Bolingbroke taxidermist ‘Rowdy’ Rodney Casteel marks 20 years – mymcr.net

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Updated: October 15, 2026 @ 12:24 am
Rodney Casteel

Rodney Casteel
Rodney Casteel, owner of Casteel Taxidermy, 229 Klopfer Road, Bolingbroke, is celebrating two decades of turning hunting trophies into lasting memories
For Casteel, taxidermy began as a way to pursue his love of the outdoors. Twenty years ago, that passion became a full-time business in Monroe County, where he has built a reputation for helping hunters and fishermen preserve memories of their time in the woods and on the water.
Casteel will mark the 20th anniversary of his business on Oct. 13, having opened his shop in 2006. He said support from Monroe County residents and customers in surrounding counties has played a major role in keeping the business going.
“Monroe County is great for supporting me,” Casteel said. “The people in Monroe County have been very supportive, and surrounding counties, as far as that goes.”
Casteel, who is 65, operates the business himself. Although he has done taxidermy for more than two decades, he said opening his own shop was a significant step beyond the smaller operation he once ran out of his home.
“What I got up here is a whole different ballgame,” he said. “If you turn it into a real business up here, it’s solid.”
His interest in taxidermy grew out of a love for the outdoors and a desire to learn how to preserve his own hunting trophies.
“When I was younger, my family didn’t have enough money to hand it to a taxidermist,” Casteel said. “Back in the early ’80s, I started reading books so I could mount my own stuff.” What began as a practical way to preserve his hunting memories eventually became a business that keeps him busy year-round.
On the day before his business’s 20th anniversary, Casteel was preparing to complete several taxidermy jobs before taking his wife to the fair. “I’ve got to make enough money to take her there,” he said with a laugh.
Despite his demanding schedule, Casteel still enjoys hunting and fishing. He also likes working in the yard and collecting antiques. Turkey hunting remains a particular interest. He maintains friendships in Florida and travels there to hunt turkeys.
Casteel also attends taxidermy shows, where he buys supplies, attends seminars and visits with people in the industry. Although he has received many awards in the past, he said he has not competed for over a decade. He took at least five 1st place awards for a Duck Dynasty-themed scene with more than a dozen ducks, leaves and foliage, at the Georgia Taxidermist Association state show in Macon back in February 2014.
His experience and workload have led him to think about retirement, although he has not settled on a date. “I don’t know exactly when I’m going to retire,” Casteel said. “I’m not going to give a date to the general public right now.”
He has already taken steps to slow down. Casteel said he has had his shop appraised and has begun moving some of his subscriptions, including hunting magazines, from the business address to his home.
Those changes suggest he is preparing for a transition, but he emphasized that he remains in good health and is not ready to announce when he will close the shop or step away from the business. For now, Casteel plans to continue working while enjoying life in Monroe County.
He and his wife, Kim, have two daughters. Their younger daughter, Rachel, is 22 and attends the University of Georgia. Their older daughter, Jessica, is 34 and has given the couple two grandchildren.
While Kim plans to continue working at the Department of Corrections after her husband retires, Casteel said he has not made definite plans for what he will do with his free time. Given his longstanding love of the outdoors, hunting and fishing will likely remain part of his life, even if he eventually spends fewer hours at the taxidermy bench.
For the moment, however, the work continues. As he looks toward the next chapter, Casteel is not rushing to set a retirement date. Instead, he is taking things one day at a time. He says he still has plenty to do before he hangs up his tools. To reach Casteel, call 478-994-0955, Monday- Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

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