Taxidermy Truths
Episodes
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 50 | Shows Feedback
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The US shows in 2026 confirmed it: the hunting industry is alive and thriving. A renewed energy is evident, with hunters young and old continuing to i...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 49 | Conservation by the Bullet
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Conservation by the Bullet. A recent article published in the Daily Maverick, highlighting the numbers of hunted animals in South Africa has sparked d...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 48 | Year in review
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
2025 has been an incredible year in the hunting industry, in South Africa and across the world. In this year’s the final episode of Taxidermy Trut...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 47 | Skullies
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Small skulls that are making a big impact on the hunting industry. On this episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug sits down with the team from Skullies. ...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 46 | Tagging
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tagging might seem like a small step in the hunting and taxidermy process - but it’s one of the most critical. From the moment an animal is harveste...
Taxidermy Truth | Episode 45 | Only in SA - Petrol Attendants
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We are wrapping up Heritage month in South Africa – and we’re excited to launch the third episode of our Only in SA series on Taxidermy Truths. ...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 44 | Only in SA Part 2
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Taxidermy Truths, we are diving into part 2 of our Only in South Africa series. If you have hunted in South Africa, you would have been...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 43 | Only in South Africa
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Only in South Africa!  This episode of Taxidermy Truths is something a bit different. Doug steps out of the taxidermy and into the taxi and chats ...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 42 | Preparing For The Hunt
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The right gear can make or break your hunting experience. In this episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug chats to Ryan Efurd - the founder of technical h...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 41 | Truth be Told
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Truth be Told - your taxidermy questions answered. We get a lot of questions about taxidermy coming through our channels. In this Q&A episode of...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 40 | Good Form
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered what lies beneath the skin of a taxidermy mount? In this episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug discusses the art of creating anatomically ...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 39 | US VS SA Taxidermy Models
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Taxidermy Truths – Doug draws a comparison between the US and South African models of taxidermy. He discusses the relationships...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 38 | The Real Cost of Shipping
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shipping shouldn’t be scary. Having the right information and planning ahead can avoid headaches and surprise costs when it’s time to get your b...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 37 | Hunting as a Conservation tool
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug has the privilege of speaking to Ivan Carter, a renowned conservationist, TV personality, professio...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 36 | 5 Things I Wish I Knew
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With 25 years of experience in the hunting and taxidermy industry, Doug has learned his fair share of lessons in his career along the way. This epis...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 35 | Pooling of Clients
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pooling of clients occurs when multiple hunters ship their trophies in one crate – with one set of hunting documents to save money. This is illegal ...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 34 | US Shows Feedback 2025
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug shares some feedback from the annual marketing shows in January in the USA. He talks about the go...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 33 | Growing up in the Taxidermy Industry
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The first Taxidermy Truths of the year is a truly special one. Doug sits down with two sisters that have grown up in the taxidermy industry. Kerry a...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 32 | The Year in Review 2024
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
That’s a wrap. In the final episode of Taxidermy Truths for 2024, Doug discusses the Year in Review. We look back on what has been an incredibl...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 31 | Finding Solutions: The Chemistry of Tanning
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In order to create taxidermy that is anatomically correct, you need to be able to stretch the skin. Tanning replaces the fats, oils and moisture from ...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 30 | Skinning for Taxidermy
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Taxidermy Truths, we discuss skinning for different mount types. Whether you are considering a shoulder mount, pedestal, half mount, 3D...
Commissions in the Hunting industry | A PH Journals & Splitting Image Taxidermy Podcast
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Doug recently sat down with Dylan Love of PH Journals, to have an open discussion about the role of commissions in the hunting and taxidermy industry....
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 29 | Shipping your Taxidermy
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shipping your trophies shouldn’t be scary. In this episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug unpacks the shipping process and explains the relationship be...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 28 | All things Replicas
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Taxidermy Truths, we are talking all things Replicas. Doug sits down with Sjoerd Leistra, a master mold maker and fine artist. ...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 27 | Cost of Taxidermy
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The real cost of taxidermy to a hunter is the investment into a quality piece of art that you can be proud of. As hunters, we need to ask: Do I invest...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 26 | Colours Variants
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve hunted a Black Impala, Copper Springbuck or Golden Wildebeest, then you know about the array of colour variants and the diversity on offer...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 25 | Tiny Ten Discussion
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Tiny Ten is one of Africa’s most spectacular collections of wildlife. These animals may be small in stature, but Tiny Ten hunting is extremely...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 24 | Women in the Hunting Industry
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Women in Wildlife Today we celebrate Women’s Day in South Africa. So, for this week’s episode of Taxidermy Truths, we thought it was only fitt...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 23 | Hunting for Health
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hunting for Health In this week’s episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug discusses the impact of hunting on health. From the adrenaline and dopamine re...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 22 | Permits Explained
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Taxidermy Truths we discuss the “hangover of the hunt” – the permit application process. Doug sits down with Head of Logistics, M...
Taxidermy Truth | Episode 21 | In the Details
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode of Taxidermy Truths, we get into the details. The details a hunter shares about his animal – the pose, the head tilt, the...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 20 | Skin in the Game
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to harvesting your dream animal in Africa – we all have skin in the game. The reward for your investment and hard work is the final ...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 19 | Why the right caliber matters
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Choosing the right caliber rifle is not only important for a successful hunt, but also for the taxidermy piece on your wall at the end of your experie...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 18 | The S Factors of Hunting
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The S-Factors of Hunting In this week’s episode of Taxidermy Truths Doug dives into the S-factors of hunting. This is much like a code to keep in ...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 17 | The Moral Compass of Hunting vs Conservation
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hunting is often referred to as a conservation tool. Conservation is the preservation and prevention of wasteful use of a resource. So how can takin...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 16 | Caring for your Trophies - 5 Tips
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We know that hunting and taxidermy is an investment you’d like to protect. Consistent care will ensure that your trophies stay in great condition ...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 15 | Relationships in the Hunting industry
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In our industry, we have the privilege of working with hunters from all over the world. One thing that is clear, is that the hunting industry is built...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 14 | Preservation
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you are planning a hunt this year, make sure you listen to this week’s episode of Taxidermy Truths. The Preservation of your specimen directly ...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 13 | Insights from the shows | 2024
23 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The shows in the United States at the beginning of every year are an opportunity for Outfitters, PH’s, taxidermists and retailers to meet with hunte...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 12 | What it takes to train a Taxidermist
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You might have seen our recent Taxidermy Mounting Challenge online. We put a graphic designer up against one of our seasoned mounters in a head-on-hea...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 11 | Why you should do Taxidermy in Africa
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you hunted in South Africa?  In this week’s episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug unpacks and explains 5 reasons to consider doing your Taxidermy...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 10 | The Taxidermist Timeline
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As the year winds down, we look back with gratitude and reflect on the challenges and wins of a busy hunting season. In this episode of Taxidermy Tr...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 9 | When Science meets Art
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Taxidermy is an extremely creative artform that is fueled by science. We are extremely excited to share this week’s episode with you. Doug sits do...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 8 | The Knock-on Effect
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As in life, everything in the wildlife and hunting industry is connected. It’s like playing dominoes. In this episode of Taxidermy Truths, Doug d...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 7 | The Impact of colour in the industry
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The story of the orange shoes and the impact of colour in our industry If you have met with us at the shows in the States, you would recognize the o...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 6 | If you like it - Shoot it
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Photography is all about painting with light. It’s how you use light to change things, to be dramatic, while telling the truth.” Photographer...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 5 | Shooting the breeze with Simon Les Gras
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Shooting the breeze with Simon le Gras As the hunting tourism industry has changed over the years, so has the way hunting outfitters, taxidermists a...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 4 | Imitation is the best form of flattery
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Imitation is the best form of flattery Art is at the centre of what we do at Splitting Image. Every day we recreate the beauty we see in wildlife to c...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 3 | The Pure Taxidermist
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Splitting Image Taxidermy is a Pure Taxidermist in the sense that our business was built on the art of taxidermy, of creating beautiful and lifelike s...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 2 | The value of an animal
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 2 of Taxidermy Truths, Douglas discusses the value of an animal and how hunting fits into the wildlife tourism value chain. Â When somethi...
Taxidermy Truths | Episode 1 - Origins
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our Podcast is officially LIVE. In the first episode, Douglas tells the story of Splitting Image Taxidermy – how it started and what it took become ...
Taxidermy Truths | Then & Now | Ep 1
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The first episode of Taxidermy Truths is a collaboration with PH Journals. Dylan and Douglas discuss the Then and Now of the wildlife tourism, hunting...