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Jake - Owner & Master Taxidermist
My name is Jake Rouse, and I am the owner and wildlife artist at Jake Rouse Taxidermy. I have spent my whole life outdoors hunting and observing how wildlife moves and interacts. I remember as a young boy, being on my father’s back with my arms wrapped around his neck as we climbed the tree stands together. However, as much as I love hunting, I realized many years ago that I have a true passion for recreating wildlife as a taxidermist. I studied business at Mount Olive College, obtaining my degree in Business Management; as well as attending Johnson Community College’s taxidermy course. I take taxidermy very serious and have invested in myself to continuously improve my skills over the years. I am an active member in The North Carolina Taxidermist's Association; currently and previously serving as a board member, as well as previously the Vice President for the Association.
As a hunter I know how much your trophy means to you...that is why I have trained one on one with some of the best taxidermists in the Country, including World Champion and National Champion taxidermist's, to provide you with exceptional mounts! I am also very proud to be an award winning taxidermist, winning many awards myself including being a Multi-State State Champion! I have also judged Youth, Amateur, and Commercial Divisions in taxidermy competitions; as well as given seminars in many other states at taxidermy conventions.
I always work my hardest for perfection and want every one of my mounts to reflect that! I am not your typical taxidermist from down the road… I love doing the typical style mounts, but also love a challenge and creating very unique pieces as well! Therefore, in my shop the only limit is your imagination! And because of that I am very fortunate to have customers drive from hours away, even states away. As well as shipping their trophies to me just to have me mount them.
I mount every piece as if it is my own trophy that I am preserving the memory of. I do not take short cuts, and only use quality materials that meet my standards! So you can rest assure that your trophy will result in a high quality mount here!
Jake's Licenses, Awards, & Training
- NC Licensed Taxidermist
- Current Member of The North Carolina Taxidermist Association
- Certified NC Taxidermist thru The North Carolina Taxidermist Association
- 2016/2017 & 2026/2027 Board Member for The North Carolina Taxidermist Association
- 2019 & 2020 Vice President for The North Carolina Taxidermist Association
- Multi-State Champion winner in Gameheads, Master's Division
- Multiple Award Winning Taxidermist in Professional & Master's Divisions
- Trained on Whitetails with "Best in the World Whitetail Mount 2011" winner
- Trained on Ducks with a Master Taxidermist who is a National winner in waterfowl
- Trained on African and Life-size mounts with a multiple State Champion and "Breakthrough" Award Winner
- Trained on Bears, Rams & Habitat with a 8 time Artisan Award winner
- Taught seminars in multiple states at taxidermy conventions
- Have attended 100+ seminars to learn techniques from Master Taxidermists and World Champion Taxidermists
- Have been a judge for multiple state conventions- judging Youth, Amateur, and Commercial divisions
April- Office Manager
April , Jake's wife, is the Office Manager and an integral part of the daily operations for Jake Rouse Taxidermy. She is licensed as a taxidermist in North Carolina as well as Federally licensed. April holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership with a specialization in Human Resource Management.
April oversees all administrative and operational functions of the business, including client intake, business records, inventory management, supply ordering and receiving, shipment coordination, and social media management. Her attention to detail and organizational leadership helps ensure the business operates efficiently and professionally.
She has been actively involved in the taxidermy community, serving as Secretary for the North Carolina Taxidermist’s Association in 2016 and 2017. During her service, she received the President’s Award for outstanding dedication, followed by the McKenzie Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her contributions to professionalism, education, and the advancement of the art of taxidermy.
Brianna - Taxidermy Production Lead & Marketing Specialist
Brianna is the Taxidermy Production Lead & Marketing Specialist at Jake Rouse Taxidermy. She first began exploring taxidermy at just 15 years old, competing in taxidermy competitions for fun and following in her dad’s footsteps. After gaining years of hands-on experience, she joined the team full-time as a licensed taxidermist a couple of years ago and has been an asset ever since.
A perfectionist with a sharp eye for detail—much like her father—Brianna genuinely enjoys building lasting relationships with customers. Along with leading production, she manages the shop’s marketing efforts and connects with customers through social media, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the work being done in the studio.
Brianna plays a hands-on role in nearly every aspect of the operation, from picking up supplies and prepping forms to designing habitats, washing, cleaning, and finishing mounts. She also specializes in feather art taxidermy and handles all feather art pieces for the shop. Her expertise in this area has led her to present a seminar at the NC Taxidermy Association Convention, where she taught other taxidermists how to create feather art displays.