MEET THE TAXIDERMIST

MEET THE TAXIDERMIST

BACK TO LIFE TAXIDERMY

3383 Burgaw Hwy Jacksonville, NC 28540 (910) 989-0010

Christy Bieren

In short, I graduated high school from Jonesboro High, Jonesboro, GA in 1990. I then attended Kennesaw State (then College, now University) for 4 years. Of those, I was a part time student for a few semesters. I was studying Spanish, French, German, and Russian. I wanted to be an interpreter at that point in my life. I joined the United States Marine Corps in 1995. I was much stronger in the math and science fields, so I served as a weather observer for 4 years and loved my job very much. I met my husband while we were both stationed in Okinawa, Japan in 1997, and we married in February 1998. We lived in Okinawa until I was honorably discharged in April 1999 and we then came "home" to Jacksonville, NC. Jacksonville truly has become our home and this is where we plan to retire.

I became interested in taxidermy shortly after my husband got me hooked on hunting December 31, 1999. Like all of us who hunt, I remember that first time like it was yesterday. And, like all hunters, I have a good story behind it. I was lucky enough to be drawn for a permit to swan hunt here in North Carolina my first year. So, that morning, on the last day of deer season and my first day out hunting that year, my husband and I went with some friends on a swan hunt. I got to shoot only once, but it sure was fun! I took a picture of the swan the first time it passed over us, then it decided it wanted a second look. I put down the camera and raised my 20 gauge and took my first (and last) shot. If that wasn't enough, that evening, we went out deer hunting. A nice North Carolina 7 Point Whitetail Buck decided to walk out in front of me. My husband won't take me out hunting with him anymore. That also began our search for a taxidermist.

After visiting my local taxidermist to see what he does and getting my deer back a year and a half later (my swan wasn't even in a thought in his head to be started yet) , I thought to myself, "I can do this. It isn't all that gross." That lead me to search for a place where I could learn to do it, since at that time I didn't even know how to skin anything out. I found a college a few hours away that teaches taxidermy, hands on. I thought about it since I had already missed registration that fall. Good thing, because found out a week later I was pregnant with our first child. Well, things didn't go smoothly, and our baby died shortly after birth. It was within a month of that when I decided I needed something else to focus on and registered for the summer 2002 school semester. That is how my business got it's name. Back to Life Taxidermy. Taxidermy is what brought me Back to Life. I really enjoyed pouring myself into my work and being creative with it.

I have also enjoyed entering a few pieces in competitions. I have entered both customer and personal pieces. So far, I have taken one Best of Category ribbon, three first place ribbons, a second place ribbon and three of third place ribbons. I hope to continue improving on my skills by entering more competitions in the future. I learn a great deal each time I go. Who knows, I may even request to take your piece to an upcoming event. My goal with every piece that leaves my studio is for it to be capable of taking a ribbon at any competition. The way I see it, your wildlife art is in a continuous show by being displayed in your home or office (or where ever you may place it), therefore it should always be the best it can possibly be.

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