BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – To mitigate the spread of chronic wasting disease, hunters used to not be able to move carcasses from unit to unit. 2023 was the first year in a long time hunters in North Dakota were able to transport their carcasses without restrictions. Those transportation requirements were replaced by disposal requirements. Now, taxidermists can get animals from units all over the state.

Jake Faehnrich, owner of JB’s Wildlife Designs, said his shop has been busy compared to other years.

“Getting calls of just, ‘Hey, what do I have to do? Can I bring it to you?’ And I always had to say, ‘No.’ So it was either I’d go help them or they would find somewhere else that they could in their unit to take it to them,” said Faehnrich.

Now, he’s seen an uptick in his business and new clients.

“So for me, that really brought up our intake of animals, not so much with the deer but more so of like the moose and the elk. Our numbers overdoubled because of that,” said Faehnrich.

This year, he is set to complete over 100 projects.

He said he’s also been able to do more big game projects.

“Yep, I was pretty excited because I’ve had many calls where clients of mine have, like I said, had moose or elk, and they didn’t know what to do or they couldn’t take them out of those units so they ended up going somewhere else,” said Faehnrich.

He said it also helps local butcher shops and is easier for hunters.

Faehnrich said he loves the art of being a taxidermist, the animals and making them look alive again.

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