Cougar

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I shot a cat this weekend and am trying to decide what to do with it.  Its not a big one, 4.5 feet long. Thinking about a rug.  What is the average cost on something like that?  What other options are their? 

[Natures Way]

mt lions are one of the animals that should be done lifesize! to capture they true beauty. they can be made into some cool shoulder pedestals with habitat.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I've seen the price tag on life size    Not a possibility at the moment, plus I would have to build a house with a huge fire place to put it above : ) 

[Natures Way]

That is true they are expensive to have done and to do! one way to look at it is how long have you been hunting? How many cats have you seen? How many have you shot or think that you will. They are as rare of a harvest as a 350 bull. Rugs arn't inexpensive either and in my opinion don't really do anything for the animal. just my  . good luck no matter what you choose.

[Rainier10]

That is true they are expensive to have done and to do! one way to look at it is how long have you been hunting? How many cats have you seen? How many have you shot or think that you will. They are as rare of a harvest as a 350 bull. Rugs arn't inexpensive either and in my opinion don't really do anything for the animal. just my  . good luck no matter what you choose.

Put some money down and make monthly payments while you are waiting on it to get done.

The other option is just get it tanned and when you have the funds get the full mount done then.

Cedar River Taxidermy did a mount for my wife that was tanned 20 years before.  You need to have a quality tan job for that to be possible but it is possible.

FYI the mount that I am talking about is the one in his add in the banners on this site.

[kentrek]

I regret getting a rug...it's now roled up and put on a shelf

It was 650 bucks down the drain...

Maybe freezer it till you have more coin ?? Or any other way to preserve the hide for a couple years 

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

If I get the hide tanned, can I get it turned into a rug or have it mounted at some point down the road?  How long does it last?  Depending on the availability of funds?  I just had a kid so I think it will be sometime before I can drop money on it for a mount, but if I can that would be sweet.

[beaslayer6]

they do go bad over time.. I would call natures way and ask him. there one of the best places around for cats.. they look amazing.. I had a bobcat done there. it was in the freezer tanned for 5 years and looks great. but it doesn't always work that way.

[blindluck]

I just saw the coolest cougar shoulder ped mount at cedar river taxidermy, If i were to get a smaller cat I would totally do that instead of a rug, since a smaller rug may not be that impressive. just my thoughts.

[Kuduman]

elkinrutdrivemenuts

here is what I tell my clients. Do what fits your budget and still makes you happy. Sure lifesize cougar mounts are cool but not if its going to cost you twice as much in marital counselling.

A rug will get you the most bang for your buck IMO and take up allot of wall space.

My only suggestion would be to not tan the hide rather have a taxidermist turn flesh and salt the hide and give it to you tannery ready with the green measurements. A properly prepped hide will last years if kept safe and dry. that way when your ready to move forward with the project you take the prepped hide to the taxi and they send it out to tan.  the problem with having the hide tanned is that most tanneries recommend mounting any tanned skin within one year of tanning. not to mention that if you take the tanned hide to another taxi in a few years they may not pro-rate the tanning to the overall cost of the mount. 

Kuduman

[Duckslayer89]

 I think FOR SURE rug, because I like tanned hides way better then full mounts. Just not for me. I like the nice soft fur spread out. Cousin did a full mount. It sits in his guest room.

[Natures Way]

LOL!! Good luck to you.

[Natures Way]

This is a small cat that I did a couple weeks ago that is going to be a table ped,it is not done in the photo it is just an Idea for you

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I decided to do a rug.  From the moment I shot it I knew that's what I wanted to do.  I've already got a spot in the shop its going to go between the deer and elk antlers.  I was a little taken back by the cost initially, well more nervous to tell the wife lol!  At the end of the day, I'll may never shoot another one and I want to present it in the best way I can.  Having a tanned hide sitting around would have just made me regret not getting a rug.  Thanks for all the advice guys!

[Jarhead Chase]

This is a small cat that I did a couple weeks ago that is going to be a table ped,it is not done in the photo it is just an Idea for you

Do you guys make your own forms for the cats? I haven't seen anywhere else actually get the face of the cat consistently this close to right on.

[Natures Way]

It is a Bill Lancaster closed mouth head form altered to open mouth with a mohr jawset, the rest is just carved out of a chunk of foam. Thanks

[blindluck]

Really Cool, If I ever get one and its not a bigun I will be doing something like the shoulder ped, their just cool.

[Pygmy]

I just saw the coolest cougar shoulder ped mount at cedar river taxidermy, If i were to get a smaller cat I would totally do that instead of a rug, since a smaller rug may not be that impressive. just my thoughts.

I think I saw the same mount. I will definitely have this done. Here's a couple pics of it in progress.  Rick - I hope you don't mind me posting these,  amazing taxidermy!

[blindluck]

I just saw the coolest cougar shoulder ped mount at cedar river taxidermy, If i were to get a smaller cat I would totally do that instead of a rug, since a smaller rug may not be that impressive. just my thoughts.

I think I saw the same mount. I will definitely have this done. Here's a couple pics of it in progress.  Rick - I hope you don't mind me posting these,  amazing taxidermy!

Yep, thats the one.

[BOWHUNTER45]

This is a small cat that I did a couple weeks ago that is going to be a table ped,it is not done in the photo it is just an Idea for you

WOW ...HANDS DOWN This is some of the best detail I have seen yet ...U could not make that look any more realistic ....awesome !!!!  Same for the closed mouth one ...that one really looks sweet !!!

[JODakota]

elkinrutdrivemenuts

here is what I tell my clients. Do what fits your budget and still makes you happy. Sure lifesize cougar mounts are cool but not if its going to cost you twice as much in marital counselling.

A rug will get you the most bang for your buck IMO and take up allot of wall space.

My only suggestion would be to not tan the hide rather have a taxidermist turn flesh and salt the hide and give it to you tannery ready with the green measurements. A properly prepped hide will last years if kept safe and dry. that way when your ready to move forward with the project you take the prepped hide to the taxi and they send it out to tan.  the problem with having the hide tanned is that most tanneries recommend mounting any tanned skin within one year of tanning. not to mention that if you take the tanned hide to another taxi in a few years they may not pro-rate the tanning to the overall cost of the mount. 

Kuduman

Jeff did my cougar rug. I'm not being biased at all, but the rug he did for me is the best cat work I have seen hands down. I do not regret not getting a full body mount. I love the rug and wouldn't change a thing about it . It was about a grand and money well spent.

[Natures Way]

Doing a cougar rug is like making a 400 inch bull into a horn mount! Just one of those things you shouldn't do. Like all of you that is my
Lets see pics of your rug.

[huntnphool]

This is a small cat that I did a couple weeks ago that is going to be a table ped,it is not done in the photo it is just an Idea for you

WOW ...HANDS DOWN This is some of the best detail I have seen yet ...U could not make that look any more realistic ....awesome !!!!  Same for the closed mouth one ...that one really looks sweet !!!

 that is not even close to what they look like, these are not smiling near enough as the others ive seen being posted lately.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Gotta have a big smile on em...

[seth30]

I have never seen a cougar shoulder mount that is cool.

[Rainier10]

Gotta have a big smile on em...

The smiling cats are the ones that are happy to be on the wall in a warm house.

Both of these examples actually look great and very lifelike.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

   I agree both are good. The first has a cool look to it.