Wild Garoz: A Hunting and Taxidermy Adventure

Taxidemia Garoz is based in Los Yébenes (Toledo) and its history dates back almost a century, encompassing three generations of artisans who have taken this craft to a level of excellence and international recognition.

Currently led by Juanjo and Ramón Garoz, this family has turned their passion for animals and respect for hunting into a life philosophy. Their meticulous and naturalistic style always prioritizes faithfulness to the animal as it appeared in life, giving each piece a unique presence, without the use of molds.

Taxidermia Garoz's commitment to quality, innovation, and ethics has made its workshop a benchmark for hunters around the world. There, they don't just mount trophies: they tell the story behind each shot.

In 2021, Young Wild Hunters began a collaboration with the Garoz brothers to create Wild Garoz, a five-part documentary series that narrates, directly and without filters or artifice, the real experience of hunting, from the field to the workshop.

The series begins in the mountains of Castellón, following the trail of the Beceite wild boar, a coveted trophy for its distinctive antlers and the beauty of its surroundings.

After the rut, the bucks become even more elusive. Juanjo and Ramón approach the hunt with patience and strategy until they land a remarkable specimen, which will later be immortalized in the Garoz workshop.

Here we begin to understand the true axis of the series: the trophy is not the end of the hunt, but the beginning of its memory.

In this installment, we travel to a coastal environment where the overpopulation of the Barbary sheep, an introduced species, is generating ecological imbalances. Stalking for game control becomes a responsible management tool.

The environment is harsh, decisions must be quick and accurate. And, as always, the process culminates in the workshop with a piece.

In the Pyrenees, in pursuit of the elusive northern roe deer, we experience one of the most personal episodes of the series. Here, error, failure, and frustration become narrative elements as important as the chase itself.

Because in hunting, as in life, not everything is under control. And when a mature roe deer is finally brought down, the final trophy—a chest mount executed by Ramón Garoz—represents more than just a catch: it's a memory that speaks of effort, humility, and perseverance.

The most exotic chapter takes us to Cameroon, in the midst of the pandemic. There, the Garoz brothers manage to stalk an Oribi, a small African antelope, in a logistically and huntingly complex journey.

But the most impressive part comes next: the preparation of an African python, an extreme technical challenge in the world of taxidermy. Led by Ignacio Ducay, the process becomes a masterclass in anatomy, technique, and respect for the animal.

An example that taxidermy is not only about conservation, but also about evolution and artistic adaptation.

Throughout the five episodes of Wild Garoz , we've traveled through rugged mountains, rugged coastlines, African plains, and workshops steeped in history. We've experienced challenging stalking, unexpected failures, and taxidermic mounts that transform the animal into a living memory. But above all, we've told a common story: one of profound respect for hunting and for those who hunt it with ethics, dedication, and knowledge.