wingchaser_labs

I've recently gotten into taxidermy but have watched my uncle doing it for years. To answer the question about cost per head it is ruffly $125 per deer head my uncle figures with shop cost and materials. He charges $425 and it takes him ruffly 12 hours per head in labor from start to finish. Thats a little more than $20 per hour. Now if you compair that to a metal fabricator or any other custom worker that is low to average wages.... Now this is only my second year doing taixdermy and am only charging $275 due to the fact I'm trying to get a client base and get my work out there. Next year they will go up and eventually I'll be around that $400 mark too once I get enough yearly clients. My uncle has raised prices because he does less heads or the same mount of heads as when he was low pirced and has to do less work and make the same or more money for his time. This allows him to spend alot more time with his family..... I'll throw a few pics of my work on here when I get a chance. WCL

buckeye

One of my good friends is a Taxi, he charges $350 for a deer and does great work.

Believe me he isn't getting rich off of it though.

Edcyclopedia

This year the prices in S. NH varied from $450-$650 for a quality mount.
The $650 guy in my opion is with out a doubt the best and some people do not care about the price.
Just remember it's part of your decor, kind of like funiture...
If you buy a slapped together piece of furniture, it doesn't look as good and probably won't last as long either.
My mounts are a prized possession, but I chosethe $500 guy this year.I've used him for 23+ years with great results.
The $650 guy was just a little too much for me this year, but I can say the detail is absolutly grand!

Edcyclopedia

You must be sleeping with him or something!
Just kidding, I'm being jealous[&:]

WV Hunter

Amen to that!

Most barely scratch out a living...taxidermy is certainly not a lucrative business for most guys. Yes, there are some that are very good and do very well. BUT, if you figure that the average guy probably charges in the $300-$400 range...if they do 5 heads a week (which is alot) they will gross somewhere between $75k - $100k a year. Take out all the expenses they have for overhead...they ain't left withmuch for the time and effort that is put in.

A good taxidermist that does things right is well worth the money. Don't go cheap --- you get what you pay for. The other thing is most people can't tell a good job from a bad job, they have no idea what they are looking for.

jlsherr

Got a shoulder mount this year $500.25

Dopler

Word on the street is thatyour taxidermist can charge so little becasue he got a closeout deal on a bunch of oldAfricanZebra forms. Don't be suprised if your mount comes back looking a little horsey[]

wis_rifle_hunter

our taxidermist will do it between 275 and 300 dollars. he does a pretty nice job too