I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

I think I am goin to have to re-evaluate my price list. I've been sitting at $285.00 for a Whitetail Shoulder Mount for the last 3 years. The year befor last GR Taxidermy moved thie price up from $350 to $400. This year SW Taxidermy moved up from $310 to $360. I hate to do it but I think I am going to have to move my prices up. I'm only thinking bout moving them up $15 bucks. I don't feel the need to move up $50 bucks. That will put me up at $300.00 for a Whitetail Shoulder Mount. I am also thinking about sending a few capes out to get tanned because I think it will save me some time since I work a full time job.

I hate to do it becaus I have put a few price lists up already and have handed some out to my customers, but I can't loose money. I have no problem giving them a mount for $285 if they have picked up or I have given then a price list with that price listed in it. I was going to move up to $300 last year but I backed out at the last minute. I just don'twant to piss off anyone. What do you all think? Do you think it is to late to move my prices up this season? Thanks for the input.[/align]

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

I live up in Montana I can get anb elk done for just over $400.A buck is only $250. I am not sure where you live but I can tell you I will never pay 400 for a deer mount.But if the people around you will pay $400 I am very sure if you are as good as the $400 guy.I know the people will pay $300 any day.

Charles Bradford

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

The Going rate is $400 michelle, so if someone doesn't want to pay that, let him do it himself.
Shipping is up, supplies are up and labor which is hand labor is up, that is what people don't realize the work is done by hand with a few hand tools, there is no deer mounting machine, that you stick a deer in one end and comes out the other.

I don't see that any quality taxidermy can be done for $250 for a deer head and $400 for an elk, why supplies to mount and elk can run you $300, something is not right in Denmark,LOL

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

Thanks Alex, I think I will go ahead and raise it the $15 this year to make it an even $300 and than sit down next year and evaluate my price list again.

As for getting a Elk Mounted for $400 I haven't herd of a price that low. Heck let me lay out the cost off the top of my head real quick.

Form/Manikin $ 120.00 shipping included
Eyes$ $12.00
Clay, fiberglass resin,
screws, hanger, salt,
hide paste, paint$25.00
Tanning$65.00 - 80.00
-------------------
Total$232.00

Thats just for materials. You have to take into consideration Labor, Electric bill, Water bill, Rent, etc, etc. The taxidermist that mounts your Elk must not be worried about making a profit because he isn't making one.

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to pay $300 for a good mount. And you are talking about $15, not $150. Man, you gotta eat too. LOL Good luck

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

Its quite simple...prices have climbed steadily for us and we havent raised our prices always, as the suppliers held theirs too. Now that things are this high, anyone with a lick of sense is adjusting. Its good to feel bad about having to do so, as we as taxidermists value and appreciate our customers, but you know what? Our good customers know and understand. The thing that varies is regional. The fellow above said hed never pay $400 for a mount. In most areas, you could never get one done that cheap. It just varies. Guys who could not justify spending much more then that are who keep those taxidermists busy. In my area, Im charging $550 and cant keep up with the work. My friends in Jersey are getting $575 and up and are too busy at THAT price.

The main thing is, give them their money's worth. I couldnt do all the deer that get killed around me anyway, so I just do a great mount for those who hire me, and I dont look past that.

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

I know the going rate for a shoulder mount in southern Michigan is about $400. I'd be pleased as peaches to get a good shoulder mount for $300. But then again, its all what you're used to.

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

WOW i wish i could pay $300 for a shoulder mount. Where i live in Iowa the taxi where i take mine to gets $550 for a whitetail shouldermount. I dont really mind paying it though because he does AWESOME work.

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

Last one I had done was 375.This guy did I nice job and has won many national contest

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

Bill what the market supports. You are providing a skilled, professional service. Some of us can't afford taxidermy work, but the solution isn't for taxidermist to starve.Even figuring a 2% increase in inflation on an anual basis (and we know inflation is higher than that), you should be charging over $300 without an increase in profit.

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

Wow! I have'nt been doing it all that long and am getting $325. You should go up on your price, at least $50. How does your work compare to the others? Betters quality? One thing I learned from some friends, don't base your price on the others down the street, base it on how well you do it. I have been doing taxidermy for a little over a year, but I placed 2 3rds at the state show. I do better work than alot of taxidermist in my area. But I have spent alot of time getting better including getting "professional help" from some taxidermist who live near me.

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

Man you guy's are actually cheap! We are paying anywhere from $500-750 for a deer shoulder mount. I'll be sending mine south if it's only a couple hundred!!!
JDinAB

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

I sure do hope my tax man dose not look at this.If he dose looks like Iwill never get any thing mounted.Maby he gives me a break for more than one at a time.Number discount :}

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

JD, dont forget, thats american dollars, not canadian. Elk, Ill bet he wont, as we charge the same for one deer or three. Its still three deer heads worth of work. But Ill bet if you become a frequent customer, over time, he probably will round somenumbers off for you. Heres hoping he does!

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

I only moved my prices up $15 to make it an even $300 for a Whitetail Shoulder Mount. Yeah I know I should charge more.Next yearI am going to sit down and put a little more thought into changing my prices. I have never entered any of my work into any of the Taxidermy Competitions. I realy don't have the time to put together a competition piece and take off work togo to the comptitions right now. I willeventualy get a chance to compete.

As for the taxidermists in my area. I know of 3that I would pay to mount something for me. Right nowI wouldn't hesitateto put one of my deer against any of theirs.

Unlike most taxidermists this is just a part time buisness, becauseI work at the Albany Marine Base as a Civilian Heavy Mobile Equipment Mechanic os I make plentyto pay the bills from that job. I also do taxidermy out of my house so i don't have to foot 2 bills for a seperate building.

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

Some of these $500+ whitetail shoulder mounts, after materials you guys are making $50-$60 bucks an hour.

Not to shabby, 4+bills profit for around 8 hours total worth of work;)

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

Buckeye, when the day comes that I can slam them together in just 8 hours, with no other overhead involved, Ill indeed be a lucky, rich, and out of work man. You makea good point though, starting at 500 is better than some of the prices Ive heard of! Bottom line is and always will be, giving the customer his moneys worth, whatever they and you agree that it is.

Michelle, dont think you need to compete to earn your keep in taxidermy, happy customers are every bit if not more important than the awards.

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

Yeah, I will like to meet the guy that does it in 8 hours also, maybe 8 hours of prep work.

$50 an hour should be what a taxidermist earns as it is the longest profession to learn, as declared by the Massachusset"s Supreme Court Taxidermy is a profession and the one that takes the longest to master.

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

Taxidermy is never mastered. You are always learning and finding new and better ways of doing stuff... Bill Yox and Alex been doing taxidermy waaaaaaaaaaaay longer than i have and they can teach me a whole bunch butI bet I can teach them a thing or two or a a short cut that makes things easier. Only reason being we learn at different stages and we can't learn eveything...

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

With all do respect.... You have got to be kidding me.

8 hours to complete a commercial whitetail shoulder mount is common knowledge. For crying out loud, good taxidermy is an art but brain surgery it is not.

One of my best friends is a taxidermist and have watched him mount many deer. He does outstanding work and has won a host of awards if your into the competition thing. Barring any major hide repairs he completes them in about 8 hours start to finish.

http://www.ultimatewildlifecreationstaxidermy.com/

A while back they even did a rather large article in I believe Field & Stream about taxidermy. It stated the "average" taxidermist will complete a shoulder mount is 7-10 hours.

I am not trying to piss in anyones cheerios here. Good taxidermy is few and far between and I agree a good taxidermist should make a good living.

I believe one should charge what they believe their time and services are worth not necessarly "going rate". In every profession there are people who are head and shoulders above average, and should be compensated for that. There are also the less desirables, who should not even be mounting peoples trophys. (Bad experience I hadwith a past taxidermist)

Anyhow, best of luck to you all.

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

Hi Buckeye...my cheerios arent soggy, so no problem here, lol. I didnt take offense to what you said, for sure. I know just what you mean. At my place I offer high end whitetails, and they are not 8 hour pieces. Im not the going rate, nor am I the going price, time frame or end result. I have plenty of friends in this field that do two or three heads a day. $350 and out in 8 to 12 months. They do a very good business. I dont fit into any of the averages printed in the mags. Long ago I decided to offer what others in my area of the country didnt...a higher end, finely detailed mount that was close to anatomical accuracy as possible. So, some customers go with the more comfortable price, others to the faster shop, others for a convenient location, and still others to a style and quality they prefer. All the taxidermists in the area stay pretty busy, so I know ALL these methods work well.

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

wow another person from b port bill i drive by your place every day to go hunting its funny seeing people on here u sort of know

have u been geting alot of big bucks in the shop yet

RE: I hate to do it, but I think it's tme....
 

Hi Monkeyman, Ive met a few guys that are local, in here actually. Those big bucks will show up at the end of the month, they always do. Once that stage of the rut gets going, the bucks get so active, and make mistakes, I guess. The bucks here so far have been decent, yes. No real hoggers yet.