SIDNEY, Neb. -- Frontier Arms Taxidermy is a local Sidney business that is a one-man show.

Kent Allard is the founder and owner of Frontier Arms Taxidermy.

Allard has competed in five nationwide taxidermy competitions in 2022, and he never leaves empty-handed.

“New Mexico was my big winner, where I won best of show,” Allard said. “That’s the best mount in the entire show, that’s the biggest award you can win,”

Allard said the tiniest details are the difference between winning and losing.

“When you’re at a competition, it’s all about stuff that nobody would notice; anatomy, detail, finish work, and it’s the fine minute details,” Allard said. “They’re looking in the ear with a flashlight,”

Allard said the competition gets harder every year.

“It can be the difference between one stitch that you can see,” Allard said. “How close can you get to making this thing look alive,”

Allard said he started taxidermy to save money on his own animals he shot hunting and he grew his business from there.

Like any business, Allard has run into many challenges.

“Supplies have been a huge issue over the last two years because of Covid,” Allard said. “It’s been hard to get stuff. It’s still hard to get stuff,”

Allard said one of the many supply shortages is the focal point of the piece. 

 “Right now, you can’t get deer eyes. There’s just none to be had,” Allard said. “The glass comes from Germany,”

Allard said he is still working on deer mounts from 2020 because that year he took in 97 orders.

“I spend a lot of hours in here,” Allard said. “I don’t have a lot of time for anything else,”

Allard said he is gearing up to start making the switch from regular taxidermy to higher-end items for trophy rooms.

“High-end taxidermy is all about anatomy and making it correct,” Allard said. “There are six muscles in a deer’s ear you have to know where those muscles go to make an ear look right. I sculp each muscle in an ear to make it look right. A lot of guys just put a ball of clay in there. That’s the big difference between a $600 deer head and a $1000 deer head.”

Allard said he spends 10 to 12 hours on a regular deer that goes on the wall and 50 to 60 hours on a showpiece deer.

 

At the World Championship, Allard won two awards and entered four pieces:

First Place Competitors Award (highest combined scores on four pieces)

First Place in Habitat

 

Allard Competed at South Dakota, Kansas, New Mexico, and Nebraska State shows at the Master's Level

Between those four Allard said he won;

3 State Champion Awards

1 Best in State

7 Best of Categories

2 Best all-around taxidermist award

2 Best Habitat Awards

2 People’s Choice Bird

15 First Place Ribbons

12 Second Place Ribbons

The Woody Award runner-up for best of show

The Wasco Award- Most artistic entry

Masters Competitors Award

2nd Place Masters Competitors

The Pro-1 Award

People’s Choice Reptile

Ducks Unlimited Award for best bird

Best Commercial Mount