This brings up a very good and valid point. DON'T EVER LEAVE YOUR TROPHY WITH SOMEONE YOU DON"T KNOW OR TRUST COMPLETELY. You usually know in the first 20 min. but it's always best to investigate before you ever shoot that trophy. That being said, most reputable taxidermist try and make the animal look bigger and don't cut anything off but the part that goes against the wall. Another thing is that some taxidermists don't "fluff" a bear properly. Here is one that weighed 487# and although I don't like the aggressive look, that is what my client wanted......



Another thing that I will say (not saying this is the case here) but if you are going to go cheaper with your mounts, then don't expect high quality. This bear ran my client $3800 and yes that is high, but considering the amount of work on the base alone he got what he paid for. Again I am not saying you went cheap, but I have a friend whose dad hates every mount he has and asked me to price a rug for his dad. I charge $200 a foot for a rug, that includes double felt border, polyfill, stretching, tanning and professional mounting of the head. His dad said he didn't want to pay that kind of money but he has a booner bear that has purple, yea purple, gums and a bright red tongue. Good taxidermy ain't cheap and cheap taxidermy ain't good.