An International Falls taxidermist won one of the state’s highest honors for his craft, and his 11-year-old son “really, really” impressed the judges as well, said his proud father, Bob Christianson.

And it was only Nicholas’ first try, Christianson said.

Christianson, owner of of Gannon Ridge Taxidermy, 2116 Second Ave. W., as of Sunday is the Minnesota Taxidermy Guild’s 2013 Masters Division State Champion in the Large Mammals Division for his mount of a locally taken wolf. He declined to name the hunter.

In addition, Christianson won the Best Large Mammal in the state prize at the annual event held last Thursday through Sunday at the Timberlake Lodge in Grand Rapids, Minn.

Meanwhile, Nicholas took first place in the Junior Novice Division and won Best Junior Novice for his pine marten on a slanted pedestal with a log, some moss and grass and mouse burrowing away underneath.

Oh, and Nicholas won the overall Best Habitat award, Christianson said, which is an adult division, too. Both he and his son had scores in the 90s, which qualified each of them for the world championships in Springfield, Ill., May 7-11.

“Nick went full circle with his, trapping it himself, and it’s not easy to find martens,” Christianson said. “He did everything himself. I couldn’t touch a thing.

“He comes here to the shop when he gets off the bus and does homework while I work,” said Christianson, who also processes wild game. “He’s sure been watching what I do.”

Nicholas called taxidermy and winning “fun” and “cool.” He devoted two weekends on the taxidermy portion.

And for anyone who ever questioned why taxidermy is so expensive, especially a big project, consider that for Christianson’s wolf he devoted 200 to 300 hours. “It took me all winter,” he said.

It has more than 3,000 hand-sewn stitches. Pieces like the nose are molded. There’s a fitted mannequin inside.

“The judges look at it with magnify glasses,” he said of the wolf posed to howl at the moon while standing on a rock bed atop a weathered chest.

They are so particular they will deduct points for a bit of glue showing or if the animal’s glass eyes don’t have the correct sight lines for the head’s position.

The most satisfying prize, though, is that a terminally ill child being assisted by the United Special Sportsman’s Alliance picked Christianson’s wolf as his favorite mount out of hundreds, he said.

“I was so honored,” said Christianson, who has a almost an entire wall of ribbons, plaques and trophies. “It was so touching.”

He said the non-profit organization provides the children with outdoor adventures such as hunts.

“These kids go through so much, and with this organization, they are able to have awesome experiences,” he said.

Christianson said he knew that mounting a wolf would stir up a bit of controversy. And he was harassed for a few minutes by someone who showed up it seemed just to make trouble overall. He ignored the man.

Christianson he has nothing but respect for the beautiful creatures. But he said they have to be regulated.

Now that he’s won a masters’ division, he said he will move on to try with fish and birds. What he’ll probably never try again is another large mammal mount. That was too exhausting, he said.

Christianson described one all-nighter prior to the competition when he’d been sewing so long that he became cross-eyed.

The events are great because of the charity, comradery and information exchanged. People know each other and help each other, he said.

Being a world champ wouldn’t be bad either, Christianson said.

“You can charge more,” he said.