Naples, Florida
Our Story
Skins & Scales began with a boy, a deer-head on the wall, and a stubborn determination to learn the trade.
Bucky Flowers grew up in Florida surrounded by hunters and fishermen, captivated by his father’s mounted deer. Around the age of thirteen he tried his own hand at the craft, teaching himself from mail-order books and practicing on small birds and squirrels.
That curiosity turned into a lifelong calling. Skins & Scales Taxidermy opened in 1976 and has been a fixture in Naples ever since. Over the decades the work has carried Bucky far beyond Florida — chasing once-in-a-lifetime trophies through Africa, Canada, Mexico, and more — and back to a shop that now displays more than 300 mounts.
Today the work is a team effort. Each member brings a specialty of their own, but everyone shares the same things: a love of the outdoors, respect for the animal, and a refusal to let a single detail slide.
The craft
The heart of the hunter
What draws a hunter to the outdoors is hard to put into words — the open air, the sound of moving water, the quiet hours, the country itself. It is a tradition passed from one generation to the next, older than written history.
For most of that history the work of preserving a trophy fell to upholsterers and, later, to museums. Only in the last century did taxidermy come into its own as a respected art. A good mount honors both the animal and the story behind it. That is the part we are proud to play.
Milestones
A few mile markers
Recognition
Affiliations & recognition
- Safari Club International (Naples / Fort Myers) — Award of Appreciation for 12 years of service
- Seminar Instructor — South Louisiana Taxidermist Association Competition
- Member — Florida State Taxidermist Association & the National Taxidermist Association
In the field & in the news
Bucky has been featured by local media, including a guided shop tour in the Naples Daily News and an interview on Dave Osborn’s "In The 239."
Planning your next mount?
Tell us about your trophy and how you would like it displayed. We will walk you through your options, timing, and shipping.
Request a quote