Making Moose

Roddickton - It's not as if the town needed another moose. As the self-appointed "Moose Capital of the World," the area already boasts a density of six moose for every square kilometre.

But this moose will be different.

When the large, towering animal eventually takes its place as the centerpiece in the town's new Natural Heritage and Resource Centre, presently under construction, it will be impressive and captivating.

"This is a fine animal - nice heavy coat, nice colour," says Shane Womack while standing back to admire a life-sized replica of the real thing.

Womack and his wife, BJ, are taxidermists from Broken Bow, Okla., who were contracted by Tract Consulting to prepare a moose for display in the resource centre. They operate a taxidermy studio and a wildlife museum.

He says the opportunity to work again on a life-sized moose was one he couldn't turn down.

"I guess it was 10 to 12 years ago that I was up here to go hunting. Boyce (Reid) was my guide. We skinned the animal, salt dried him and brought him back to work on - now he's in our museum."

Tourists who visit the Womacks' museum can see Kodiak bears and elks, but it's their moose that draws the most fervent attention.

"The kids come up to him and they're amazed. They say, 'Good grieving, I didn't know they were that big.'"

Womack expects there will be a similar reaction to this moose when the resource centre at Roddickton is completed and open to the public.

"I'm pretty tickled with it," he adds modestly. "It's coming together pretty good."

Working in a cleared out area in the Roddickton fire hall, the Womacks began a process that took four long days. The bull moose was actually killed last November by Boyce Reid.

Having been trained in the proper method of skinning, Reid ensured the animal's skin was in excellent condition before it was frozen. The hide was tanned by Rex Jennings in Hughes Brook.

Upon arriving in Deer Lake, the Womacks picked up the skin from the west coast taxidermist and travelled north to Roddickton.

With liquid foam sections that were prepared in the United States based on field measurements taken by Reid, the five pieces were assembled and fitted together. Then started the painstaking work of wrapping the wet skin over the foam and stitching it together.

With the major work out of the way, the next few days were spent making adjustments to the skin and using a dehumidifier to draw the moisture from the hide.

"The drying time is very important," notes Womack. "As it dries the skin pulls tight."

The 16-point rack is probably the feature that gives the moose display its greatest stature. The antlers actually belonged to Boyce Reid and came from another animal. The rack had been in a fire so there were doubts it could be used, but once the black soot was removed, it looked none the worse for wear.

With their work almost done and more work waiting for them at home in Oklahoma, the Womacks had time to talk to visitors and passersby about their passion and the particular interest they have in the moose.

"I couldn't wait to get to work on this," he reflects. "I wish I could be around when he gets set up, but I'm pretty sure I'll be back some time to see how it turned out."