Page 57 - Flathead Beacon // 11.9.16

Work being done on a bear-hide rug at the Montana Taxidermist. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
stumbling blocks along the way. In 1978, burglars stole a number of elk, deer and sheep heads, including a record- book bighorn sheep.
“That was pretty devastating to us and our custom- ers,” Trisha said. “It was pretty hard to go forward after that. For a few weeks, Bruce wondered if he should con- tinue with the business, but we just plugged along.”
Babcock continued to mount a reputation as the pre- eminent taxidermist in the Flathead, helping to found the Montana Taxidermy Guild in the 1980s, an organi- zation that would later become the Montana Taxider- mist Association.
He and Trisha raised three children and seven grand- children, who hunted annually with Babcock at the fam- ily’s cabin up McGinnis Meadows, until he became too weak to embark on the outings.
About 10 years ago, after relocating to their current shop on Helena Flats Road, the Babcocks hired a part- time employee, Russ McAllister, an accomplished taxi- dermist in his own right, who helped the family business churn through skins during the busy season.
With Babcock’s recent passing, McAllister is taking over the business, while Trisha will stay on to help with bookkeeping, nishing work and sewing.
“I learned a tremendous amount from him over the years. Our primary goal was always production, but he always took the time to help me along,” McAllister said. “That’s something that I couldn’t have learned anywhere else. He had vast amounts of knowledge, not only about the craft but about the anatomy of wildlife.”
McAllister said he’s not trying to ll Babcock’s shoes, but rather carry on the legacy that his mentor began more than four decades ago.
“That’s a testament to the work he and Trisha did over the years. Any business that can last over 40 years, that shows the kind of success and talent they’ve devel- oped over the years,” McAllister said.
tscott@ atheadbeacon.com
and taxidermy in his free time, mounting ducks at the kitchen table.
After the mink rancher went out of business, he decided to pursue taxidermy full-time, signing on as an apprentice in Bellingham, Washington, where he worked for 18 months, making $1.90 an hour.
Trisha said she supported her husband’s chosen profession from the get-go, despite it lacking a certain glamor.
“He’d been mounting ducks at the kitchen table, so at least this got him out of the kitchen,” Trisha said, laugh- ing. “He was so passionate about it you couldn’t help but support him.”
Eager to return to Montana, the Babcocks opened their taxidermy business in 1972, working out of a cabin on Lake Blaine before moving to a shop on LaSalle Road two years later.
They’d remain there for 29 years, although there were
The Cabinet Connection, Inc.
BEAUTIFUL
CABINETRY
More CHOICES
More POSSIBILITIES
Provided with PERSONAL
& PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICE!
New Construction & Remodeling
Check us out on houzz.com
Domenic Gare no, CKD (Certi ed Kitchen Designer)
With over 30 years experience, Serving the Flathead Valley & Beyond for over 24 Years
406-756-1359 Syth Business Park, Airport Road in Kalispell • www.thecabinetconnection.com
1180 AM IS NOW ON
FM 104.3
Thanks to All Veterans for your service!
48 MAIN ST.
Historic Downtown • Kalispell, Montana
756-5818 Mon-Sat 9am-6pm Sun 10:30am-4:30pm
Stop in this weekend for
10%
OFF storewide
now thru monday 11/14
NOVEMBER 9, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
57