History has prevailed for the second time in PBR Australia after champion bucking bull Fully Locked N Loaded, of Dittmann Bucking Bulls, was granted “another way of life“ by a Rockhampton taxidermist.
Inspired by a photo taken from an award-winning ride, Jason Dittmann, with the help of Central Coast Taxidermy Rockhampton taxidermist Gary Jorgensen, positioned Locked N Loaded (LNL) into a spectacular bucking action pose.
Although he has been in the taxidermy industry for over 20 years, Gary said he had never taxidermied a bucking bull before.
“This being the second time in Australia that somebody has taxidermied a bucking bull, it, of course, was a massive project, but it was exciting to take on the challenge and the honour of partaking in history,“ he said.
“It’s fascinating how people love to cherish their animals, and that’s why I love what I do.“
The 712kg Charbray bucking bull, known as a “little pocket rocket,“ was recognised as the PBR Australia Bucking Bull of the Year in the 2019/2020 awards, winning over 30 buckles and multiple Australian PBR tours and team awards.
Business owner Jason Dittmann purchased the mighty bull from PBR world champion Troy Dunn in 2015.
When the champion bull passed away from old age, Jason knew it was time to give him “another way of life.“
“He (Locked N Loaded) was absolutely electrifying. You never saw anything like it,“ Jason said.
“LNL was always the first one on and off the truck. Sometimes he’d jump over the rails and charge you through the yards — he was a menace.
“But that’s what made him the most incredible bucking bull I’ve ever seen to this day.“
From skin tanning to creating a bull-sized mannequin to then stretching the skin, Gary certainly had his hands full.
“Thanks to the help from several fellow taxidermy friends, we were able to finish the procedure,“ Gary said.
After three weeks of poking, prodding, and stretching the materials, the approximately 70kg project was finally complete.
Now, LNL will breathe new life inside Jason’s home.
“As soon as I purchased him (LNL), I knew he would be a good bull. But I didn’t realise how good he would be until he ran into the ring for the first time,“ Jason said.
“At our first PBR, I turned to my business partner Kerry Bentley and said, ’This one’s going to make history,’ and sure enough, he did.
“That bull was like one of my kids, and I couldn’t have asked Gary to do a better job. We will definitely be going back to him next time.“
Thanks to Gary’s superb expertise, Jason has already planned for two more of his bucking bulls to be taxidermied by him.
