texas, which was home for Chad, his wife Gwen and their 10-year-old daughter Ashton before they moved to Benton County a few weeks ago.
Because the head of the Aoudad is “different,” Chad had to modify the plastic form so the large curved horns would mount properly. This even involved removing part of the skull of the form. The floor was covered with trimmings as he perfected the fit for the finished trophy mount.
“I’ve always been intrigued with taxidermy,” he said.
This led him to attend the Central Texas Schoolof Taxidermy before operating his own business.
Originally from Arkansas, near Russellville, Smith grew up in east Texas.
“But I’ve always wanted to get back to Arkansas,” he said.
While visiting with a cousin who lives in Farmington, the family traveled around the area and “we fell in love with Gravette,” he exclaimed, marveling at the town and its friendly atmosphere.
The couple recently closed on a home in the Highlands area of Bella Vista and their daughter will be in the Gravette school district. His wife Gwen is in the medical profession and is on staff at Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville.
Chad spent several weeks during the past spring remodeling and decorating his new business building which is located a half-block north of Main Street, adjacent to Highway 59. The family didn’t complete their move until the close of Ashton’s school term.
Shortly before opening the business, Chad attended seminars and classes in Wisconsin where he learned new techniques, particularly on the mounting of waterfowl.
“I try to keep abreastof new methods,” he explained, and noted that freezing pelts before they are mounted is “old fashioned.”
And what is the process now?
Smith said, “A hunter will bring in a pelt or he (the hunter) can bring in the carcass and I’ll skin it to prepare it for the tanning process.”
He sends the pelt to a tannery which completes that process. This takesseveral weeks “depending on the season and how busy they are,” he explained.
“If it’s a child’s trophy, I try to hurry up the process,” he added with a grin.
After careful measurements of the pelt, a proper form is secured for its mounting. Adding eyes, placement of the horns and other components completes the process which involves factors unique to the individual specimen.
Chad has mounted animals ranging from Impalas, Kudu (an African antelope), elk, mule deer, wolves, small game and, of course, deer.
“I do not do fish,” he said.
Smith invites people to drop by to get acquainted, and there one can see the many mounted trophies on the walls.
Open from 9 to 5 weekdays, he can be reached at 787-1091, or on his cell phone at 426-7948.
Community, Pages 12 on 07/06/2011