Hutton Valley School of Taxidermy

They work with big game, small game mammals, birds, fish (including replicas), and rugs, and also focus heavily on taxidermy training and education.

Available mount styles include shoulder and gamehead mounts, full-body mounts, bird mounts, fish skin mounts and replicas, tanning, rugs, and custom habitat bases.

Owner Roger Hutton brings over 50 years of continuous taxidermy experience, has taught many seminars, helped found the Iowa Taxidermist Association, and remains active in state, national, and world-level continuing education.

Reviews describe him as a highly talented, knowledgeable taxidermist and effective instructor who builds students’ confidence through detailed, hands-on guidance.

Tuition is all-inclusive, with the 7-week course priced at $9,500 (with a $500 enrollment deposit), mini-classes typically requiring a $100 deposit, advanced by-the-day seminars ranging from $400–$500 per day plus a $50 deposit, and affordable on-site lodging options, while client taxidermy prices are provided by quote on request.

Client taxidermy turnaround is generally six months to a year depending on the project, and course schedules are clearly structured, though one review reports a tanning job that extended over two years and was ultimately lost.

The studio offers rugs, custom habitat bases and diorama-style work, extensive consulting and training, antler repair and reproduction racks, antler plaques, business and law guidance, and on-site student lodging in a shared apartment.