too much???????
 

this morning at about 9 or so i shot a 14 point buck. the rack is nice and the deer is huge. i plan on getting the head and neck mounted. i called a local taxedermist who is very well known and does really good work. he said it would be $455 and take about 13 months to get it done. i am just wondering if this is a good deal or if i am getting ripped off. the only reason it will take so long is cuz he is booked solid till then with mounts to do. if anyone is wondering where i am getting it done it is Hawk Creek Taxidermy, in south central minnesota.

RE: too much???????
 

I live in New York and that's around what the shops are getting here. My buddy is friends with a great taxidermist that has won several awards over the last few years. His price is now over $500!!!!
Call around, you might find a shop that's a little cheaper. I think $375 or $400 will be about the cheapest you can find.

Good luck and Congrats on the nice buck!

Mike

RE: too much???????
 

Congrats on the buck of a life time! I have gotten deer mounted before and I have paid alot and then not alot, itseems to be you get what you pay for. In your case you can look around for a better rate, but be sure you get an excellent mount because you have to look at it for the rest of your life. Specially a deer like that you want to look really good!

RE: too much???????
 

deer beer11 - I have a question for you. Are you looking for a cheap price or do you want it right? Being a taxidermist, I see guys pull up in $30,000 trucks with $8,000 4 wheelers, getting out in their Scent lock suites and full camo, with their $200 boots on, shooting $2000 guns, getting back from their $2500 trips and they want a deal??? Huh? I understand you might not be one of those guys but this is something that you are going to look at for the rest of your life, a once in a lifetime deer, do you really want to go with someone less expensive who may not give the quality that this guy does? Check around and find out what you like. I don't take in a lot of work, I am part time but I charge more than most full time taxidermists in my area. You get what you pay for. BTW if you are paying $275 for a deer, that was the going rate in 1983, I would think that you might want someone who is up to todays standards. There are many variables, including region, that effects price, but if this is the guys rate and you want him to do it, then it sounds like a deal.

RE: too much???????
 

Typically, you get what you pay for. If his work is as good as you think it is, he'll provide you with a beautiful trophy to last you a lifetime.

RE: too much???????
 

i guess KY is weird but there are many quality taxidermists round here for 300-350. i kno this may offend someone, but if i was asked 500 for a deer head i would walk out. Thats probably because im used to the 300 ive paid. My taxi does really good work as well. and since i was a kid, he put me at the top of the list ( as he does for all kids) so i got my deer head back in right at one month. i know this is not normsl results tho, just thoght i would share about what we pay around here.

RE: too much???????
 

nctaxi
i want a good mount for a good price. im not really sure what the average price around here is because i have never thought of doing this before. hopefully i will find that i got a good deal.

RE: too much???????
 

If you are talking to the local guy who is "very well known" and "does really good work" and his price is $455I have to ask; would you go with someone unknown who mayor may not do good work for $300? I promise you $155 5 years from nowwill not be felt in the least bit,but a really good mount will be enjoyed every day just asa bad mountis a kick in the teeth every time you look at it.

RE: too much???????
 

I say go with the guy if he is so well known. Last deer I had mounted was a great 12 pointer it cost $350 and took a year to get back. The mount is fair, kinda wish I would of paid alittle more for a well known person in the area that charges $500. You sometimes get what you pay for.
[&:]

RE: too much???????
 

There is a guy out here who's doing nice work (seen many examples, and know happy customers) for $250. i think this is a rarity though.

RE: too much???????
 

The fact that he's booked 13 mos. in advance tells you something...

RE: too much???????
 

Well I have dropped mine off on Sunday. Total cost 478. That is a drop sneak with an open mouth. It will not be ready until April or May.I have three other mounts by another taxidermist but when I called them this time they had quit doing it. So this is a new person. I looked around there shop at all of there work before deciding to use them. I hope it turns out OK but if not I know I am partly to blame. i shot it in the face under the left eye.

RE: too much???????
 

This is not meant to bash anyone but simply from a taxidermist perspective. If you paid $478 for an openmouth mount, it's no wonder the other guys aren't doing it anymore. There are many great taxidermist out there that never make it because they can't justify working all the long hours for not enough money. Generally speaking, I have around $150 in each mount (forms, eyes, paint, thread, everything) and roughly 18 hours. This is a standard shoulder mount, not open mouth. SO at $375 (my price) - the $150 = $225 now divide that by 18 hrs and that works out to $12.50 per hour. Now that is 18 hours away from family and friends, not working overtime at work, not hunting, trapping, fishing, etc. I had a client, when I charged $275, that I lost when I went to $375. He asked me why I went up so much, he's an electrician, so I asked if he would come and wire my building for $7.oo per hour...... Any guesses to his response??

RE: too much???????
 

I am sure that he wouldn't work for 7 bucks an hour. I am unsure as to why they are priced the way they are. I have no clue as to the business end of the deal. They have been in business for 37 years here in Louisville. They are about 12 miles south west of city.So as a consumer I should be happy that I found someone to do quality work for 7 dollars an hour. Just as you would be happy to hire an electrican to wire you house correctly at 7 dollars an hour. I did not mean to offend anyone.A sincere apology if I offended you.Truth of the matter is had it costed 1000 dollars I would have probably paid for it. Ido not mind paying for quality work. But if Ican get the same results at a lower price I do so. Why pay 8 dollars for the same loaf a bread when II can get it down the streetfor 1.50???

RE: too much???????
 

No offense taken. And don't apologize. I have been doing taxidermy for a few years and you'd be amazed at how many pop up and go away because THEY don't know the business end. My post was just to explain from a taxidermist view. And I agree with you about paying less if you can. The post was to explain to some reading that the costs of a deer mount aren't always TOO HIGH. I hope that you didn't take my post the wrong way.

RE: too much???????
 

I totally understand. One goes into business to hopefully make a little money. Sure you may love what you do but love is not enoguh to pay the bills. After I read the thread. I did some research here in KY. I found several taxidermost and viewed their web sites. I believe based on what I had read I paid about middle of the road for here in KY. I seen shoulder mounts range from 265 to 500. nctaxi, do you have a web site? I would love to view some of your work. I often find myself amazed at the art work.

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No I don't have a website, just haven't felt the need but with all the people asking I am looking into it. I posted a couple of pics on the thread below page 15 & 16. Amen on the lovin it but have to make a bill payment or 2 to keep my financial advisor(wife) happy.:D

RE: too much???????
 

Many of the top taxidermist in our area have all the work they want and then some. So they can raise the price on their work and if they lose some business then its no big deal because they still have all they can do. Why do 100 mounts for two hundred dollars when you can get four hundred and still have all the business you can handle.
A lady that does work for me is now up to 450 for a mount and you must wait a year and a half or more because she is very good. As long as they still get all the work they want the price will keep going up. It's all about supply and demand.

RE: too much???????
 

I am from Austin Mn, and I just took my 9 pointer to Toms Taxidermy iin Clarks Grove. I was told that he is the best in the area by alot of guys. I am having a shoulder mount done, and he told me that all of his shoulder mounts for deer are $510 + tax. So I am paying just under $550 for everything. I took it to him on the 6th of November, and he told me that I would have it back sometime in June or July.