Bowman taxidermist John Mellis has been remodeling hunted animals since the mid-1980s.
Bowman, South Carolina — This is an old art form and it’s not for everyone.
John Mellis has been turning game animals into art since the mid-1980s.
“People want to go out and hunt animals, we call it trophy-taking, so they want to have a memory that lasts forever,” Mellis said.
He owns the Great Outdoors Taxidermy in Bowman and also processes venison.
He says there are many people in the town who enjoy hunting and fishing outdoors.
The art’s popularity is growing with people wanting bigger animals.
“Deer hunting is so popular here that they may have their first deer head. It’s going to work,” Merris said.
For the past several years, the South Carolina Taxidermy Society has held an annual convention in Columbia. A lot of people gather from all over the country.
Judges will evaluate how well the artist maintains the integrity of the animal’s anatomy.
“It’s art. We’re trying to bring things to life through taxidermy,” said Chuck Mulkey, president of the SC Taxidermy Society.
For the past few years, Mellis has won South Carolina’s Taxidermy of the Year title. He says the art form continues to change and grow.
“You have to study animals. Fish, birds in their natural environment. You need to know as much as you can about them, and you need to be able to interpret the information you get from that research,” Mellis said. says.
The Great Outdoors Taxidermy and Deer Processing is located at 6066 Vance Road, Bowman.