11-30-2024 10:49am

Meet Tim Patton ... A Taxidermist

Beth Callahan Editor

MORROW, OH -- Taxidermy is an interesting and sometimes a controversial subject when it comes to ethics. But for many, taxidermy is the preservation of beauty, nature and life. And for Tim Patton, of Patton’s Taxidermy Shop located in Morrow, Ohio, it is his career, trade and way of making a living.

Patton, 39, has been practing “the art” of a taxidermy since he was 11 years old when started helping his dad. After talking with Patton and visiting his shop, a person can see that not only does he have the knowledge of taxidermy, but he has the artistic skills needed to bring the skins of the animal back into a life-like figure.

“My dad used to do it… I just thought it was really neat, and I liked hanging out with him in the shop," Patton said, adding that his dad still comes in and helps.

Back about 40 years ago people stuffed the skins, "with whatever they had... newspaper, saw dust, papermache ... and they would wrap the hide around that so the skin would keep its shape," he said, explaining that..."now we have modern forms that go under the skin. That's how it keeps its shape more anatomically accurate. It's a better product than what was around 40 year ago."

Along with getting the hide of the animal mounted correctly onto the form, Patton needs to sculpt in the veins and the muscles around the eyes and the ears to make the figure as life-like as possible. Once the sculpturing is finished, Patton explained that he uses airbrushing and oil paints to help finish the image. In creating the life-like eyes, glass eyes are used.

"I've have done restoration on figures that are 100-years-old. They used glass dropped-eyes ... hot glass dropped in, which they would layer up. Then, we went to marbles. Now we use eyes made of glass," he said pointing to a box of eyes sitting on one of his work tables.

While deer (figures) are the biggest item he makes each year, Patton noted he does 4 to 5 elk each year too. "I've done almost anything... black bear, grizzly bear from Alaska, catches from Africa after someone has gone on a safari, birds and other wild life, such as squirrels" he said, adding, "I even do domestic animals...some people just really want to memorialize their pet."

People use taxidermy for a lot of reasons. "It might be their very first harvest or the biggest deer they have taken or a unique fish...There's a lot of reasons people like to have something taxidermied," Patton said.

When asked what was the most unique or strangest request he had ever gotten, he stopped and thought for a moment. Then, said, "I didn't do this, but somebody called, and they were having their arm amputated and wanted to see if I could preserve their arm. I told them, 'legally I don't think I am allowed to do that.'"

Patton explained that while some states require a special license to do taxidermy, Ohio does not. And while Ohio may not require a license, the many award ribbons Patton has received, shows he knows what he is doing.

"I compete in the Professional Level," Patton explained, sharing that he has a 1st Place Ribbon in the Professional level in both the State of Ohio and Eastern Region Maryland. In the World Competition, he received a 2nd Place Ribbon in Professional and a 3rd Place Ribbon in Nationals.

Patton, who does taxidermy full time, explained that the turn around time for a finished product is about 14 months. "Let's say somebody catches something. They bring it in that day, and we give you an estimated completion date and we hold on to the hide for them," Patton explained.

One of the jobs Patton is proud of, and can be seen by many, is the moose head at deSha's American Tavern in Montgomery, Ohio.

To learn more about Patton's Taxidermy Shop visit www.pattonstaxidermyshop.com or call 513-535-9067.