Larry's Life Like Taxidermy

Taxidermist in Festus, Missouri

3(2 reviews)
(636) 937-150018 Beffa St, Festus, MO 63028View on Yelp
Larry's Life Like Taxidermy - taxidermy in Festus, MO

Customer Reviews

3
out of 5
2 reviews

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About Larry's Life Like Taxidermy

Larry's Life Like Taxidermy operates out of Festus, Missouri, a Jefferson County community positioned along the Joachim Creek corridor where deer hunting and fishing are serious pursuits. The shop's name signals a commitment to realistic, natural-looking finished mounts, which matters to hunters who want their trophy to look alive on the wall. Festus sits about 35 miles south of St. Louis, giving hunters in the Jefferson County and Ste. Genevieve area a local option rather than driving into the city. With a 3.0 rating from early reviewers, it's a shop worth visiting to form your own impression.

Services

Taxidermy

Services & Process

Larry's focuses on producing life-like results across standard taxidermy services including whitetail deer mounts, turkey fans and full-body birds, and freshwater fish mounts common to Missouri's rivers and reservoirs. Shoulder mounts are the bread and butter of most Missouri shops, and attention to eye placement, ear positioning, and natural muscle detail makes the difference between a flat result and a convincing one. Rug mounts for coyote, bobcat, or bear hides are another option that turns a flat skin into a displayable piece. Skull cleaning services, often done through maceration or beetle colonies, are also commonly offered alongside traditional mount work.

Service Area

Larry's Life Like Taxidermy serves hunters and anglers throughout Jefferson County, including communities like De Soto, Hillsboro, and Crystal City. Customers from the Ste. Genevieve and Washington County areas also make the drive to Festus for taxidermy work, given the shop's accessible location off the main highway corridor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a mount look 'life-like' versus flat or artificial?
Realistic mounts depend on quality forms, proper hide preparation, accurate eye positioning, and detailed finishing work around the nose, lips, and ears. Shops that rush the finishing stage or use generic forms often produce mounts that look stiff or exaggerated compared to the real animal.
Does Larry's handle turkey mounts, and what options are available?
Wild turkey work typically includes fan mounts, beard and spur display pieces, and full-body turkey mounts in strutting or standing poses. Full-body turkeys are one of the more involved bird mounts due to feather complexity, so timelines and costs are higher than a simple fan display.
How should I store my deer cape if I can't get to the taxidermist right away?
Freeze the cape as soon as possible, ideally flesh-side out, in a sealed plastic bag with as much air removed as possible. Don't refreeze a thawed cape if you can avoid it, as repeated thawing speeds up bacterial activity and can cause hair slippage.
Are there hunting seasons when the shop gets especially busy in Jefferson County?
The Missouri archery and firearms deer seasons in fall generate the biggest rush of drop-offs, typically from October through January. Calling ahead or dropping off your specimen early in the season can help you avoid the longest wait times.
Can I request a specific pose or head turn for my deer mount?
Yes, most taxidermists offer a range of forms with different neck positions and head angles, from straight-ahead alert poses to dramatic sneak or upward-looking positions. Bringing a photo of what you have in mind makes the consultation much more productive.
What's the difference between a skin mount and a reproduction for fish?
A skin mount uses the actual fish skin stretched over a form, while a reproduction is a cast or fiberglass replica painted to match your fish's coloring from reference photos. Reproductions hold their color better over time and let you release your catch, which is why many catch-and-release anglers prefer them.

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