About Me

At Panhandle Taxidermy LLC, I create lifelike, high-quality mounts that preserve your trophy with accuracy and respect. Located in Ogallala, Nebraska, I proudly serve hunters across Keith County, Lake McConaughy, and western Nebraska.

Every mount is crafted with attention to detail, an understanding of anatomy, and a commitment to realism. 

Your trophy deserves to be remembered the right way.

Why Choose Panhandle Taxidermy?

✔ Lifelike, anotomically correct mounts

✔ Clean, professional finishing

✔ Local pickup near Lake McConaughy

✔ Honest timelines and communication

✔ Trusted by Nebraska hunters & anglers

About Danny Nelson – Award-Winning Taxidermist in Ogallala, Nebraska | Panhandle Taxidermy LLC

My name is Danny Nelson, owner and taxidermist at

Panhandle Taxidermy LLC

, located in Ogallala, Nebraska. I specialize in professional, award-winning fish and bird taxidermy, providing hunters and anglers with high-quality wildlife preservation, realistic lifelike mounts, and craftsmanship built to last.

As a state champion taxidermist, earning top honors for both

Best Fish and Best Bird

 I take pride in producing mounts that capture the natural beauty, anatomy, character, and detail of every specimen. Whether it’s a trophy walleye caught at Lake McConaughy, a hard-earned Nebraska pheasant, a beautiful mallard, or a once-in-a-lifetime trophy bird, my goal is to create a mount worthy of the memory behind it.

At Panhandle Taxidermy, I believe quality taxidermy is about more than simply mounting an animal. It’s about preserving a hunting or fishing experience and creating something that can be enjoyed for generations.

Award-Winning Fish and Bird Taxidermy

Panhandle Taxidermy specializes in fish and bird taxidermy in Ogallala and throughout western Nebraska. My work focuses on accurate anatomy, lifelike poses, realistic habitat presentation, detailed painting, and attention to the smallest details.

Being recognized as a state champion for both fish and bird taxidermy reflects my commitment to continually improving my techniques and producing exceptional work.

Waterfowl Taxidermy – Ducks and Geese

Waterfowl taxidermy is one of my specialties. Ducks and geese present unique challenges when it comes to feather detail, anatomy, positioning, and natural appearance. My goal is to create realistic waterfowl mounts that showcase the individual characteristics of each species.

Waterfowl species include:

• Mallard ducks

• Pintail ducks

• Gadwall ducks

• Wigeon ducks

• Wood ducks

• Teal ducks

• Northern shovelers

• Canvasback ducks

• Redhead ducks

• Ring-necked ducks

• Lesser and greater scaup

• Goldeneye ducks

• Bufflehead ducks

• Hooded mergansers

• Common mergansers

• Canada geese

• Snow geese

• Specklebelly geese

• White-fronted geese

• Other waterfowl species

From swimming and standing poses to flying ducks and geese, I work to capture the natural appearance and distinctive characteristics of each bird.

Upland Game Bird Taxidermy

Nebraska has an outstanding upland bird hunting tradition, and preserving those memorable hunts is something I take seriously.

Panhandle Taxidermy offers professional upland game bird taxidermy, with attention to feather patterns, natural positioning, accurate anatomy, and realistic presentation.

Upland bird species include:

• Ring-necked pheasants

• Greater prairie chickens

• Sharp-tailed grouse

• Bobwhite quail

• Hungarian partridge

• Chukar partridge

• Wild turkeys

• Other upland game birds

Whether you are preserving a memorable pheasant hunt, a trophy turkey, or a special upland bird, I strive to create a lifelike mount that does the bird justice.

Large Bird Taxidermy

In addition to waterfowl and upland game birds, I specialize in larger bird taxidermy. These impressive specimens require careful attention to proportions, feather detail, structure, and presentation.

Large bird projects include:

• Sandhill crane taxidermy

• Wild turkey taxidermy

• Swan taxidermy

• Large goose taxidermy

• Other large bird species

Large birds make impressive display pieces, and my goal is to preserve their natural beauty and size with realistic, professional craftsmanship.

Professional Fish Taxidermy in Nebraska

I provide professional fish taxidermy for anglers looking to preserve their favorite catches and trophy fish. From the colors and patterns of the scales to the intricate details of the fins, eyes, head, and anatomy, every effort is made to create a realistic representation of the fish.

Fish species and projects include:

• Walleye taxidermy

• Northern pike taxidermy

• Bass taxidermy

• Crappie taxidermy

• Bluegill and sunfish taxidermy

• Rainbow trout taxidermy

• Brown trout taxidermy

• Cutthroat trout taxidermy

• Lake trout taxidermy

• Salmon and other game fish

• Custom fish replicas and reproduction fish mounts

• Traditional skin-mounted fish

Located near Lake McConaughy, Panhandle Taxidermy is conveniently situated for anglers fishing Lake McConaughy, the Platte River, and other western Nebraska fisheries. Whether you catch a trophy walleye, a personal-best bass, or a memorable trout, I strive to preserve the fish with realistic detail and lifelike appearance.

Additional Taxidermy Services

Panhandle Taxidermy offers more than traditional fish and bird mounts. Additional services include:

• European skull mounts

• Skull cleaning and presentation

• Taxidermy restoration and repair

• Mount repairs and refinishing

• Wildlife specimen selection and storage guidance

• Proper specimen freezing and preservation guidance

• Taxidermy mount care and maintenance advice

Whether you need a new trophy mounted, an older mount restored, or help preserving a specimen before bringing it in, I am happy to help.

Serving Ogallala, Lake McConaughy and Western Nebraska

Panhandle Taxidermy LLC is located in Ogallala, Nebraska, and serves hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts throughout western Nebraska and surrounding communities.

Being located in the heart of Nebraska’s hunting and fishing country makes Panhandle Taxidermy a convenient choice for customers looking for a professional taxidermist near them.

Areas served include:

• Ogallala, Nebraska

• Lake McConaughy

• Keith County

• Brule, Nebraska

• Paxton, Nebraska

• Grant, Nebraska

• Arthur, Nebraska

• Oshkosh, Nebraska

• North Platte, Nebraska

• Sutherland, Nebraska

• Imperial, Nebraska

• Grant, Nebraska

• Gothenburg, Nebraska

• Western Nebraska and surrounding areas

Whether you are searching for a fish taxidermist near Lake McConaughy, a duck taxidermist in western Nebraska, a pheasant taxidermist near Ogallala, or an award-winning bird taxidermist in Nebraska, Panhandle Taxidermy is here to help.

My Commitment to Quality

I understand that every fish and bird brought into my shop represents a memory. It might be a child’s first fish, a once-in-a-lifetime trophy, a memorable waterfowl hunt with friends, or a bird that represents years of hunting tradition.

I approach every project with the understanding that these memories deserve to be preserved properly.

My commitment is to realistic taxidermy, quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, and creating mounts that customers can proudly display in their homes, offices, cabins, and trophy rooms.

As an award-winning, state champion fish and bird taxidermist in Ogallala, Nebraska, I want Panhandle Taxidermy LLC to be known for producing exceptional fish and wildlife mounts throughout Nebraska.

Panhandle Taxidermy LLC – Award-Winning Fish and Bird Taxidermy in Ogallala, Nebraska. Quality You Can See. Craftsmanship You Can Trust.