If you are just interested in a finished mount, pay the taxidermist. If you want to try your hand, order a kit or the supplies you need and give it a whirl. Initially, it will probably look rough at best, but you can always reuse the form/eyes and try again. If it is a prize: Rare color, etc... have a taxidermist do it. Practice with unremarkable animals. Squirrels are tough skinned and probably easier to work with. Rabbits have thin skin that is easily torn, but longer fur to hide stitching etc... I'm not a taxidermist, but messed with it a bit years ago. Would like to really get into it now...but for the time... I've seen some excellant work and those taxidermist are both craftsmen and artisits in my book. For alot of us, it is cost prohibitive to get much work done, but for the time and skill involved, taxidermists are not by any means over paid!