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OUTDOORS: Clingerman Taxidermy Annual Visit – Finger Lakes Times
Sep
Thunderstorms with locally heavy downpours. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..
Thunderstorms, some locally heavy early, then cloudy after midnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 67F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Updated: September 9, 2026 @ 1:49 pm
Chris Kenyon and Randy Stewart
It was a fruitful hunt recently for Chris Reed, who bagged this black bear in the Finger Lakes.
Chris Kenyon and Randy Stewart
It was a fruitful hunt recently for Chris Reed, who bagged this black bear in the Finger Lakes.
It was close to 8 a.m. on Monday Nov. 3, 2025, and I have a very appointment to keep. I am a little late and my excuse was valid. It was a school bus. As Randy Stewart unlocked the Clingerman Taxidermy door and turned on the lights, I wondered how many years we have got together and talked about everything.
“You know this is my 24th year that we have sat in the back room and discussed life, current issues, family, and of course deer,” I announced as my good friend taxidermist made coffee.
I needed a timeline from Stewart so I could try to figure out how old I was 24 years ago.
“I bought Clingerman Taxidermy 30 years ago,” he told. “However, I have been doing taxidermy work for 37 years.”
“Wow,” I said. “If you need any assistance, I am available. I walk through the work area to the back room and cannot even identify any tools of the trade.
It’s the same with my marine mechanic friend. I brought my tools I tell him. He informs me that a pair of players, and a screwdriver just won’t work.
So…I cannot help with that bear fur, and I won’t touch anything.
Donna Guthrie, the office manager, comes in the shop while Stewart and I talk about world-wide events in the back room. Guthrie, who also helps the boss with mounts, takes charge of the front office.
“Ok, let’s talk about deer,” I request. In all honesty I am the one doing much of the gabbing. I chatter way too much.
“The last few years have been very productive,” Stewart tells me. “This year it appears to be a normal pre-rut harvest.
“The bucks came in the shop early, and then there was a slight decrease. Hunters are now using cameras and seeing early bucks and then nothing. I think that possibly the cameras are on the food source, and the bucks are changing patterns.”
“The ticks are still an issue,” Stewart says. “We have been experiencing a very drought summer; however, it’s the temperatures that affect tick growth. Elevated temperatures are making tick growth horrible.
My taxidermy friend recommends hunters to use Sawyer’s Insect Spray. “Spray your clothes and make sure any hunting dogs get a monthly pill from your veterinary. Ticks carry some serious diseases.
“There is good news about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) There has been no CWD found in wild deer.”
Nov. 15 is the gun opener for the Southern Zone and there will be a busy time at Clingerman Taxidermy, and Randy and Donna are ready to provide some mounts for their customers. They also must work on that bear that Chris Reed brought in. The fur that I won’t touch.
We did discuss the aging population of hunters, however we both agreed there are great programs introducing youths to the sport.
“Youths hunts are still available,” he said. “Parents are getting their youngsters involved in hunting and enjoying the outdoors.”
Stewart is absolutely right. In our region alone there have been 100 plus youngsters fishing in the waters of Oak Park, sponsored by the Finger Lakes Conservation Club. And 27 youths hunted during the 11th Annual Finger Lakes Regions Youth Deer Hunt. Clyde also had a youth fishing derby at the Erie Canal.
We did steer the conversation back to taxidermy, when I asked how long it takes to complete a mount.
“One deer mount takes 8 to 10 working hours, but it is a three-week process. I don’t do small mounts anymore because I need to concentrate on deer mounts. My clients are especially important.”
Randy Stewart also has a deep and warm understanding of his family.
“I am dealing with three generations of a family which is an appreciation which satisfies me, because outdoor taxidermy is a shared experience,” he told me.
“At Clingerman Taxidermy it’s more than doing the mounts.”
My favorite man says; “we’ll meet again next year Chris. If the creek don’t rise and the deer are willing.”
I handed my new iPhone to Donna Guthrie, the photographer. “It takes excellent resolution pictures. All the other buttons leave me exasperated and define me as a fossil type guy.”
Chris Kenyon’s “Outdoors” appears in every other weekend edition. Contact Chris at 315-879-1341 or ckenyonrun@gmail.com.
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