Ok guys,
Here's a rough breakdown of what it cost a taxidermist today to mount a large bobcat with a closed mouth, using high grade componants. By using bargain basement materials, and eliminating commercial tanning and using an inferior dry preserving powder, a taxidermist can reduce the cost by 40% to just over $125.
form $80.00
eyes $14.25
earliners $15.25
misc. supplies $20.00
supply shipping $25.00
tanning $35.00
tanning shipping $20.00
Total Cost $209.50
Now we'll include a "ballpark average" of 20 hours to completion, from check-in to finishing.(Shops that operate on a whack em & pack em basis can cut the time in half,while top level taxidermists obsessed with details can easily add 10 hours)
Trailhound, assuming your "successful taxidermist" opts for the cheaper materials,and cuts his time to minimum, it means he's working for $12.50 / hr. However, once you factor in other expenses; things like insurance (both health and business), shop expenses (even home based shops incur extra expenses), taxes (yup we have to pay taxes just like everyone else), equipment replacement costs (nothing lasts forever), hopefully have a little left over to put aside for a rainy day (you guys call it a 401k)... then your taxidermist is likely working for less wages than at Micky D's. He must have a very understanding wife with incredible benefits.
While I agree that some taxidermists are better at some subjects than others,I feel that most reputable and established taxidermists will avoid taking in subjects they don't feel comfortable with. I see posts here like "cats are difficult to mount" here a lot, but the fact is, they're NOT especially difficult to mount. Consider this, cats have pronounced facial features and spotting that really aids a taxidermist with skin allignment. Couple that with a short, stout tail,realitivly wide ears,thick legs and a really elastic forgiving skin,they're actually easier to mount than many predators. I think where the problem comes from, is you may have a taxidermist that's great with gameheads,deer & elk are actually one subject that are pretty quick to become competant with,that simply has had very little experience with mounting small to medium lifesize game. Most small game, predators included, are more time consuming and difficult to mount convincingly than other subjects like gameheads and birds. Consequently, fish mounting takes even longer to become proficient with.
Since most taxidermists cut their teeth on gamehead taxidermy,being the bread and butter of the business,they may develop a reputation as a great taxidermist, but it may not apply to all levels of the art form. A truly competant and established taxidermist, simply has all the work they need,and more often than not, will choose to turn down a subject that they're not comfortable with, as the profit tied to a single job simply isn't enough to jeapordize a bad mark on their reputation.
I'm not trying to sound like I'm dissing cheaper priced taxidermists, so I apologize if it seems that way. I believe that there SHOULD exist a range of prices and quality for sportsmen to choose from. Not everyone is willing or able to pay top dollar for a mount.
I don't expect to change anyone's mind. If you're sold on cheap taxidermy services that's great,but if you're trying to convince yourself and others that a $250 cat mount is the exact same as a $750 cat mount, you're only fooling yourself and them.
I'm sure some will assume that I'm just trying to justify my own "rip-off high prices". The fact is, when I operated my studio full time back in NY,my prices were on the high end,and I had more than enough business to keep myself and 2 employees busy on a year round basis. However, I am not looking to plug myself or anyone else for that matter. He11, I have not even re-opened my shop here in NV yet, as many who have pmed me will concur. I'm only trying to offer some understanding into why taxidermy seems expensive, and why there exists a range of prices.
PS When and if I do re-open my studio on a part time basis, you can be sure that I'll be PAYING for a sponsership here AND offering some kind of discount to PM members!
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