Every buck that comes through my shop is somebody’s story.
I’m Josh Ackley. I grew up in these hills, I hunt them still, and I keep the studio small on purpose so every mount gets the time it deserves.
Eleven years old, a grandfather, an uncle and the woods.
I started hunting at eleven, learning from my grandfather and my uncle in Coshocton County. That’s where I picked up an appreciation for the traditions that come with it: the early mornings, the patience, the stories told afterward that get a little better every year.
In high school I attended the Coshocton County Career Center and studied Natural Resources. Two years focused on forestry, wildlife, habitat and land management, which is a long way of saying I spent two years learning how a whitetail actually lives, moves and looks.
Taxidermy is where that life and craftsmanship meet. I trained at Lone Leaf Taxidermy School in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, in the Whitetail A–Z program under Casey Watterson, a 2024 World Champion and 22-time Ohio state champion. I understand that what you bring me is a lot more than a set of antlers. It’s a hunt, a memory, time spent with family and friends, and usually a story that’s going to be passed down. My job is to make the mount worthy of it.
Why “Nobel”
The studio is named for my great friend Dodman Nobel, a Navy veteran, lifelong whitetail hunter and author of Whitetail Hunter Education (1995). His passion for hunting, the outdoors, and sharing what he knew with other sportsmen shaped how I hunt and how I work. I wanted the name on the door to carry that connection forward.
Faith, family, then the woods and the water.
My faith is the foundation of my life. After that, my wife and children are my greatest priority, followed by my love for hunting, fishing and time outdoors. Those values are a big part of why I approach taxidermy the way I do. I understand family traditions and the memories made outside because I’ve lived them, and I want to preserve yours in a way your family enjoys for years.
Faith first·Family second·Then the woods and the water
Six places the difference shows.
“I use some of the best forms, eyes, adhesives, ear systems and paints available, and I keep working to improve my technique. The difference is in the details, and in the time spent getting those details right.”
Eyes and eyelids
Premium glass eyes set to the correct depth and angle, with the lid and tear duct shaped so he looks alert instead of glassy.
Ears and ear butts
Modern ear systems, seated where a live deer carries them, with the muscle behind them rebuilt so they never drum or wrinkle.
Nose, lips and mouth
Nostril interiors and lip line sculpted by hand, then painted in layers. A real nose is wet brown and gray, never flat black.
Anatomy and symmetry
Form chosen and altered to your buck’s measurements. Neck, brisket and shoulder muscle placed where they belong for the pose.
Hide care and seams
Careful fleshing, salting and professional tanning so the cape lasts. Hair patterns lined up so the seam disappears.
Finish work
The last ten percent takes the longest: grooming, blending, antler-burr cleanup and a final check under daylight, warm light and cool light.
Bring me your story.
Text a photo of your buck and I’ll take it from there.