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New deer bust by Fred Boyer unveiled at Whitetails and Wildlife Museum

New deer bust by Fred Boyer unveiled at Whitetails and Wildlife Museum

HUMBOLDT – A large bronze bust of a whitetail buck was unveiled on Saturday, June 28 at the Whitetails and Wildlife Museum in Humboldt.

Museum benefactor Max Rickerson commissioned the statue from Fred Boyer, a sculpture artist from Anaconda, Montana. The bust is 1.5 life-size, with another deer artwork on the back.

Rickerson said he hopes the museum drives tourism to Humboldt. Rickerson grew up in rural Humboldt on a farm. Hunting came to him early in life, and he has been an avid outdoorsman since.

“It’s a neat little place,” Rickerson said of the town.

Boyer said he was honored to work on the piece. The bust was designed after a deet that Rickerson had hunted in 2020.

Boyer said he first had to sculpt the deer in clay, and then have a cast made of the bust at a foundry. After the bronze cast was finished, Boyer applied layers of agents to create a colorful patina.

“It’s oxidation, just like rust on iron,” Boyer said.

Boyer highlighted that the museum teaches about conservation, which he believes is important, especially for the younger visitors.

“Everything has pretty much been a success,” Rickerson said of the museum and the statue’s unveiling.

The museum features 6,000 square feet of displays, including interactive kiosks and digital Seek and Find scavenger hunts for visitors.

“I’m honored to be here, this is a really neat addition to your city,” Boyer said.

The new statue is mounted on a brick pedestal in front of the museum.

“This museum is just a beautiful exhibit of animals for people to enjoy,” City Manager Cole Herder said. “We are very fortunate to have Max consider this place for his wildlife display.”

Herder said he has brought his grandchildren to visit the museum, and noted that it was fun for both children and adults interested in local fauna.

“We were in there for two and a half hours,” Herder said.

Admission is free but donations are accepted for museum operations. The museum is open to the public from 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. To learn more visit https://www.whitetailswildlife. com.

Top Photo: Max Rickerson stands beside a bronze bust crafted by Fred Boyer. It was unveiled on Saturday, June 28. The bust features a whitetail buck that was hunted by Rickerson in 2020. Bottom Photo: The back side of the bust featured a detailed casting of a deer jumping in a forest and a colored patina. Hannah Emberton | Tribune

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