Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New Trophy's
New trophy room comments
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Classifieds
Trophy Room
New items
New comments
Latest content
Latest updates
Latest reviews
Author list
Series list
Search showcase
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Tennessee Hunting Forums
Taxidermy
Price?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="AT Hiker" data-source="post: 5511818" data-attributes="member: 10019"><p>I don't care about sharing the financial details of taxidermy, apparently I am one of the few who can add and Im honest. Not to mention my family eats whether I mount a deer or not....</p><p></p><p>Mannikan -$90</p><p>Glass eyes $15</p><p>Ear liners $10</p><p>Glue $ 15</p><p>clay $5</p><p>screws/hanger/bondo/staples/mache $10 (min)</p><p>Turned/fleshed/tanned skin $100</p><p>Add in TWRA taxidermy license ($100), electricity, tools ($1k+ over the years), water, shipping cost, not including the years of training/misc....its a minimum of $300 to mount a deer, meaning to mount my own deer it cost me $300+ approx. I charge $700 for a basic mount, so that $400 difference covers my experience and other overhead cost. Me, I sold my shop and work out of my garage as a hobby now. I can take 40 hours to mount a deer or 10, doesnt matter...I do it right and know that I only have a limited number to mount and it doesnt stress me out. I dont have to worry about crap full time shops stress over. </p><p></p><p>Sure, there are cheaper ways. You can skip tanning the skin for example but it will look like a Crack Barrel mount in a year. Fortunately, most hunters cannot tell a difference between a high end mount and something from the junk yard. Take a look at whats posted here and how many people think a crappy mount looks great. If they are OK with it then cool, I suppose its a lost cause to debate them but I know what a deer looks like, I have spent a stupid amount of hours trying to get remotely close to what one looks like. Im still light years away, so are the best of us, from achieving "perfection" which is not attainable. Thats ok, it is what makes us better. </p><p>Hours of practice and competition judged from our peers helps but clients pay the bills. </p><p></p><p>Now, those that don't give a crap and just throw one together. They probably have 1/2 the amount of time as I do and it is very likely they have 1/2 the inputs as well but you get a fraction of the quality, IMO. For example, the $500 guy down the road from me likely makes more $$ than me but I don't care, I care that 10 years from now my work looks like you got it back last week and actually looks like a deer. My clients dont bother me, we are friends, they pay cash and dont fluffy kitten <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big Grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /></p><p></p><p>I used to suck at taxidermy, still do for the most part, but at least I do it right, now.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="AT Hiker, post: 5511818, member: 10019"] I don't care about sharing the financial details of taxidermy, apparently I am one of the few who can add and Im honest. Not to mention my family eats whether I mount a deer or not.... Mannikan -$90 Glass eyes $15 Ear liners $10 Glue $ 15 clay $5 screws/hanger/bondo/staples/mache $10 (min) Turned/fleshed/tanned skin $100 Add in TWRA taxidermy license ($100), electricity, tools ($1k+ over the years), water, shipping cost, not including the years of training/misc....its a minimum of $300 to mount a deer, meaning to mount my own deer it cost me $300+ approx. I charge $700 for a basic mount, so that $400 difference covers my experience and other overhead cost. Me, I sold my shop and work out of my garage as a hobby now. I can take 40 hours to mount a deer or 10, doesnt matter...I do it right and know that I only have a limited number to mount and it doesnt stress me out. I dont have to worry about crap full time shops stress over. Sure, there are cheaper ways. You can skip tanning the skin for example but it will look like a Crack Barrel mount in a year. Fortunately, most hunters cannot tell a difference between a high end mount and something from the junk yard. Take a look at whats posted here and how many people think a crappy mount looks great. If they are OK with it then cool, I suppose its a lost cause to debate them but I know what a deer looks like, I have spent a stupid amount of hours trying to get remotely close to what one looks like. Im still light years away, so are the best of us, from achieving "perfection" which is not attainable. Thats ok, it is what makes us better. Hours of practice and competition judged from our peers helps but clients pay the bills. Now, those that don't give a crap and just throw one together. They probably have 1/2 the amount of time as I do and it is very likely they have 1/2 the inputs as well but you get a fraction of the quality, IMO. For example, the $500 guy down the road from me likely makes more $$ than me but I don't care, I care that 10 years from now my work looks like you got it back last week and actually looks like a deer. My clients dont bother me, we are friends, they pay cash and dont fluffy kitten :D I used to suck at taxidermy, still do for the most part, but at least I do it right, now. [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Tennessee Hunting Forums
Taxidermy
Price?
Top