. >> steve's friend herb karas shared many of these adventures. >> he could handle himself up a mountain or down a mountain, or stay overnight in the woods if you had to. >> very nice. >> yeah, very good luck you have today. >> yes. >> in 2009, kulash gets recognition not just as a master of taxidermy, but as a bona fide artist. his work is featured in a museum show of animal art called "ravishing beasts." rachel poliquin is the exhibit's curator. >> steve's taxidermy was great. it reflected who he was and it had a certain charisma and passion to it. >> the following year, kulash is preparing to pursue one of his other passions -- an international hunting expedition. >> then one night in march 2010, his son stacey, who lives in the basement of the family home, is awakened by the smoke alarm. >> i opened up my bedroom door, there was a five-foot fire. >> as stacey runs next door to phone the fire department, his dad makes a fatal mistake. >> he went and tried to put the fire out himself when he could have just walked right out the front door. >> could you see? could you breathe? >> i trie