Kerby started doing taxidermy in 1975 and competing in the 1990’s. Mostly self taught until 1991 when he joined the Arizona Taxidermy Artist Association (ATAA). Although Kerby does all phases of taxidermy he enjoys reptiles and fish the most and mainly competes with reptiles and fish. He has won numerous awards in taxidermy to include numerous State Champion awards in reptile and fish categories. Numerous People’s Choice Best Reptile awards, numerous Starfish awards, McKenzie Distinguished Service award, McKenzie Best Fish award, Kansas Best Out Of State award, Kansas Master Best Reproduction awards (State Champion), New Mexico Taxidermy Association President’s award, numerous Original Art awards, numerous Van Dykes Most Original and Creative awards, numerous Polytranspar awards, Matuska award (Master Division with four reptiles) and other Competitor’s award, numerous Blue ribbons and Best of Category awards in the Masters Division in the fish and reptile categories, two Blue ribbons at the 2009 World Show in Professional Reproductions (reptiles). He also received 3rd place ribbons in Master Division (reptile reproduction) at four World Taxidermy Championships. He has given seminars at state shows in Arizona, Kansas, Idaho, Texas, Western Regional (New Mexico), the United Taxidermist Association (UTA) and at the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2022 World Taxidermy Championships. Kerby has judged fish and reptiles at state shows and reptiles at the United Taxidermist Assoc. (UTA) show in 2012, 2016 and 2023. Kerby has taught taxidermy at Yavapai College in the early 1990s. He has had numerous articles published in Breakthrough magazine for wildlife artists (fish, reptile, molding & casting and wood carving articles), the Herp Nation for herpers, Reptiles Magazine, the annual Texas Taxidermy Association magazine and the UTA Artisan magazine. Kerby has a BS degree in history from Kansas State University and a MA degree in management from Webster University. You can typically find Kerby out in the desert looking for snakes to photograph and carving fish and snake walking sticks.
I have had numerous articles published in BREAKTHROUGH magazine as well as in Herp Nation magazine, Reptiles magazine, Texas Taxidermy Association Inc. magazine and The Artisan magazine.
Issue # 85 Rattlesnakes, A Closer Look |
Issue # 91 Mounting A Seamless Argus Monitor |
Issue # 93 Painting A Apache Trout Reproduction |
Issue # 94 Painting A Gila Trout Reproduction |
Issue # 95 Molding, Casting And Painting A Desert Tortoise |
Issue # 103 Mounting A Mojave Rattlesnake |
Issue # 105 Molding And Casting A 14" Red Ear Sunfish |
Issue # 111 Carcass Casting A Gaboon Viper |
Issue # 115 Molding & Painting A Reproduction Thayeri Kingsnake |
Issue # 116 Rattlesnake Custom Form Alteration |
Issue # 123 Driftwood Deer Head |
Feb. 2014 California Kingsnakes |
Issue 10 Herping Bagdad, Arizona |
Issue 12 Reptile Taxidermy |
Volume 4, Issue 1 Taxidermy Reference - Reptiles |
Texas Taxidermy Association Inc. 2014 Molding & Casting Prickly Pear Cactus Pads |
From 1997. Jim Hartsock, president of the Arizona Taxidermy Artist
Association presenting me with my National Taxidermist
Association (NTA) plaque for being certified in Reptile Taxidermy.
Judging History
2012 Untied Taxidermists
Assoc (UTA) show in Pasco, Washington - Reptiles
2016 United Taxidermists Assoc (UTA) show in Louisville, KY - Reptiles
2018 Idaho Taxidermy Assoc. show in Blackfoot, Idaho - Fish and Reptiles
2019 Idaho Taxidermy Assoc. show in Blackfoot, Idaho - Fish and Reptiles
2020 Idaho Taxidermy Assoc. show in Blackfoot, Idaho - Fish and Reptiles
2023 United Taxidermist Association (UTA) show in Wichita, KS - Fish and
Reptiles
Taxidermy Awards | ||
2023 | Texas Taxidermy Association - Desert Tortoise Reproduction | 2nd Place - Master Division |
2023 | Texas Taxidermy Association - Alligator Snapping Turtle Reproduction | 3rd Place - Master Division |
2022 | World Fish Carving Championships - Common Carp | 1st Place - Novice Division |
2022 | World Taxidermy Championships - Sonoran Desert Toad Reproduction | 3rd Place - Master Division |
2022 | Kansas Association of Taxidermists | MATUSKA AWARD - Master Division |
2022 | Kansas Association of Taxidermists - Sonoran Desert Toad Reproduction | 1st Place - Master Division |
2022 | Kansas Association of Taxidermists - Mojave Rattlesnake | 2nd Place - Master Division |
2022 | Kansas Association of Taxidermists - Western Diamondback Rattlesnake | 2nd Place - Master Division |
2022 | Kansas Association of Taxidermists - Arizona Black Rattlesnake Reproduction | 2nd Place - Master Division |
2022 | Kansas Association of Taxidermists - Original Art - Carp - Fish Wood Carving | 1st Place |
2022 | Kansas Association of Taxidermists - Habitat | 1st Place |
2021 | Texas Taxidermy Association - Sonoran Desert Toad | 1st Place - Master Division |
2021 | Texas Taxidermy Association - Arizona Black Rattlesnake Reproduction | 1st Place - Master Division |
2021 | Texas Taxidermy Association - Wood House Toad Reproduction | 1st Place - Master Division |
2021 | Texas Taxidermy Association - Arizona Mountain Kingsnake Skin Mount | 2nd Place - Master Division |
2021 | Texas Taxidermy Association - Graybanded Kingsnake Walking Stick | 1st Place - Original Art People's Choice Award |
2018 | Western Regional Taxidermy Championship - Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Reproduction | 1st Place - Master Division |
2018 | Western Regional Taxidermy Championship - Hand Carved Walking Stick | 1st Place - Original Art |
2017 | National Taxidermist Association Nationals - Alligator Snapping Turtle Reproduction | 2nd Place - Professional Division |
2017 | National Taxidermist Association Nationals - Desert Tortoise Reproduction | 2nd Place - Professional Division |
2017 | National Taxidermist Association Nationals - Wood Carved Walking Stick | 2nd Place - Original Art |
2017 | New Mexico Taxidermy Association - Cuban Rock Iguana Reproduction | President's Award |
2017 | New Mexico Taxidermy Association - Woodhouse Toad Reproduction | 1st Place - Master Division Best Of Category Reproduction - Master Division Van Dykes Most Original And Creative Presentation Award |
2016 | Kansas Association of Taxidermists - Thayeri Kingsnake Reproduction | 2nd Place - Master Division State Champion Reproduction |
2016 | Arizona Taxidermy Association - Alligator Skin Mount | 1st Place - Master Division State Champion Reptile Category People's Choice - Reptile Best of Category Reptile - Master Division |
2016 | Arizona Taxidermy association - Thayeri Kingsnake Reproduction | 1st Place - Master Division |
2016 | Arizona Taxidermy Association - Red Ear Sunfish Reproduction | 1st Place - Master Division State Champion Fish Category Best of Category Fish - Master Division Polytranspar Award |
2016 | Arizona Taxidermy Association - Woodhouse Toad Reproduction | 1st place - Master Division |
2015 | World Taxidermy Championships - Woodhouse Toad Reproduction | 3rd Place - Master Division |
2014 | Oklahoma Taxidermists Association - Competitors Award (3rd Place) | Uromastyx Lizard - Reproduction Thayeri Kingsnake - Reproduction Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake - Skin Mount Carp - Skin Mount |
2014 | Oklahoma Taxidermists Association - Uromastyx Lizard Reproduction | 2nd Place - Master Division Van Dykes Most Original and Creative Presentation Award Starfish Award - Reproduction |
2014 | Oklahoma Taxidermists Association - Carp Skin Mount | 2nd Place - Professional Division Best Of Category - Professional Division Polytranspar Award McKenzie Taxidermist's Choice - Best Fish Award |
2014 | Kansas Association of Taxidermists - Uromastyx Lizard Reproduction | 1st Place - Master Division Best of Category Reproductions - Master Division Kansas Best Reproduction - Master Division Starfish Award - Reproduction Best Out-of-state Award (Scored 93) |
2014 | Kansas Association of Taxidermists - Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Skin Mount | 2nd Place - Master Division People's Choice Best Reptile |
2013 | World Taxidermy Championships - Uromastyx Lizard Reproduction | 3rd Place - Master Division |
2013 | World Fish Carving Championships - Imperial Angelfish Wood Carving | 2nd Place - Novice Division |
2012 | Arizona Taxidermy Artists Association - Red Ear Sunfish Reproduction | 1st Place - Professional Division Best Of Category |
2012 | Kansas Association of Taxidermists - Gaboon Viper | Kansas Best Reptile People's Choice Best Reptile |
2011 | Arizona Taxidermy Artists Association - Gila Monster Skin Mount | 1st Place - Master Division |
2011 | World Taxidermy Championships - Alligator Snapping Turtle Reproduction | 3rd Place - Master Division |
2010 | Arizona Taxidermy Artists Association - Alligator Snapping Turtle Reproduction | 1st Place - Master Division Best Of Category |
2010 | Kansas Association of Taxidermist - Alligator Snapping Turtle Reproduction | 1st place - Professional Division Kansas Best Reptile Award |
2010 | Texas Taxidermy Association - Uromastyx Skin Mount | 3rd Place - Master Division |
2010 | Arizona Taxidermy Artists Association - Grass Carp Reproduction | 2nd Place - Professional Division |
2009 | Arizona Taxidermy Artists Association - Smallmouth Bass Reproduction | 2nd Place - Professional Division |
2009 | Arizona Taxidermy Artists Association - Cuban Rock Iguana Reproduction | STARFISH Award - Best Reproduction |
2009 | Arizona Taxidermy Artists Association - Moroccan Uromastyx Reproduction | 3rd Place - Master Division |
2009 | World Taxidermy Championships - Desert Tortoise Reproduction | 1st Place - Professional Division |
2009 | World Taxidermy Championships - Cuban Rock Iguana Reproduction | 1st Place - Professional Division |
2009 | Kansas Association of Taxidermist - Uromastyx Skin Mount | 2nd Place - Professional Division |
2009 | Kansas Association of Taxidermist - Crappie Reproduction | 2nd Place - Professional Division Best of Category |
2008 | National Taxidermist Association Nationals - Black Rough Neck Monitor Skin Mount | 3rd Place - Professional Division |
2008 | Arizona Taxidermy Artists Association | McKenzie Taxidermy Distinguished Service Award |
2008 | New Mexico Taxidermy Association - White Throated Monitor Skin Mount | 1st Place - Professional Division New Mexico Best Reptile |
2008 | New Mexico Taxidermy Association - Largemouth Bass Reproduction | 1st Place - Professional Division Best of Category |
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