Mounted in Alaska Season 1 Episode 1 Growlin' and Howlin'

Mounted in Alaska is a reality television series that follows the day-to-day operations of a family-owned taxidermy business in Anchorage, Alaska. In season 1 episode 1 titled "Growlin' and Howlin'," we are introduced to Russell Knight, the founder of Knight's Taxidermy, and his family who help run the business.

The episode begins with Russell and his son, Travis, venturing out into the Alaskan wilderness to hunt for a grizzly bear. The hunting trip is not only a means for the Knight family to gather food, but it also provides them with the opportunity to obtain the necessary parts to create a realistic and accurate grizzly bear mount for a client.

Once they have successfully hunted the bear, the Knights bring it back to the shop to begin the taxidermy process. We see the intricate process of skinning and preserving the bear's hide, and the attention to detail required to ensure the mount is lifelike and of the highest quality.

While the bear is being worked on, the Knights receive a new client looking for a sheep mount. The client wants a mount of a Dall sheep, a species of wild sheep native to Alaska. However, the Knights must first obtain the necessary parts in order to fulfill the client's request.

Travis heads out to a nearby ranch where a Dall sheep has recently passed away. Despite the sheep's death being a tragic event, the Knights are able to use this opportunity to gather the necessary parts for the mount. We see Travis carefully remove the sheep's horn and skull, which will become integral parts of the final mount.

Back at the shop, the Knights continue to work on the grizzly bear mount. We see Russell and Travis painstakingly attaching the bear's skin to a foam mold, ensuring the final product is as authentic as possible. They also work on the bear's facial expression, shaping the skin around the eyes and mouth to create a realistic growling and snarling appearance.

As the Knights work on the bear, they receive yet another client request - this time for a wolf mount. The client specifically requests a mount that depicts a wolf howling at the moon. The request presents a bit of a challenge, as the Knights must create a mount that accurately portrays a howling pose, with the wolf's head tilted back and mouth open.

In order to get a better understanding of the pose, Russell and Travis head out to a nearby wolf sanctuary to observe the animals in their natural environment. They use this opportunity to study the wolf's anatomy and behavior, taking note of how the animal's muscles move when they howl.

The episode ends with the Knights continuing to work on the grizzly bear, Dall sheep, and wolf mounts. We see the family working together, dedicating themselves to their craft and ensuring each client's request is met with the highest level of quality and authenticity.

Overall, "Growlin' and Howlin'" provides an in-depth look at the taxidermy process and the dedication required to create a high-quality mount. The episode also showcases the Knights' love and respect for the Alaskan wildlife they work with, and their commitment to preserving their beauty and majesty through taxidermy.