The sight of the charging African lion stopped me in my tracks. I swear I could feel his power within me as I got lost in his fierce amber eyes. Considering they're the largest eyes of any meat-eating animal, it was a good thing he was in the form of a taxidermy mount at the SCI convention. I thought of how this predator sees six times better than humans do at night, thanks to a unique eye structure that absorbs and reflects available light, and of how that special glow is the one light you don't want to see in the darkness.
Fortunately the art of taxidermy, which has seen quite the resurgence over the past decade and is featured in countless home-interior magazines these days, was never lost on us hunters to begin with and is ever in vogue at SCI. No other place in the world showcases as many beautiful mounts all under one roof. I invite you to join me on a "head-hunting" expedition of your own and check out the 10 images in this incredible photo gallery!