Trophy Room to grow

When hunters and anglers hear the word Warden, the Game and Fish, and being checked for game violations is most likely what crosses their mind. If a hunter or angler has a prize animal taken afield, then they might think about going to see the other Warden.

Warden Patzer is the proprietor and taxidermist at Trophy Room Taxidermy.

Patzer re-opened the Trophy Room three years ago and after revamping his business plan, the flow of customers has continued to increase.

Warden still does taxidermy work, but he has diversified his business by obtaining a Federal Firearms License (FFL) and has started selling firearms. The Trophy Room is also a place to look for outdoor and camping gear now that the shop consigns outdoor equipment. The sales of Game and Fish licenses has also shown an increase of customers through the door.

“You can buy a license, a gun, ammo and even a coat,” Patzer said. “Then you can bring your trophy back and have it mounted. We wanted to make it a one-stop shop for the outdoor enthusiast.”

Patzer has been very busy with the new things going on at his shop. Gun sales have been good for Trophy Room according to Patzer, and he also has his hands full of trophies from this last hunting season that still need his expert hand.

Last year Patzer had 60-70 pieces to be mounted and he didn’t think that this year would be any better with the drought and low numbers of deer in the valley. He was pleasantly surprised to find that this year he took in 115-118 pieces.

The 100 percent increase in trophies to be mounted, and all the new entities of the shop have Warden and Kathleen Cervin very busy.

“We pour our hearts and souls into the business to make it work,” Patzer said.

Patzer’s partner and companion, Cervin helps run the books and keeps track of the sales end of the business.

“She is great help with the computer aspects, accounting and with the sales,” Patzer said.

The two also like to hunt, but didn’t get any time this year to get away and go hunting. The taxidermists’ busiest time of the year is during the hunting season and the two needed to be at the shop to take in and care for the trophies from their clients.

Patzer and Cervin try to take a little time for themselves and when they get the chance, the two will go set trap lines together. Even though there is money to be made in trapped pelts, the two look at it more as a chance to forget about the bustle in the shop and a chance to get into the wide open spaces of Wyoming.

Patzer did however find one day this last fall to chase some game. His son, his son’s girlfriend and he all harvested antelope bucks that day.

Patzer attributes the increase of business to word-of-mouth and repeat customers.

“I have clients that I have known for a long time,” Patzer said. “One long-time client came from Salt Lake City and shot a whitetail buck in Wyoming. He brought his buck here and another hunter I know shot a buck in Kansas and he brought his trophy to me as well. I just try to turn out the best product possible.”

“Taxidermy is about preserving memories,” according to Patzer. “It doesn’t matter the size of the horns. If someone has taken what they deem as a trophy and want to preserve the memory of the hunt, than that is what I’m here for.”

Another unique aspect of Trophy Room Taxidermy is that someone can trade a gun for a different one, help skin and flesh pelts for merchandise or trade a dead coyote for store credit.

“I would very much like to thank the locals. They have been very good in supporting the business and helping us out. I’ll probably do this forever, my heart is in it and I’ll probably die stuffing heads,” Patzer said with a chuckle.