Eric H. Couch

Owner, Artist, Taxidermist of Riverbend Taxidermy Studio

"Taxidermy is not just mounting fish, birds, and other game. Done correctly, it is art in the truest sense of the word. A painting or well shot photograph brings your experiences vividly back to life, your trophy should do the same."

Growing up in Central Kansas, I was surrounded by prime pheasant hunting, sand hill quail coveys, Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife refuge for ducks and geese and prime whitetail habitat. My dad, grandfather, and great uncles introduced me to the out of doors, hunting and fish at an early age. With tutoring, I was identifying duck in flight and animal tracks along the creeks by the time I was 10 years old.

By the age of 12 I was a successful hunter of upland game and waterfowl. At sixteen I took my first deer with a bow. As this continued on into my adult life, I combined this knowledge of the out of doors and wild game with my ability in art. The natural next step was taxidermy as an art form.

In the fall of 2002, I attended the Academy of Realistic Taxidermy (A.R.T.) located in north central Montana. I was fortunate enough to meet and study under National and World champions such as Jeff Brain, Danny Owens, Brenda Duvall, Jim Kimball and Kenny Walker.

Since opening my Studio in the winter of 2002, I have worked directly with Danny Owens at his Creative Critters Studio and with Jeff Brain at Brains Taxidermy in Canada. In the short time I have dedicated my efforts to this art, I have been recognized at the local and state levels with awards in all divisions.

2003 - First place in gameheads, Third place in fish, and 3 Third placings in birds.
2004 - Second place in whitetails, Second place in birds, Third place in lifesize, Third place in fish
2005 - Second place in gameheads, Second place in birds
2005 - Taxidermst of the Year at Kansas Bowhunters Convention

Realism for each mount and each client is my ultimate goal. I design many custom pieces for client that fit into their homes and lifestyles. My clients input and feelings about that magic day, matched with precise anatomical detail, relive in the choosen mount.