Meet The Artist

Hello and welcome to Rural Hall Taxidermy, I am Teddy Speas,wildlife artist and owner of Rural Hall Taxidermy.

 Hunting and Fishing has been a part of my life since I was old enough to wet a hook or shoot a gun. I attempted taxidermy work at a young age by studying through Northwestern School of Taxidermy. This was indeed a major challenge.
 
I put taxidermy on the back burner as my job as a Professional Wrestling Referee demanded lots of traveling and being away from home. When ECW and WCW was bought out by Vince McMahon (WWE) I decided it was time for me to stay home for awhile. I still stay in contact with many of the stars in Wrestling. And yea, sometimes I miss the excitement of being in front of thousands of screaming fans. I started a Lawn care/Landscape business that I should have never done! My back was giving me problems while being involved with Pro – Wrestling. So I decided to start over with Taxidermy. This has turned out to be one of, if not the best job I have ever had.
 
To recreate something for someone to have as a lasting impression on their successful hunting/ fishing trip means allot to me. Taxidermy is a art like no other. But to take a animal or fish and recreate it back to the way it was when the person bagged it, is by far more harder to do then to paint a scene on a canvas.
 
The Taxidermy industry has changed dramatically since I first started in this field. I am forever studying new techniques along with studying reference photos. The chemicals have changed over the years and are much more safer to use now. However you still have to know how to combine certain things as not to create a explosion!
 
I attend seminars often. They only way to keep up with the modern technology is to keep up with the new techniques by reading, attending seminars and trial and error.
 
Ric Robson was very instrumental in getting me heading in the right direction.  Several of the local taxidermist I have come to know often visit each others studios to see what’s “new” or to sit around and talk over new ideas.
 
Our studio is open by appointment only. As we have found that most of our work gets accomplished working third shift. Working third shift we have no phone calls or “good ole boys” wanting to hang around the shop to see what comes in next. So PLEASE call before you waste a trip. If its first shift we may or may not be asleep. So always call ahead of time.
 
Outside of taxidermy, I still keep my hands in the pulse of Pro-Wrestling. I am an Executive Board member of the Cauliflower Alley Club that has in excess of over 5000 members. The “CAC” is a non-profit organization that has a annual reunion in Las Vegas. If you are a pro- wrestling fan you should checkout the website at www.caulifloweralleyclub.org I think you will be amazed when you visit the site.

I have been happily married since 1994 to my first wife, Annette. We have had the honor of traveling all over the United States. We have no children so we can afford to take a trip every now and then.
 
We look forward to assisting you with your trophy. If you have questions feel free to give us a call.
 
Happy hunting!
Wildlife Artist, Teddy Speas