From the Field to Woods N Water

POTOMAC - From a special hunt to perhaps a trophy animal, taxidermy is a way to preserve the memory. Woods N Water in Potomac is the place to get that done.

Woods N Water is the new taxidermy shop located between Gold Creek and Twin Creek Roads on the north side of the highway in Potomac. Owner Chris Cotten said he has always been interested and intrigued by taxidermy and is honored to be involved in the taxidermy business.

Cotten joined the Marine Corps after high school. Then came college and during that time he discovered Potomac resident Bill Dishman's Second Nature School of Taxidermy.

Cotten completed one full course and two custom courses to nail down the art of 'taxis' and 'derma', according to the Greek language. This translates to 'movement of the skin.'

After deciding on Woods N Water for his business name, Cotten began his taxidermy work in Missoula in 2012 and moved out to Potomac the summer of 2017 with his duck hunting partner, dog Gunner.

The name Woods N Water defines the meaning of taxidermy for him. Cotten wants to represent all woods and water animals in his taxidermy work.

"The goal of my business is to consistently produce the most life-like representation of each client's trophy in a timely manner and for a competitive price," said Cotten. "Being able to create a memory of a lifetime for someone is a very rewarding feeling."

Cotten enjoys being his own boss at the taxidermy shop and also works full-time as a boiler engineer in Missoula.

"I mount at least one thing a night," he commented. Presently Cotten said he is as busy as he can be and still be timely.

Cotten has mounted everything from chipmunks to buffalo, deer, elk, birds, fish, African animals and a longhorn steer. He also uses beetles to clean skulls.

"The most common [animals that comes through the shop] are deer and bear but my favorite animal to mount is a life size mountain lion," he said.  

Mounting lions is time-consuming work said Cotten but it is worth it because he can do so much with them and enjoys seeing how they look when finished.

"It is something people enjoy looking at," he said. "Some people have never seen one in the wild." Which is why Cotten displays an Alaskan wolverine he mounted.

Hunters who want a mount should keep the animal hide as cool and clean as possible and get it to Cotten as quickly as they can.

Cotten uses different tools including electric saws for bear hide and traditional fleshing knives for fur.

"It depends on the type of animal and the time of year it is," said Cotten. "I pay attention to detail from the skinning to a cleaner better product," he added.

His process includes skinning and the use of fleshing beams, salting and then to a local tannery. When the tanned hide comes back to Cotten, depending on whether it is a wet or dry tan, he will rehydrate the hide before mounting.

Cotten then completes the mount by fitting it on a species-specific form, making alterations to match the customers' field experience.

"You can change the look of the animal," said Cotten. That detail of 'look' includes eye squint, nose wrinkles, head and mouth position, fur and ears as well as habitat.

Cotten prefers to mix up real and store bought habitat material instead of solely using store bought. "You're not going to have the same mount as anyone else," he said.

He enjoys the immediate reaction from his customers when they see the finished product.

Cotten said, "Hunting and fishing is a way of life for most of us and I have always wanted to be able to give something back to our sportsmen and women to ensure that our legacy and heritage lives on forever." 

For more information, Cotten can be contacted at 406-544-9335 and visit Woods N Water Taxidermy on Facebook.