STUFFED WITH SKILL

Eric Chupp, owner of Hardwood Hideout Taxidermy in Syracuse, says he has decided to take his talent for taxidermy and turn it into a full-time business.

“I have decided it was time to take something I know a lot about and am good at, and turn it into a business,” Chupp says. “I am officially full time this September. I’m very excited about it and I have a lot of people that will be good customers, so I’m ready to go. I thought the time was right. It just feels like it’s time to make this a full-time business.”

Chupp says he is glad he made the decision. “I have been working on different taxidermy projects for family and friends for quite a while,” he says. “I first learned how to stuff animals I had in 2008. I got into it more in 2011 and started doing taxidermy for other people. Taxidermy really is an art. Preserving an animal’s body to mount it to look good takes time and patience.”

Chupp says he learned how to specialize his taxidermy to include different animals.

“I can do head and shoulder mounts on white tail and elk, among other animals,” he says.

Chupp also offers other taxidermy to customers. “I eventually got into taxidermy for mammals including coyotes, foxes and others,” he says. “I’m very lucky to be able to do something I enjoy. In 2020 I also started stuffing fish. I have gotten very good at that as well.”

Chupp appreciates the kind words of support and encouragement he gets from his loyal customers.

“It’s because of them that I have decided to go forward with this full time,” he says. “A lot of different people have really encouraged me to do this full time, because they have animals they want me to work on. It feels great that there are so many people who have encouraged me.”

Chupp has a solid reputation as a highquality taxidermist.

“I was able to get first place at the Association of Indiana Taxidermists (AIT),” Chupp says. “I was very proud of that. After that I just fast-forwarded everything, and kept moving forward and getting better at what I do.”

Chupp is looking forward to having more time to work on his taxidermy.

“I can have a quicker turnaround with customers,” he says of going full time. “I have another job at Helmouth Quality Coatings where I’m the general manager. It’s a great place but I’m ready to move on, to get Hardwood Hideout Taxidermy going full time. I have a backlog of work from last year I can really get to.”

Chupp notes that his children also have a flair for taxidermy.

“My son, Jamie, won first place in taxidermy in an Association of Indiana Taxidermists contest for his work on a white-tail game head,” he says. “My daughter, JoLinda, won first place in the children’s division with her taxidermy work with a mammal.”

Chupp enjoys living in Syracuse.

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“I love this area because it is perfect for boating and fishing, and I’m also an avid hunter since I was 12,” he says. “This is a wonderful place to do all of those things.”

Chupp says he tells customers he will meet with them by appointment to take care of any taxidermy needs they have.

“I also give away a raffle ticket to every customer for a chance to win a Savage 350 Legend gun,” Chupp says. “I also go to an outdoor show in Shipshewana, Indiana, called the Midwest Sportsmen Classic, from February 15 to 17, 2024, at the Michiana Event Center. I have a booth there and I do the raffle to see who wins the Savage 350 Legend gun. Customers don’t have to be at the show to win. Customers can also get a second raffle ticket at the show.”

For more information on Hardwood Hideout Taxidermy, located at 72643 County Road 29 in Syracuse, call Chupp at 574-528-5005.