Can you make a living off taxidermy?

axtell_31 · 11-30-2005, 08:59 PM

I am a senior in high school and am really starting to think about what I want to do with the rest of my life and I have a few ideas but I think taxidermy would be neat to do but could you make a fairly good living off this or would you need another part time job? I really love the outdoors and want to do something with animals or the DNR or something. Any money figures that you may be able to help me out with if your a taxidermist already would be nice so I know about how much you can expect to make. Thank you!

mauser06 · 12-01-2005, 05:43 AM

possible...but alot of areas has ALOT of competition...and it will be a hard struggle to build clients....get a good name for yourself ect......but it can be done.....takes time and alot of hard work.....i know a guy thats been doing it part time for almost 3 years..wants to quit his day job at the mill in the worst way...but cant get enough clients to do so yet...even though he is an awesome taxidermist....takes more time and puts every little detail in that most guys wont do.......he treats each piece like its going into competition...and was/is an artist....man can that guy paint a turkey head like no other....and his fish amaze me.......i have a wild brown trout with him now.....cant wait till its back...sure it will look like it just came out of the water when i caught it....im excited to get it back!...other guys can tell you more....thats just what i know from around here..

Tree climber · 12-02-2005, 04:45 AM

you can , if you get the clients that it takes.
first thing I would do is , start in a good school to learn the trade.then get you a good job that will hold you till you get a coustomer base and a good name in the area.when you get more to do than you can do at night and weekends,then you can look at doing it full time.

it will take a while to get all the tools and supplies that you need and a shop to work in.that is a lot of $$$$$ to start with.
I did it and loved it till I has an accident and had to quite.I did it for about 12 or 13 years,just a part time job.I may have had enough to keep me going full time, but we have a lot of compitition in the trade.

do a good job and you will have return clients ; they will spread the word,(slowly)do one bad job and it will grow like tumor,(fast). be sure to listen to you clients and do it the way they want it.

good luck in what ever you decide.

Michelles_Taxidermy · 12-02-2005, 02:40 PM

Yes you can make a living doing taxidermy. It takes a lot of hard work to do so though. Get a full time job and do taxidermy on the side. You need to build a client base first and that will take years. I've been doing Taxidermy 3 1/2 years and I only have 25 deer head in so far but their is a lot of competition in my area. I still have a month and 1/2 of deer season left but after Thanksgiving hunting kinda dies down. I can think of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.......5 other taxidermists within a 25 mile area of me.

mounting man · 12-03-2005, 05:56 AM

It will take 5 years or more,if you are in a good location,to make enough to live on.{maybe}
Start as a hobby and hope for the best,it will happen!!!!!

TerryM · 12-12-2005, 09:55 PM

If you want a good instructor from a world class taxidermist call Jeff Brain at 705 327 7889. He is in Canada but takes students and also teaches in Montana. Tell him terry sent ya. And yes he makes a decent living at it and still hunts more than I ever will.