After 19 wonderful years operating Kodiak Bones & Bugs Taxidermy, it’s with a bit of ambivalence that I’m announcing my retirement from the skull cleaning side of the business.
I started this journey at the request of Kodiak Island brown bear guides who wanted the highest quality skull preparation for their clients. For nine years, I proudly served that community. Later, after moving to the Columbia River Gorge, I’ve had the privilege of serving hunters here for the past ten years.
Over those 19 years, I’ve cleaned a lot of skulls. But what I really built were relationships.
Turning a raw skull into a beautiful trophy for the wall or mantle has always been my artistic outlet. There’s something deeply satisfying about bringing out the natural beauty in bone. But even more than that, I’ll miss the tailgate stories. The hunt recaps. The pride in a hunter’s voice. And especially the “ohhs and ahhs” when you first see your finished trophy. Many of you have become friends, and that’s something I’ll always be grateful for.
I’m nearing 67 now. Like many folks my age, I’m facing some health challenges, and I want to spend more time traveling with my bride and enjoying our kids and grandkids. It feels like the right time.
That said, it was incredibly important to me that hunters in Washington and Oregon would continue to have access to the same high-quality dermestid skull preparation you’ve come to expect.
And that’s where Kyle and Becca come in.
Passing the Torch to Mayhem Mounts
What started as a customer relationship turned into something much more. Kyle and Becca were first customers of Kodiak Bones & Bugs. As we talked, I learned about their background in biology and skeleton rearticulation. They had tended dermestid colonies in college, preparing specimens for laboratories and a natural history museum. They’re career biologists, avid hunters, and they genuinely respect the craft.
For the past two years, they’ve apprenticed under me. I’ve watched them advance their equipment, refine their techniques, and consistently produce beautiful work. No project is too big or too small for them. More importantly, they understand what these trophies mean. They know every skull has a story behind it.
That mattered to me.
As I step away from skull preservation, I’m proud to say that the legacy of quality established by Kodiak Bones & Bugs will continue through Mayhem Mounts here in the Columbia River Gorge.
They will approach every project with attention to detail and a customer-first mentality, just as I always have.
Thank You
To everyone who trusted me with your trophies over the years — thank you. It’s been an honor to serve you.
I’ll continue promoting and selling quality dermestid beetles, so I’m not disappearing entirely. But the day-to-day skull cleaning work will now be in very capable hands.
I hope to stay connected with many of you, and I look forward to seeing Kyle and Becca continue this tradition of professional skull preservation.
It’s been one heck of a run.
— Ken