With Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks dropping the 2026 hunting regulations online, it felt like the perfect time to tip our hats to what happens after a successful season—good taxidermy. For example, this mountain lion rug absolutely stops the scroll. This is the kind of work that screams craftsmanship, and it comes courtesy of Chad Steward with Creative Western Wildlife and Fishworks. Steward’s attention to detail shines here, from the lifelike expression to the details in the features that make this cat look pretty amazing instead of goofy and awkward. And big cats are notoriously difficult to get right in taxidermy. When they’re done poorly, they can look stiff, or even like they have seen a ghost. He nailed it with this one!
Based out of Helena, Montana, Chad has a 5-star rating on Google and, based on the taxidermy he posts on his page, he has a reputation for making some of the toughest critters look natural and high-end. His portfolio spans everything from bobcats to bighorn sheep and more, and it is well worth a look over on his Facebook page if you appreciate quality work. Whether you’re a hunter, an outdoors enthusiast, or just someone who appreciates good taxidermy, it’s always cool to see taxidermy done right—and this lion is proof you’re in very good hands if you go with Creative Western Wildlife and Fishworks!
Nice work!
Photo credit: Chad Steward
