Good work is gonna cost ya. I have 5 mounts, all by the same gentleman. He along with his boy have won numerous state and national awards for their work.

Their cost has slowly risen over the years to 350.00.

However, consider this. My brother had a mount done a long time ago by someone else. Now, the antlers have come loose on the form and you can actually physically move them under the hide some. Turned out to be a very poor job. There is also cracking in the putty used to build the eyes up.

I am more than willing to spend a little extra to preserve a memory that will last a lifetime. There is nothing better than looking at one of my mounts and reflecting back to the day I took that animal.

I paid around $450 here in Central Illinois....

It was worth it though, I am very pleased.

I don't know about your taxidermist but I tell my clients to do a ring around where the rib cage comes together. That is plenty. Then ring the front legs, at the knee, then follow the back of the leg to the rib ring. Other than that, cut off 6" of the neck leaving it attached to the head. I really only need 3" but some guys can't tell 3" from 6" so I err on the larger size.
The most important thing is how you care for it before it goes to the taxidermist. Try not to drag it, you will break the hair. Try to get it in the freezer or to your taxidermist as soon as you can. Don't drive around showing it to the whole town. Take some pictures but the longer it is out, the more bacteria has a chance to work it's magic.
As far as price, in my region, as low as $165 to as high as $450.

Here is a good comparison. Hopefully the pictures show enough detail. The top picture was done by an award winning taxidermist and the lower picture was done by a different taxidermist. The top mount cost me $460 and the bottom mount cost me $350. The details and work is like night and day. You definately get what you pay for!!

In Charleston WV I paid $375 last year at Cole's Taxidermy.

for a regular shoulder mount that is fine. But for pedestals it is different, i know. I need to update that on my page.

My taxidermist is $350,he is doing mine for $325.I've been a pretty good customer.

Why is a muley so much more then a white tail?

neb, its not just cause he was a muley, he charges the same amount for a whitetail. Its because he gives a lifetime guarantee and gives you an engraved plaque with all the info about your deer, where you took it, day, conditions, etc.and anything else you want on it. Sorry, I shoulda made that more clear. I'm willing to pay a little more becausewe have a great friendship with him and he does such a great job. The turnaround time is always less than 6 months, except for lifesizes, elk, moose, etc.

Haha, weird. I paid $450 for my mount from last season here in Wisconsin, also had mine mounted at Cole's Taxidermy, buuutI'm guessing it's probably not the same Cole's Taxidermy. Does amazing worknone-the-less.