Whether you hunt deer, elk, antelope, bears, or wild hogs, when you take a trophy big-game animal, you'll want to preserve it forever. But why hire a professional taxidermist to handle your game animal when you can do it yourself? Not only will you save money, but you'll have the satisfaction of crafting your own mount with base, background, and everything else associated with it. Drawing on generations of experience, the author covers all aspects of the art. From proper field care and preservation to assembling life-size mounts and rugs, this book will help any individual to approach master status. Chapters cover topics such as proper skinning and fleshing techniques, preservation methods, shoulder mounts, rugging methods, dealing with horned animals, and basic base building, along with novelty mounts. Drawing on generations of experience, author Todd Triplett relates a lifetime of invaluable tips on the subtle arts of the ear and mouth--when to choose open and when to choose closed--and why field care is where good taxidermy starts. Whether the reader is pursuing taxidermy as a hobby or a profession, The Complete Guide to Big-Game Taxidermy will prove an invaluable guide.