Memory can be a finicky thing, which is why so many people invest in things to preserve memories of good experiences. Sometimes, these are pictures, or journal entries, other times it’s souvenirs. But for those who go out into nature, and bring home a successful hunt, there is perhaps no better way to remember that experience than taxidermy. 

For centuries, mankind has gone to great lengths to preserve memorable moments and animals with various taxidermy methods dating back to before even the Middle Ages. Over the years, the methods have changed and evolved to produce extremely vivid and lifelike mounts and displays, just like the ones Kurt Jay produces for clients regularly as part of his business, Preference Taxidermy.

Jay, who served as a police officer for 17 years, made the career shift in part because of a love for hunting, in part for a better working environment, and, as he said, “I just enjoy it, the artistic part of it.”  That last aspect comes into play much more than the layman might think, as it turns out as well. There’s no small part of artistic talent involved with each and every piece that Jay works on, and that talent is manifest in the beautiful and lifelike creations he is able to produce. 

From the preparation of the hide to the sculpting with clay on the foam form to tiny details of paint and sheen, there’s so much more that goes into each piece than simply pulling a hide over a form. “No animal is the same,” said Jay, “Each one is a different size and shape,” he explained, pointing out even the subtle differences in color, fur, and size of features within the same species.

Over the past four years that he’s been doing taxidermy full time, Jay has had the opportunity to mount and preserve many different species, from the local deer, elk, bears and bobcats, to more exotic creatures from overseas. Still, there’s no place quite like home, and Jay says his favorite animals to preserve come from very close to home, “I just love a mule deer,” he said. 

Traditional mounts aren’t the only thing Jay does either. In the short time he’s been doing taxidermy as an occupation, Jay has also produced rugs, preserved and mounted antler sheds, and done European mounts: a more traditional style in which just the antlers and the skull are preserved and mounted. Jay even has the skill to make repairs for damaged antlers or capes (hide of front shoulders and the head of the animal). 

Jay is one of a small community in the state that does this important work and is one of the few in the entire region that actually helps to preserve deceased pets, like dogs and cats, keeping their memories alive in a physical form for years to come. Despite the long hours, detail, and hard work that go into each individual piece, it all comes together when people are able to see the finished product, said Jay.

“When people show up and are ecstatic,” he said, “it brings back the memory.” Whether that’s the memory of a specific hunt, of time spent with friends and family or the memory of a cherished pet, it’s a much more tangible way to keep that memory alive. Kurt Jay’s business, Preference Taxidermy is based in Layton, and more information on pricing, and services can be found on his website, at ​​www.preference-taxidermy.com.