what's a fair price for a cape?

[gots2hunt]

I have checked with a few Taxidermists here in Washington about doing a shoulder mount on my Muley.
I have some concerns about my cape and asked what it would cost if I had to use a different cape for the mount.
One business said if it came to that, they wouldn't charge me, and the other business said it would cost me $200.00.
These are both well known and reputable Taxidermists. 
I'm wondering what you all think about this, as $200.00 is a good chunk of money to me?

[RadSav]

$200 for a good cape sounds reasonable to me.  If I took the time to cape, flesh, turn ears, split lips, salt and/or prepare for proper freezing I wouldn't be giving it a way.

[sirmissalot]

200 sounds about right. Mule deer capes are pretty easy to come by and most people just give them to the taxi. At least a lot of them do at the ones I've been to. He's going to have time and money into a cape regardless of whether its yours or someone else's, but most of them would mark it up and sell it, I know I would if I was a taxidermist.

[gots2hunt]

Thanks for the input guys.  This deer does have a rather large neck, he was in full rut, so $200.00 may not be too far off.  I found it more interesting that the other shop is willing to throw one in if needed.

[elkhunter1977]

Personally I would say $200 is a little steep for a cape. Unless you have an abnormally large neck size on your mulie then I would think finding a cape in the same size range wouldn't be all that hard. I know some taxidermists take in capes for store credit, that way they have capes in stock for hunters that bring in damaged capes and want a mount done. I have been quoted between $50 and $75 in credit for a cape in good quality. It should not take anymore then an hour to prep a cape and salt it, therefore one hour of labor fees. That would mean the taxi is taking in the cape on store credit (no out of pocket cost to them), probably still making money off the person who brought in that cape, then charging you between $150 and $125 for the prep fee... a little steep IMO. You can also check out taxidermy.net and get an idea what prices are and the going rates. Now I usually get capes for free from friends if I cape out their bucks for them, I used to pay tops $40 cash for capes when I worked at a fur/hide buyer.

Not only would we have to split, and salt we would also have to tan the cape. Whether its tanned in house or sent to a tannery thats an extra added cost to the taxidermist and will be added to the final cost of a cape .$200 is a fair price.

[sirmissalot]

A cape is gonna need split fleshed salted and tanned anyways, whether the hunter supplies the cape or you use a stock one.

[actionshooter]

Personally I would say $200 is a little steep for a cape. Unless you have an abnormally large neck size on your mulie then I would think finding a cape in the same size range wouldn't be all that hard. I know some taxidermists take in capes for store credit, that way they have capes in stock for hunters that bring in damaged capes and want a mount done. I have been quoted between $50 and $75 in credit for a cape in good quality. It should not take anymore then an hour to prep a cape and salt it, therefore one hour of labor fees. That would mean the taxi is taking in the cape on store credit (no out of pocket cost to them), probably still making money off the person who brought in that cape, then charging you between $150 and $125 for the prep fee... a little steep IMO. You can also check out taxidermy.net and get an idea what prices are and the going rates. Now I usually get capes for free from friends if I cape out their bucks for them, I used to pay tops $40 cash for capes when I worked at a fur/hide buyer.

Not only would we have to split, and salt we would also have to tan the cape. Whether its tanned in house or sent to a tannery thats an extra added cost to the taxidermist and will be added to the final cost of a cape .$200 is a fair price.

Correct AND Sundance said there is no out of pocket expense for giving credit, thats partially true. If you giving credit, thats the same as taking $75 out of the cashbox, its lost income.
 $200 is a fair price.

[CAMPMEAT]

Find a tanning place and ask them if they have a cape you can buy. Maybe a taxi couldn't afford his bill.

[elkhunter1977]

Find a tanning place and ask them if they have a cape you can buy. Maybe a taxi couldn't afford his bill.
[/quote

Even for a tanned cape you will be paying the around the same $200 if not more.... Depending on the size... Tanned capes are not cheap.

[Karl Blanchard]

was stated already but a taxidermist is going to have to prep and tan a cape whether it is yours or someone elses so why should it cost an extra $200!  Its only costing the taxi an extra $50 (maybe) shop credit.  I had a taxi buddy send off a really nice muley cape that I want to put on a buck from a few years ago to the commercial tannery and it was only $70. 

[CAMPMEAT]

Find a tanning place and ask them if they have a cape you can buy. Maybe a taxi couldn't afford his bill.
[/quote

Even for a tanned cape you will be paying the around the same $200 if not more.... Depending on the size... Tanned capes are not cheap.

Do you use the guy up here in Kettle Falls ? I know a taxi that couldn't pay his bill and I'm sure the tannery guy might sell a cape. It doesn't cost very much to have a hide tanned. The only one who is loosing out would be the taxidermist who did all the work, right ?

[elkhunter1977]

Find a tanning place and ask them if they have a cape you can buy. Maybe a taxi couldn't afford his bill.
[/quote

Even for a tanned cape you will be paying the around the same $200 if not more.... Depending on the size... Tanned capes are not cheap.

Do you use the guy up here in Kettle Falls ? I know a taxi that couldn't pay his bill and I'm sure the tannery guy might sell a cape. It doesn't cost very much to have a hide tanned. The only one who is loosing out would be the taxidermist who did all the work, right ?

The majority of hunters out there have no clue on how to properly prep a cape for tanning. So it will still have to be done correctly. If you bought a tanned cape from a tannery it will more then likely have to be worked on by a taxidermist. Splitting the lips and eye lids. Thinning everything so when it's tucked it stays in place , removing cartlidge from the ears, sewing holes.... Even though its already tanned there is going to have to be work done, and that's what dictates the price of a cape...

[elkhunter1977]

was stated already but a taxidermist is going to have to prep and tan a cape whether it is yours or someone elses so why should it cost an extra $200!  Its only costing the taxi an extra $50 (maybe) shop credit.  I had a taxi buddy send off a really nice muley cape that I want to put on a buck from a few years ago to the commercial tannery and it was only $70. 

Because we run a business not a charity. If I put my time into a cape (stock or customer) I am going to charge for it. Yes you can have one tanned but just because its already tanned does not mean its ready to mount. Additional work will have to be done...

[CAMPMEAT]

was stated already but a taxidermist is going to have to prep and tan a cape whether it is yours or someone elses so why should it cost an extra $200!  Its only costing the taxi an extra $50 (maybe) shop credit.  I had a taxi buddy send off a really nice muley cape that I want to put on a buck from a few years ago to the commercial tannery and it was only $70. 

Because we run a business not a charity. If I put my time into a cape (stock or customer) I am going to charge for it. Yes you can have one tanned but just because its already tanned does not mean its ready to mount. Additional work will have to be done...

I know and understand that. For they guy asking, then a $450 deer mount would end up costing $650 instead of the original price because he bought a $200 cape.

[Odell]

was stated already but a taxidermist is going to have to prep and tan a cape whether it is yours or someone elses so why should it cost an extra $200!  Its only costing the taxi an extra $50 (maybe) shop credit.  I had a taxi buddy send off a really nice muley cape that I want to put on a buck from a few years ago to the commercial tannery and it was only $70. 

Because we run a business not a charity. If I put my time into a cape (stock or customer) I am going to charge for it. Yes you can have one tanned but just because its already tanned does not mean its ready to mount. Additional work will have to be done...

It sounds like what he is saying is that you are going to charge twice for it if the customer buys a cape. After all, the labor costs for the cape are built into the original cost. It should be a slight mark up from what the taxidermist paid for the cape, which in my experience is $0-$50.  $200 is a ripoff imo. I'd go with the guy who would throw one in.