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The host of Taxidermy Trails, Dan Bantley, is an avid outdoorsman, who is also president and founder of the Pennsylvania Institute of Taxidermy (PIT).
Bantley's life-long dream was to turn his love of the great outdoors into a full-time career. He chose a field that would permit him to be his own boss, enabling him to hunt and fish, anywhere and anytime conditions were best!
Bantley accomplished this by establishing a successful taxidermy business in 1978. After operating the taxidermy studio for five years, he then created his school, PIT. Since 1983, Bantley has been teaching students preparing them for careers in their own taxidermy businesses.
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PIT is the only accredited school of its kind in America, with more than 500 graduates. Students come from all over the map, from Maine to Alaska, and Florida to Montana,
plus other countries including, Canada, Norway, and Spain.
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Dan Bantley, host of Taxidermy Trails, with a Montana Mountain Lion he shot with a selfbow, handmade cedar arrow and stone arrow head!
Below: Bantley puts a final touch of paint on
a gemsbok from his African Safari. |
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Now, Bantley has combined taxidermy and his outdoor experiences, into a new television show, Taxidermy Trails.
The show blends Bantley's unique perspective on hunting and fishing by using modern, in addition to, traditional equipment. He uses
selfbows, recurve bows, and even his own handmade arrows. Flintlock rifles and muzzleloading shotguns are part of his basic hunting gear, and show topics.
Flyfishing for trout and steelhead, and pitching top-water lures for bass and pike are typical action on the show. However, the emphasis of Taxidermy Trails is to educate our viewers about the fine-art and value of modern taxidermy.
Shows will focus on Bantley in various hunting and fishing situations and then combine his passion of these pursuits with instructional taxidermy methods. This information will provide our viewers vital tips to guide them in selecting a competent taxidermist for their "Once In A Lifetime Trophy". Taxidermy Trails covers the latest in products, materials, techniques, habitats, and manikins. Some shows will feature world-class competitive work, plus interviews with award- winning taxidermists from all over the globe.
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Dan
Bantley, Executive Producer
Education:
Graduate - American Institute of Taxidermy, WI |
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ASSOCIATIONS:
* National Taxidermists Association, (NTA) 24 year member
* Pennsylvania Taxidermists Association, (PTA) 25 year member
* Supporting Member of Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, (POWA) 20 years
* Life Member, National Rifle Association
* Member of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, 10 years
AWARDS:
* NTA Award of Excellence
* PTA Awards for numerous game and fish categories
* International Guild of Taxidermists, (IGT) Certified Master Taxidermist
* Awarded numerous state/regional shooting championships for archery, trap and sporting clays
HONORS:
* Invited as Official Judge for State Taxidermy Competitions including, Ohio, Connecticut,
West Virginia, Colorado, Texas, Nebraska and Pennsylvania
* Official Judge for National Wild Turkey Federation Taxidermy Competition
* Served as President and Director of the Pennsylvania Taxidermy Association
* Served as Director for the IGT
* Frequent invited lecturer for Seminars on Taxidermy & Business at events such as:
World Taxidermy Championships, NTA Annual Convention, state chapter conventions.
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