Wayne Wise

Outside the Arena with...

Wayne Wise

By Georgia Akers

There are many men and women that have made the sport of bull riding what it is today. They have moved on with their lives after their bull riding career ended and I like to focus on them to show readers that there is a life after bull riding. It has amazed me as I interview various persons how diverse their careers have taken them. Almost all have started a business such as Abe Morris with his cowboy chute out cookies (which are awesome) or Justin McBride, sports announcer and now team coach.

Wayne Wise has incorporated true creative genius in his business. He takes bull skulls and repurposes them into art that could be hung in any home or corporate office. Each is one of a kind. To see more, go to www.bullskullz.com

Tell us about yourself.

I was born in Craig, Colorado. Mom and Dad took me to rodeos and I was enthralled by bull riding. I got on my first bull when I was twelve and would participate in local rodeos. I started college at University of Wyoming but coming from a very small school, the university was overwhelming, and I left. All I wanted to do was ride bulls.

I got my PRCA card, and I was finally a professional bull rider. I figured you had to try as hard as you can. I travelled all over Colorado entering events. My father never mentioned that he had rodeoed. To me he was a

I would announce high school rodeo and work my way up. Not getting stepped on and getting a paycheck was good. I tried to do both, but I realized I was not going to make it as a bull rider. To try to make it as a big-time rodeo announcer takes connections and politics that I wasn’t into. I continue to announce some very prestigious events but wasn’t going to be a famous announcer.

I have been an announcer for 36 years and still announce.

How did you get into bull skulls?

Since I was a kid in 4H I had worked with leather. In the mid 90’s I met Clint Haverty who was a leathersmith. He showed me the flow of Sheridan Style Carving. It took me quite a while and drawing thousands of circles, but I finally saw it and I started putting my drawings on leather.

In 2020, a neighbor of mine had a saddle that needed repairing and she asked me if I could do it. I repaired the saddle and we bartered for half the cost. I got a bull skull. I studied it and covered it with leather and designed the leather. I took my first skull to a furniture store, and it sold in three days.

COVID had hit and I got an attorney to copyright my idea and used the time to work on technique.

Wayne with his grandson, Monty, in his leather shop.

highway supervisor but, once I was into it, he pulled out a box of old newspaper clippings. He was good.

I went to Florida with some friends to enter an open rodeo. The announcer did not show up, so I filled in. I thought

Where do you get your skulls?

My same neighbor gets the skulls for me from a meat packing company. She gets the skulls as is. She boils them down, cleans them up and I buy them from her.

Why skulls versus some other form of leatherwork?

I have done other leatherwork and can do all kinds of leatherwork. Custom saddles, guitar straps, etc. Anything in leather but boots. I am working on a saddle right now.

The one item I was most proud of was I made two pair of chaps for Lane Frost.

Bull skulls are unique and each one is different.

Where do you sell your skulls and how much?

How do you make your skulls?

Each skull is different. I have to study the skull how narrow or wide is the center, how long the overall skull. You have to cut the leather to fit the skull. Cut a pattern then wet the leather and mold it on the skull to dry. Then I start carving.

How long does it take?

At trade shows and a few galleries have my work. The price is from $4500-5700.

You have to take into consideration how much time it takes to make one. It is labor intensive.

It is a work of art just like a painting hanging on the wall.

Who buys your skulls?

Depends on the skull and design. The center can be a design, a brand, a corporate logo or whatever the customer wants. It usually takes 100-125 hours to make one skull.

My latest skull is a bucking horse in the center. Another is a cowboy looking over the fence at a farmer. The floral work is similar to all the skulls, but the center is unique.

Each one is different. Ranchers who want their brand and have the money to spend. Wealthy persons who appreciate the art and want to accessorize their ranch or country home. Or a corporation looking for a special gift/award for someone.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Go to more of the prestigious shows and although I love announcing cut back. It is a lot of travel.