Parsons Taxidermy and Wild Game Processing closes

After 34 years of serving Kansas hunters, John Parsons is down-sizing from three jobs to one.

Parsons Taxidermy and Wild Game Processing in Derby is no longer taking animals for either business, Parsons said. He said he plans to continue to do business as a sculptor of wild animals and sporting scenes.

“I’ve been working seven days a week for so many years, it’s just time to slow down a bit,” he said. “I’ve sure enjoyed it. It’s been a great way to make a living.”

The 59-year-old Parsons said he and his staff are still working to complete all taxidermy projects accepted before he decided to close the businesses.

“We’ve been working to get caught up since I started this 35 years ago,” Parsons said. “Well, now I can see the end of my row. I can tell you it’s a lot harder to get out of this business than it was into it.”

Parsons took to taxidermy as a full-time occupation after a 1979 treestand accident left him with a broken back and ended his career as a firefighter. He added the wild game processing aspect in 1994.

“They just seemed to go hand in hand,” he said. “I know I started getting a lot more deer heads when I started the processing. It just kind of made it one-stop shopping for the hunters. A lot of them really liked it, I guess.”

But with the added business and income came added stress and responsibilities, like finding capable part-time employees during the fall seasons.

“The sculpture thing I can do more at my own leisure,” Parsons said. “It pays well, and it’s still kind of new and exciting for me.”

Parsons currently is producing a line of lamps with sculptures for Cabela’s. He’s also created numerous life-size and larger-than-life display sculptures of wildlife for Cabela’s and other large outdoors retailers. He’s also worked with area cities and local high schools to create life-sized sculpted mascots. Parsons has donated works to help raise funds for favored outdoors conservation groups, like the Pass It On Outdoor Mentors program.

“I have a lot of things on the horizon,” he said. “I just want some time when I can work on my own. I like making things with my hands, that’s kind of what I’m looking forward to doing.”

This story was originally published September 13, 2014 at 2:08 PM with the headline "Parsons Taxidermy and Wild Game Processing closes."