Our Employees
It is said that a company’s most valuable assets are it’s employees. That being the case, Nature’s Design Taxidermy is truly a wealthy company. We are very proud of our fine and talented staff, and we hope you contact us to talk to them soon!
Ray – owner of Nature’s Design
Ray, owner of Nature’s Design, has 35 years experience as a full time taxidermist as well as being an avid hunter, trapper, and fisherman. Anything that deals with the outdoors is right up Rays alley. His talent and creativity have earned him many awards ranging from Award or Excellence, People’s Choice, Taxidermist Choice, and a World Champion Life Size Mammal. He has a passion for mounting things that are out of the ordinary and getting the opportunity to create new poses and pushing the limits of gravity. He has also started designing and building trophy rooms which is another creative outlet for him.
Chris – Co-Owner of Nature’s Design
Chris not only works in the office handling day to day operations; but also has her hand in creating habitat bases for customers, building crates, and pulling the trailer and delivering mounts to customers. Outside of work, herpassion lies with her grandchildren, camping, and riding atv’s. She also donates her time to the Yellowstone Quake Hockey Team as a Treasurer and opens up her home to house players for the season.
Duane Mittlieder – Finisher/Fish Taxidermist
Duane is a true artist, accomplished with both paint and air brush. His attention to detail brings our finished mounts to life. He also mounts all of our fish whether it is a skin mount or reproduction. He has worked with us since 2001, is a major part of our team and has been a taxidermist for 15 years.
He has attended Wyoming, Montana and Colorado Taxidermist competitions, also competing at National and World competitions. Duane has brought home many blue ribbons as well as some specialty awards for his incredible fish mounts.
Monte Steward – Taxidermist
An exceptional young man with a great work ethic that began working with us in 2012 after school. He worked in all aspects of the shop from crating and is beginning to learn taxidermy under the direction of Ray Hatfield.
On a personal note, Monte races dirt bikes and has competed in weight lifting. His interests lie in the out-of-doors as an avid Hunter and fisherman. He enjoys hiking, horse packing and horn hunting the mountains.
Matthew Thompson – Taxidermist
