hey, i was just wondering aout how much it costs to get a deer head mounted? i am trying to budget some money for next season (my first season) just in case i get one...

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When i went to go get my deer mounted every one ranged from 325-400 for a head mount

It all depends on where you are. Here in PA it's about $450 for a good mount. And about $250-$300 for just a mount which is really nothing to look at. Now I'm goin to taxidermy school in a month, and I was just want to ask struttin tom where he is from. Because all of the taxidermist Ive talked to in PA told me that you cant really make a living if you dont charge the money and that anything under $400 is too cheap. But I dont know, cuz Im not a taxidermist yet.

thanks... i'll go ahead and plan for aout $450 just in case...

The form costs about $30
Tan the skin about $30
glue, eyes and other stuff $20

Skin / prep the cape 2 hours
Mount deer 8 hours

You do the math

Neither the price or the time you wait have anything to do with the quality of the mount. Even when you wait for a year - that cape is sitting in a box for 11 months.

The quality comes from skill and pride - and IMO that is worth every penny you pay.

Rack-attack, your times and prices are a little off. Most good forms these days run around $40 after shipping, as does having a cape tanned (after shipping). All in all, a top quality mount usually has over $100 in materials. With everything included, I spend about 15 hours on every mount, but I do my own tanning. When you factor in all the other indirect costs, a person almost HAS to charge $400 to make a decent living. But, your absolutely correct, you get what you pay for in quality and it should be well worth it.

here 250-325 for most places

The taxidermist I use is in the $400 range. There are others who charge much less, but look at the eyes, ears, nostrils, (in other words, detail) and I will gladly pay the extra$$.

I have a buddy who took a dandy 165" two years ago, and a "friend" who is "getting into" taxidermy screwed up the cape and he is still waiting for it. Sorry, but I will gladly pay extra to have a "professional" job done.

Rack, you make a valid point, but if you look at "anyting" you buy and strip it down to "raw" costs, there is typically a BIG swing, from "cost" to "sell price".

Don't get me wrong - A good Taxi is worth every penny (within reason)

The price he "needs" to "make a living" is very dependant on the volume of work he has, and not necessarily due to the quality of his work.