Let me start by saying I am not a taxidermist, but this is more of a general question...

Driving into work today, see a buck (archery is over now in PA until the second season on 12/26) and think, man he would be a nice one to mount.

Hear on the radio some noise about the weak economy, people are not going to shop as much, etc etc.

Get's me thinking, how is the taxidermy business going? Are you seeing less work? Being a hunter and sportsman, it just made me wonder, feel free to not share comments, but it would be interesting to see how other areas of the country are doing, a few of my friends in PA who are taxidermists state that if anything they have more time to hunt, which tells me they may be a bit slower.

Thanks!

Obviously it differs from shop to shop, but as a whole the industry is down. Combine the fact that taxidermy is a luxury item, and one of the first sacrifices in a strapped budget, with the addition of so many new "taxidermists" because some of the unemployed are looking for a new job, and have decided to hang a shingle and become a taxidermy shop, and you end up with a saturated market with a shrinking customer base.

Business is up over last year. I deal with a different type of customer. I do a lot of work for museums, the movie industry, decorators and photo studios. They keep me busy most of the year. So the only difference I see in the normal end of my business, is a lot more European skull mounts, because they are cheaper than shoulder mounts.

I am off to my best season yet. Hope it continues. Do to the cost of supplies and shipping increasing dramatically, I was forced to increase my prices. But, it hasn't seemed to bother my clientele. There seems to be more price shoppers than normal but thats the nature of the beast.

Like I said, it will vary from shop to shop. I was speaking about the industry as a whole. Glad to hear business is good!!! From the reports I'm getting, you are in the minority.


Personally I've been holding steady for the last couple years.

good stuff folks, i hope it turns on the upside for everyone...interesting insight too...perhaps a nice buck will fall for me on Monday and I can contribute!!!

Been in the sporting goods business and you could notice the upturns and downturns. A general statement on a customer getting fishing tackle was, "Now, to just sneak this past the wife."

How does a trophy hunter not get his deer taxidermied?

Future success to you son.

I use one of two taxidermist here in NJ, they are equal in quality of work, one is closer to my new home, the other one is now one hour away which I would of used this year, but upon my return home from Illinois he was away on a hunting trip, but they both said business is busy

Would that have been George, Jim or Carl? All those guys do really great work. George has given me allot of great pointers at the competitions he judges over the years.

BTW saw you post on your buck, congrats!