This week on The Texas Campfire Podcast, we’re doing something a little different.
Instead of a traditional sit-down podcast, Mark Hubbard takes you on the road for a more visual, show-style episode as he heads to Animal Artistry of Texas to visit his longtime friend and taxidermist, Gerald Lieck.
Mark is picking up two deer mounts from last season, and both come with a story. One is a South Texas whitetail that ended a 38-year stretch without him pulling the trigger on a trophy whitetail. The other is a massive Sonora mule deer he almost passed on because he thought the buck was too thin-horned.
What starts as a taxidermy pickup turns into a deeper conversation about hunting, patience, memories, and the emotion behind the animals we choose to harvest. Mark talks about why he went so long without shooting a trophy whitetail, the moment this deer finally changed his mind, and what it felt like to walk up on an animal that meant that much after all those years.
Gerald also shares the heart behind his work as a taxidermist, the responsibility of preserving someone’s memory, and why every mount is more than just antlers on a wall. You’ll also meet Emily, the young taxidermist Gerald is mentoring as he prepares to pass the business and craft on to the next generation.
This episode is part road trip, part hunting story, part taxidermy shop visit, and part reflection on why certain animals stay with us forever.
Because this episode is very visual, you’ll get the full experience by watching it on YouTube.
Watch the full episode here:
youtube.com/@thetexascampfire
Life is always better when there’s dirt under your feet.
