Top Shelf Taxidermy
1357 Steaders Pass Zeeland, MI 49464 US
616-610-1366
About Wally: I grew up in rural Iowa, near Sioux Falls, SD. From a very early age I had an intemse relationship with the outdoors, always looking for time to hunt and fish, riding my bike 7 miles to go fishing was a common occurence. At the age of 10, I was able to get my hunting license and started pheasant hunting all around the countryside, often being able to limit out within an hour. I went deer hunting and was able to shoot a few does; it was always about the meat for me.
At the age of 24 I enlisted in the Navy and became a corpsman (medic) and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA with 1st Marine Division. War broke out later that year and I ended up doing 2 combat tours in Iraq and 1 in Afghanistan. I also met my wife while stationed in California.
After I was honorably discharged, I went to college on the GI Bill. I graduated from GVSU in 2009 and my wife and I promptly opened a physical therapy clinic where we see children with special needs. Because we see kids, we are very busy during the summer, so I was looking for something to do during the winter. I found out that my leftover GI Bill benefits would pay for taxidermy school, which was always of great interest to me. I ended up going to 4 schools before the money ran out, learning an incredible amount about the taxidermy industry.
Currently, I maintain my learning and refine my art, by competing at multiple state shows and the World Taxidermy Championships, held every other year. I have never had a customer be anything but ecstatic with their mount, and you have my guarantee that if I get the privilege to do work for you, you'll feel the same way.