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OUTDOORS: An appointment at Clingerman Taxidermy – Finger Lakes Times
Nov
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Updated: November 12, 2026 @ 9:04 am
Me and Randy Stewart (right), the owner of Clingerman Taxidermy at 4995 Brick Schoolhouse Road, North Rose.
Twelve-year-old Keagan Thomas and his brother Tobin pose with Keagan’s first buck, an 8-pointer. Keagan shot it in Macedon on Nov. 25 with a .270. Keagan is in seventh grade at Wayne Central Middle School.
Me and Randy Stewart (right), the owner of Clingerman Taxidermy at 4995 Brick Schoolhouse Road, North Rose.
Twelve-year-old Keagan Thomas and his brother Tobin pose with Keagan’s first buck, an 8-pointer. Keagan shot it in Macedon on Nov. 25 with a .270. Keagan is in seventh grade at Wayne Central Middle School.
My appointment was at 8 a.m. and although the building was dark, I knew someone was around.
Two things entered my mind, both dealing with forgetfulness: Did Randy Stewart forget our appointment … or more than likely I had the wrong date and time?
My reminders are written in my calendar book, which I have been using since I was a baby. It sits at home.
I realize the phone is where you press buttons, and it tells you where to go and gives you the correct times. Unfortunately, it also tells you how to live.
Randy Stewart was walking his dog in the backyard so both of us succeeded in starting the day on time.
It is deer season and I need to talk about big bucks, and for 22 years I go to Clingerman Taxidermy to get the facts. I have to admit that I’m a week late for our annual visit. It’s probably in my calendar book. Probably used last year’s appointment dates. Anyway, hunting continues. Gun season started Nov. 18 and closes Dec. 10. Following the regular deer and bear hunting seasons in the Southern Zone, late bowhunting and muzzleloading seasons will run from Dec. 11 through Dec. 19, and again from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. Hunters taking part in these late seasons must possess a hunting license and either bowhunting or muzzleloading privileges.
Clingerman Taxidermy opens at 10 a.m. so my favorite taxidermist and I have two hours to talk. The two of us discuss current events, family fun projects, environmental issues, and other momentous events. I like Randy and our talks re-charge my batteries. After ranting over a cup of coffee we get down to business.
Stewart started taxidermy in 1986 and in 1993 he purchased his current location from Larry Clingerman. You don’t change the name of the business when there is a solid reputation for quality mounts.
“I am 60 years old and starting to back away,” Stewart told me. “I stopped doing fish and small animals. Larry would do the ducks, and he retired two years ago, so I don’t do waterfowl. Now I can concentrate on deer mounts.”
Times are changing with the taxidermy business and Stewart told me it’s become specialized.
“It’s not a general practice anymore,” he told me. “Taxidermists now limit what they will mount. They might just do ducks or small animals … or just deer mounts.”
We talked about what came into Clingermans during the first weeks of big game hunting.
Bow season, which ran from Oct. 1 until Nov. 17 was normal for New York state bow kills.
“I took in six deer from the early youth hunting season and a large number for the bow season. It was an exceptional bow season.”
The gun season has been higher for bucks coming into Clingermans, however Stewart said that could be because there are less taxidermists. “The quality and age of the bucks continues to excel,” he said.
I asked Stewart how long it takes with bucks? “It would take me eight to 10 hours to complete a shoulder mount,” he told me.
Talking about the deer season the subject of ticks entered the conversation. “The ticks are horrible,” he told me. “It’s not going to get any better. Our warmer weather patterns are the reason ticks are thriving. We need hard freezes.”
Stewart recommended Sawyer’s Insect Spray. “Spray your clothes and if you are going afield hunting small game with your dog, make sure you get a monthly pill from your veterinary.”
I asked my favorite taxidermist what he sees for the remainder of this deer season.
“I see the hard-core hunters spending the last couple of weeks scoring the big buck from their cameras.”
I said we must have a picture to accompany this annual story. Just like every year and … I won’t give in.
Randy Stewart said without any hesitation. “The picture will be you and I together.”
So, my “smart” phone camera left my “dumb” hands and was given to Donna Guthrie, office manager at Clingermans for the photo shoot.
Stewart and I are both slowing down. Randy is gliding toward retirement while the old scribe still believes in pencils, yellow pads and big book calendars. But don’t you worry, we’ll be back next deer season.
Clingerman Taxidermy is located at 4995 Brick Schoolhouse Road, North Rose, NY 14516
Phone: (315) 587-2259
Chris Kenyon’s “Outdoors” appears in every other weekend edition. Contact Chris at (315) 879-1341 or ckenyonrun@gmail.com.
Kenyon’s “Outdoors” column appears every other Sunday in the Finger Lakes Times. To reach him, call 879-1341 or email ckenyonrun@gmail.com.
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