think about doing it yourself

[hb270deermanager]

I had my first 2 deeer mounted I went to the

best place around so after $1000 and 2 seasons

I decided to give it a try.I bought a video and

guide book and took up the art of mounting deer.

Its rediculious I feel to pay $400 to $600 a mount

When once you buy the the starter kits and tools

your mounting kits only run between $70 to $125

I have mounted my last 12 bucks.The thing that

really caught my attention was the studio that

mounted my biggest buck I found out later actually

contracted the mount out because he was overwelmed

that yr and I didnt get it back til the next september.

Anyway just thought I would pass this along to all you

guys who get a decent buck every fews yrs it really

is alot of fun also it cool to see it come back to life

on your wall.

[Deerthug]

I would love to mount a nice deer head myself. I mount all my own turkey fans. How difficult is it to do an actual deer head mount yourself and how long would it take to do?

[First-light]

I had my first 2 deeer mounted I went to the

best place around so after $1000 and 2 seasons

I decided to give it a try.I bought a video and

guide book and took up the art of mounting deer.

Its rediculious I feel to pay $400 to $600 a mount

When once you buy the the starter kits and tools

your mounting kits only run between $70 to $125

I have mounted my last 12 bucks.The thing that

really caught my attention was the studio that

mounted my biggest buck I found out later actually

contracted the mount out because he was overwelmed

that yr and I didnt get it back til the next september.

Anyway just thought I would pass this along to all you

guys who get a decent buck every fews yrs it really

is alot of fun also it cool to see it come back to life

on your wall.

Let's see your work! I would love to try it.

[G-Man]

Toughest part is eyes n ears , buy good quality forms makes it a lot easier!!

[dave6x6]

Deermanager, Don't leave us hangin out here. You've peaked my interest. Give us a brief rundown of the proceedure. Would love to try it ..

[Jennifer]

Even though the materials can be had for less than $150 for a shoulder mount, you are paying the taxidermist for their time and skill. That's where the extra few hundred dollars comes in. If you've seen a really nice artfully done mount vs. something slapped together, you can appreciate the difference. It's like looking at a nice painting vs. one that is not so nice though... beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

That said if you want to learn to do it yourself, that's great!! I am teaching myself to mount birds actually... I don't want to do mammals because I don't want to mess with the tanning process.

[pawle76]

Good points Jen. As for the tanning process most taxidermists don't want to be bothered either. They send it out to be done. Another reason for costs being so high.

[Geno C]

i would even know where to start mounting my own. Can you post pics on how your mounts came out??

[CantrellTaxidermy]

Anyone can mount a deer or any other animal for that matter, but there is a difference in professional work. Taxidermy done right is very tedious and time consuming, it takes me roughly 12 hrs hands on time per deer, for someone who doesnt do them that often double that, mayb even triple. I love doing taxidermy and am somewhat offended that you feel it ridiculous to pay someone for their time. I take alot of pride in my work and once overhead is payed taxidermists arent making a fortune. If you choose to do them yourself thats awesome but to come on here saying that it is ridiculous doesnt make sense. I spend countless unpaid hrs studying reference and practicing different techniques so that I can provide the customer with the most life like mount in my ability. Since you have done them I am curious to see what you think is a fair price.

[Dinsdale]

Anyone can mount a deer or any other animal for that matter, but there is a difference in professional work....... Since you have done them I am curious to see what you think is a fair price.

I'm still curious to see some pics......

Crickets?

[hb270deermanager]

Didnt think about how much of a reply I'd get.

Theres alot of prep work involved but its exciting

to see the end result.You have to scrap the hide,

turn the eyes ,ears,lips and remove the cartledge

from the nose.After that its not to much work to

mount the hide on the manniquin.As far as quaility

you get out what you put in.I have done mounts for

and they were thrilled with there mounts.I even had

a taxidermist ask if I wanted to work with him.I know

I underpriced for my freinds but I enjoyed it more then

it was about money to me.I honesty think that if a taxidermist

is doin a great professional show type mount ya 450 to 500

is fair but I have mounted my own deer that look better then

a couple I had done and I paid 400 to 500 for those.Yes hands

on work per deer is about 10 to 14 hrs but if you have time

and can get better at it then its not about time its about quaility

of the work and whos doin it.I dont mind if the taxidermist is

doing it himself but one of my mounts were contracted out.and

it raised the price 100 dollars.If you want a mount by a your

taxidermist then he should do the work.But the whole thing for

me was from the field to the wall I did it all.

[KenAxe-7]

I am looking into becoming a full time taxidermist. Any suggestions?

[Geno C]

any pics???

[finfeathr]

Didnt think about how much of a reply I'd get.

Theres alot of prep work involved but its exciting

to see the end result.You have to scrap the hide,

turn the eyes ,ears,lips and remove the cartledge

from the nose.After that its not to much work to

mount the hide on the manniquin.As far as quaility

you get out what you put in.I have done mounts for

and they were thrilled with there mounts.I even had

a taxidermist ask if I wanted to work with him.I know

I underpriced for my freinds but I enjoyed it more then

it was about money to me.I honesty think that if a taxidermist

is doin a great professional show type mount ya 450 to 500

is fair but I have mounted my own deer that look better then

a couple I had done and I paid 400 to 500 for those.Yes hands

on work per deer is about 10 to 14 hrs but if you have time

and can get better at it then its not about time its about quaility

of the work and whos doin it.I dont mind if the taxidermist is

doing it himself but one of my mounts were contracted out.and

it raised the price 100 dollars.If you want a mount by a your

taxidermist then he should do the work.But the whole thing for

me was from the field to the wall I did it all.

Now hold on a minute, there is alot more work involved than "scraping" a hide, and beginning the mounting process. I commercially tan all capes before mounting. if your taxidermist is doing this as well, that will explain why it takes a while to get the mount back. Short cuts in taxidermy become evident after a while. If you are just salting/scraping a hide and putting it over a form, you will undoubtedly have an insect problem at some point. I would say that if you are having fun learning and doing your own, fine. But putting out a commercial mount that is properly tanned and mounted correctly is very time consuming, and far from "easy".

[hb270deermanager]

Yes your right but the guy I was using I found out that

thats all he was doing and I should have known it when

I went to his shop and he had so many guys working

on the scraping and turning process.I know tanning costs

money last one I did I did with liq tan from vandykes it took

awhile even though they say it faster and easier.I like the way

it works and I have no complaints.

[blkbearklr]

Too funny, got to love the know it alls. If you are truly that good than enter into a competition and dont cry when you get your critique back. There is a reason why a good taxidermist is 450-500.00. If it takes you 12-15 hours to complete a deer that is about 18.00 an hour after materials. If I cant make that I will just go fishing.

You have posted three times on here, I would love to see your work, please make sure to take detailed pictures of the inner wings on the nostrils, the nictating membranes, and all the other little perks that a good taxidermist will put back in.

[steve863]

I can cook up a mean hard boiled egg, but I don't know if I'd want to go up against some of the best chefs out there. I reckon the same goes with taxidermy and everything else for that matter.

[SteveNY]

Surely hb270deermanager will post some pictures of the work he is so proud of. I'm still waiting...

After I had my first buck mounted I was inclined to figure out what exactly went into the job. I did a lot of research about taxidermy online, including watching lots of videos and it is NOT an easy task! Although it is something I would still like to try. If I lived up where I hunt I would have surely tried mounting a smaller buck to see how it comes out.

[hb270deermanager]

Its been awhile I have been busy.Sorry for leaving you guys

hanging.I wasn't crying about the money the conversation

was simply about learning to do it yourself.I learned because

I simply couldn't afford to have my trophys done elsewhere.If

I hit a taxidermists nerve's I apologize atleast I am man enough

to do that.Lets see if I get any lol.By the way heres a couple of pics.

I guess its true anywhaere you go someones looking to dog you.

Edited November 8, 2011 by hb270deermanager

[blkbearklr]

I still say you should go to a competition, they can give you a lot of critiques that will help you improve. You did not hit a nerve with me, I hope one was not hit with you. There is a lot of things you can learn hopefully you will do that and not settle.

Joe

[hb270deermanager]

• No I'm good I just wanted to see what it all entailed I know
  
• theres alot to it.I do enjoy it for myself I don't think I could
  
• do it for a living a few friends or maybe a here or there thing.
  
• I already process venison and work full time.I was more in wondering
  
• if anyone thought about doing it theirselves.
  

[landtracdeerhunter]

I'm at that point of serious thinking about mounting some of our own family harvests. Don't really know if that artist ability is in me. but their's only one way to find out. Been doing alot of research on the subject, and it's a little scary, but recreating on our own animals will be fun, I hope. I'm going to tan my own hides too. Thats even more scarier, because they have to be done right to preserve.Don't get me wrong, I think a good taxidermist deserves every bit of money they charge. The work that goes into recreating a live animal is a true art form, my hats off to them. Their are some animals, that I want to recreate, but just don't want to spend the big bucks at a professional, like maybe a coyote or fox.

Edited February 25, 2012 by landtracdeerhunter

[sits in trees]

i give you alot of credit for the challanges you must have faced in taking on what is a form of art. its one thing for a guy to say yea i'm going to replace the clutch on my truck but to mount your own deer heads, damn i wouldnt even know where to start!

[carloracer1987]

Im friends with a taxidermist and he said if it wasnt for the love of doing it he would not look at it for a career more of a side job. They really dont make a lot of profit. If you can do it yourself thats awesome and more power to you but i dont think its right it make it look like there making 600 dollar profits when its not that much.

[Skillet]

Its been awhile I have been busy.Sorry for leaving you guys

hanging.I wasn't crying about the money the conversation

was simply about learning to do it yourself.I learned because

I simply couldn't afford to have my trophys done elsewhere.If

I hit a taxidermists nerve's I apologize atleast I am man enough

to do that.Lets see if I get any lol.By the way heres a couple of pics.

I guess its true anywhaere you go someones looking to dog you.

Nice work!