Henry Co. Conservation to offer taxidermy class

The Henry County Conservation Department will soon begin their 2017 At the Park series.

This year?s theme is ?Explore Your Inner Pioneer?. Taxidermy 101 is the first sequence of classes presented by taxidermist Tony Brown, on BROTON Taxidermy, on the following dates:

-Tuesday, Jan. 24, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Oakland Mills Nature Center: introduction, skinning, fleshing, drying

-Tuesday, Jan. 31, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m, at BROTON Studio: pickling, shaving, tanning and sweating

-Tuesday, Feb. 7, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at BROTON Studio: stretching, drying and finishing

Attendees provide the legally harvested skin for the classes. Those who don?t have one should contact Brown at 319-537-1061 to check on the availability of a skin to tan at an additional cost. There is a limit of six participants. Cost of the class includes materials needed to tan a small mammal pelt.

Participants will need to bring their hide, hunting license, a clean five-gallon bucket with lid, safety glasses, two pairs of kitchen gloves sized to your hand, and a sharp skinning knife the first night of class. There will be ?homework? between sessions.

Registration and fees are due to the conservation office on or before Monday, Jan. 23.

To register, go to www.mycountyparks.com, click on the Events tab, then choose Henry County from the drop down menu, or contact Cari Nicely at 319-986-5067 or by email at cnicely@henrycountyconservation.com.