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The following pictures are of the New Hampshire Locked Moose Antler Project, Inc.
The pictures are updated as the project continues its travels!
All pictures on this page have been used with permission, and in cooperation
between the Northcountry News and the NH Locked Moose Antler Project, Inc.
Any duplication or use of these photos without the express
written permission is punishable by law.
Due to picture quality and quantity, download times may vary depending
on which service you are using. Please be patient!
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NH Fish & Game Lt. John Wimsatt (left) is the Project Coordinator for the NH Locked Moose Antler Project. Above, he looks over the locked antlers with Mark Dufresne, Taxidermist for the project and owner of Nature's Reflections Taxidermy in Maine. Photo taken by Howard Whitten, Taxidermist teacher at Nokomis High School in Maine.
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Although the above photographs are not very appealing, the project was documented and photographed from the very beginning. The above two pictures show exactly how the moose were found after the battle in which their antlers became locked and ultimately took their lives. The moose were found in Springfield, NH by Ray Deragon of New London, NH in October of 2003.
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Taxidermist Mark Dufresne started the large project, with a smaller project. He designed a small scale clay model to conform to the ideas of what the finished full size mount should look like. Although some changes have been made, much of the project followed along with the original clay model.
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With the very large scale project "a go," two very large hides would be needed to serve for the full size, full body mounts. Moose hunters were asked at the beginning of the 2004 season if they would be willing to donate hides to the project if their hunt was successful and if they were large bulls. As you can see above, indeed it happened that two very large bulls were taken and the hides were donated.
In the left photo, to the left of the moose are Randy and Cathy Shropshire of Ft. Lauderdale, FL., who donated the hide from their moose. To the right of the moose are John Wimsatt, Fish & Game and NHLMAP Project Coordinator and Ray Deragon, who found the original moose with their antlers locked together. The whole weight of this bull was approximately 1,200 pounds.
In the right photo, from left to right are Mike Mackanich and Tom Brown of Pennsylvania (shaking hands), who donated their bull's hide to the project. To the far right is Jeff Prehemo, Prehemo's Guide Service who worked as their guide. The whole weight of this impressive bull was approximately 1,300 pounds.
Both bull moose were taken in the Pittsburgh / Clarksville, NH area. Everyone involved in the project certainly thank these hunters for their most generous donations to the project.
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Another photo of Randy and Cathy Shropshire (left), with their guides, Steve and Karen Courchesne of Hooksett, NH. As stated in the above photo, the Shropshire's donated the hide from their large bull moose to the project.
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Left Photo: From the moment the two hides were donated, the project has gone non-stop. Every inch of the two bulls were measured, photographed and drawn out to ensure that life size scale was documented for the ultimate goal of the finished taxidermy mounts. All this before the hides that were donated could actually be taken off the bulls for use in the finished project.
Right Photo: Pictured are the lead and wax created antlers for the clay model.
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Left Photo: This is a picture of the hide from the Shropshire bull, which was donated for the project.
Right Photo: The moose skins have been tanned and are shown above drip drying after being soaked. They will be used on the exhibit mounts.
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The above four photos show the work that must be done for such a project. A normal taxidermy mount may have a bull standing with its head up, looking to the right or to the left. But for this project, everything had to be custom made to conform to the two battling bull moose who tangled antlers. This meant cutting, carving and sculpting every piece of foam that is being used for the finished mount. As you can see, countless hours have been put in to this project for all involved.
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Left Photo: Cold rolled steel rods are inserted in the legs of the moose mounts. This is an involved process that ensures little or no movement in the mounts. The rods are bent on a computerized jig.
Right Photo: The locked racks hang in the air while mounts are tirelessly fitted, and as a reminder to all involved what this project is truly about.
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Left Photo: Positioning of the antlers during the form modification and development was a crucial step in the process. Adjusting the mounts to ensure they are accurately depicting natural positioning of fighting moose is a focus of Mark's work. He has researched dozens of references. He has reviewed many videos of fighting bulls to enhance his ability to exact every detail. This display does not simply depict sparring bulls. It is our intent to capture a dramatic moment during a full scale battle that ultimately lead to the death of both moose once they became hopelessly locked.
Right Photo: Taxidermist Mark Dufresne draws the skeletal bone structure on the forms to ensure that the custom modifications are perfect in every detail.
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Left Photo: A sneak peek of the immense mounts as Northeast Steel Fabrications, Inc. out of Fairhaven, VT. work on the extensive mobile unit that will allow the exhibit to be safely moved in and out of the exhibits home within a 24' enclosed trailer.
The unit will be set up with special air bags and shock absorbers as to not allow the mounts to move or to be jarred while travelling to and from exhibit locations.
Right Photo: As shown in above photos, pictures where taken of the moose which were used as models for the full size mounts. Details right down to the nose and its markings will be used for the museum quality exhibit.
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Left Photo: Northeast Steel Fabricators spent many hours fitting the custom forms to the steel base.
Right Phot: One of the moose forms is lifted into place. This sneak peak of the forms on the base demonstrates just how massive the exhibit will be. It stretches 20 feet long and has an overall height of approx. 9 feet.
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Left Photo: The custom built steel base is prepared for habitat construction.
Right Photo: John Wimsatt (left) and Taxidermist Mark Dufresne apply the plaster soaked burlap sheets to the steel base.
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Left Photo: Mark Dufresne and Ray Deragon add plaster around the soon to be created rocks.
Right Photo: Lisa Bell and John Wimsatt add rock texture to the base.
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Left Photo: Ray Deragon, Mark Dufresne, his son Zeb, and Lisa Bell apply paint to create the rocks.
Right Photo: The base is ready for paint and further habitat work.
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Left Photo: Taxidermist Mark Dufresne and Scott Beernaert of Hancock, NH work to attach one of the moose skins as Ray Deragon and Lisa Bell monitor the progress.
Right Photo: A real jaw from a bull moose is ready for casting. The moose head used for this casting came from a large bull moose that was killed in a motor vehicle collision. Compare this jaw to the created ones in the following pictures.
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Left Photo: Casts are made of the upper and lower jaw from a real bull moose as seen in the above right picture.
Right Photo: Mark Dufresne works on the jaw of one of the forms.
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Left Photo: Mark Dufresne test fits the casted upper jaw to the form of one of the bulls.
Right Photo: Once the new mouth is created, Mark Dufresne air brush paints the jaws to exact every detail of a real moose.
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Left Photo: Mark means EVERY detail, right down to the staining on the teeth.
Right Photo: With the mouths nearly complete, the time had come to put the bull forms and locked antlers together permanently in preparation for mounting the moose skins.
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Left Photo: Hide paste is applied to the form in preparation for the moose skin. L to R Toby Montgomery, Scott Beernaert, and lead taxidermist Mark Dufresne.
Right Photo: Another view of the hide paste. Note the elaborate form modification and sculpting to exact the musculature.
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Left Photo: Karen Symes from Unity College in Maine has assisted with many stages of the project. Mark, Karen, Scott, and others spent countless hours sewing the hides together as shown here.
Right Photo: Karen and Scott continue the tedious task of sewing the skins on the forms while Mark(right) makes one of hundreds of calls it takes to make this project happen.
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Left Photo: Mark's nephew Tyler helps with the construction of the base.
Right Photo: The mounts begin to come alive as final steps are completed. Note the antler puncture hole on the right palm.
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Left Photo: Mark Dufresne doubles as "Mr. Mom" as he juggles his son in one arm and installs edge-beaded black walnut boards with the other.
Right Photo: Work continues on the time consuming wooden base for the exhibit.
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On September 24, 2005, at approximately 10 a.m., the NH Locked Moose Antler Project, Inc., working in partnership with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and the Conservation Officers'
Relief Association held an unveiling ceremony for its life-size taxidermy exhibit
depicting two adult bull moose who had permanently locked antlers.
Sponsors, donors, members of the media and about 75-100 people were expected
to arrive for the small ceremony.
You can imagine the excitement in the air when over 300 people showed up for the event with vehicles
lined up and down both sides of Route 4-A. in Wilmot, NH.
The Ceremony took place in Gardiner Memorial Wayside approximately 2 1/2 miles from the original location in which the antlers were found by Ray Deragon in October of 2003.
After several speakers, many thank yous and unlimited applause, the exhibit was unveiled for the first time.
The pictures which you are about to see are of that ceremony, and of the finished exhibit.
The completion of this exhibit comes with over two years and hundreds of hours of constant work
from those involved. Much of their time volunteered.
If it were not for the visions of Ray Deragon, who found the antlers, and of Lt. John Wimsatt of the NH Fish & Game Department, who Deragon first notified of the find, we would not be talking about this exhibit today and the public would have truly been robbed of such a spectacular and awe-inspiring educational exhibit. It is them who we thank, and it is them who this page of pictures are dedicated.
IF YOU ARE READY TO SEE THE FINISHED EXHIBIT
CLICK ON THE "FOREVER LOCKED" LOGO BELOW.
ENJOY!
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The Northcountry News is providing the information concerning "Forever Locked" in cooperation with the
NH Locked Moose Antler Project, Inc. (non-profit owner of the exhibit) Permission to use any of the information within
these pages or questions regarding this project should be directed to: nhlockedmoose@yahoo.com or
NHLMAP, Inc., PO Box 236, Northwood NH 03261 or you may call 603-763-4540 for more information.
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