Taxidermist sets up shop in Sisters

Many hunters and fishermen preserve and celebrate the memory of a special trip by mounting a trophy fish, a spectacular pheasant or a mule deer head. But for some of those outdoorsmen and women, good taxidermy is out of reach due to cost and access.

That's where God's Country Taxidermy shines. The new Sisters studio is ready to serve the needs of hunters and fishermen in Sisters Country and across the Pacific Northwest.

Tom Dersham and his wife, Jess, relocated to Sisters this summer from Morrison, Illinois, where Dersham had established a reputation as an excellent - and affordable - taxidermist. An outbreak of disease has caused a severe die-off in the Illinois whitetail deer herd, causing a commensurate plunge in the taxidermy business. It was either hunker down for several years and wait for the population to rebound or make a drastic change.

"We decided to make a drastic change," Tom said. "We flew out here in March and we went everywhere."

They came to Oregon in large part because Dersham had worked in the past with Curtis Christiansen, a taxidermist in Prineville who is noted in the field for his waterfowl mounts. Sisters won out because of the nature of the community.

"I'm from Golden, Colorado," said Jess. "This reminded me a lot of Golden."

With two school-age children, schools were also an important consideration, as was a safe, rural community where they could raise those kids.

"It's a huge leap of faith," Jess acknowledged. They're happy with their choice. "Everybody's been so welcoming and accommodating."

Tom launched his taxidermy career six years ago after a serious ATV accident ended his ability to handle his construction work. He went to school with John Rinehart, who has a national reputation as an innovator in the field. An avid bowhunter and fisherman, the work fit with his passions - and he found he was good at it.

The Dershams operate on a strong ethic.

"My business is faith-based," Tom said. "I'm Christian. I have created my business around God and what I believe."

For Tom, it's important that hunting not become a rich man's game. He wants regular folks to be able to preserve their memories through quality mounting of trophies. Skilled taxidermists can command top dollar for their work, but Dersham is not about maximizing dollars - he's about doing good work and building relationships.

Christiansen will join God's Country Taxidermy in serving Oregon's hunting and fishing community. While he can do anything, Dersham acknowledges that he likes doing game heads best. Christiansen, an avid waterfowler, loves working with birds.

"He's going to basically run the bird and fish division," Dersham said.

God's Country Taxidermy will continue to serve clients in the Midwest and on the East Coast, as they establish a new client base here in the Pacific Northwest.

The Dershams have been busy letting folks know they're here and getting themselves established in the community. Jess says there's another priority for a family that likes to fish every day. She needs someone to clue them in on the best spots.

God's Country Taxidermy is located at 352 E. Hood Ave., between Happy Wok and the Central Electric Cooperative office. For more information visit www.godscountrytaxidermy.net or call 563-219-2022.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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