About

Hey fellow nature lovers,

I’m a conservation and taxidermy historian who writes about wildlife economics. I’ve been crazy about animals, history and the outdoors since I was little. I’ve worked for museums, aquariums, been a white water and kayak outfitter and guide, and even worked in a butcher shop to see if that would curb my interest in meat (it did not). I’ve got a bevy of outdoor pursuits I indulge in whenever possible like timber sports, camping, hunting, horseback riding, shooting sports, and anything that happens on the water.

Now that I’ve turned more academic in my dotage, I want to share what I’ve been working on for the last 10+ years. I love that I get to travel the country in hopes of inspiring activism for wildlife and wild land conservation. I speak at schools, businesses, private events, outdoor retreats, and give tours of natural history museum dioramas (mostly in NYC, but also Denver and LA). The more that people feel personally connected to nature the more they want to see it thrive. I’m hoping my passion for animals, history, and the outdoors can motivate people into not only becoming more involved in the natural world, but give them a better understanding of their place in it. At the very least you’ll have new cocktail party stories.

Thanks for stopping by!

- Brant

Brant with the head of a polar bear

Contact

** Please CHECK YOUR SPAM folder if you have not seen a response from me in a few days **

FAQ

How do I book you to speak or teach?

Write to me using the contact form! (Taxidermy lessons are mostly on hold until I have time for them again but tours and speaking gigs are still going!)

How long are your lectures?

I can make arrangements for your time, but in general: 30 minutes to one hour is minimum, 90 minutes is just right, and I can get real nitty-gritty in two hours.

Do you do commission taxidermy work?

Not anymore, I’m too busy writing and traveling. But book a class and I’ll help you make a piece yourself!

Will you do a residency?

Yes! I love to spend a few days at a lodge, camp, or school! You have your choice of lectures or lectures and a taxidermy class. Contact me for dates and pricing.

Are you a hunter?

Yes, I started hunting because I’m both an environmentalist and a meat eater. In addition to being the most environmentally friendly way to source meat, it has connected me to nature in a way I never experienced in all my years in the outdoors. The stillness and the focus on your surroundings is intoxicating in a way that was vastly different from all the other outdoor activities I had done. In the past, I had just let the beauty of nature wash over me while I made my way through it. But for the first time I truly felt connected to the land and fellow animals. I worked at a butcher shop just so I could take some responsibility for where my meat was coming from. And now as a hunter, I am truly responsible for its source, and proud of where the money goes when I buy a hunting license, and that feels great.

How did you get into taxidermy?

I’ve always loved animals and the habitat dioramas I saw at museums as a kid. I’m not squeamish, and I wanted to learn more. Funny enough, I got into taxidermy way before I became a hunter. I’m a history buff too and the history of taxidermy is a wild ride of conservation, adventure, and spectacular weirdos I’m obsessed with. Plus, I travel too much to have a live elk in my apartment... maybe I can get a “support elk?”

Do you have any book recommendations?

Well yeah, MY BOOK, The Shotgun Conservationist!

You can find more recommendations of books, articles, and podcasts on my Resources page (once that’s built) and in the mean time there’s a list of recs and resources at the back of my book.