Choosing a moose mount form

[Michelle_Nelson]

Got you moose officially scored by B&C, P&Y, or SCI.  However you want to do it.  Than you can make the antlers removable!  It will make it easier to move.

[Michelle_Nelson]

I have all my mounts in the same position they were in when shot including ears.  My daughters this year will require the Taxi to use two different forms and cut and paste to make it work.  A good Taxi will do this to get the customer what they want. 

What does he need 2 forms for?  I bet your paying extra for it too, if it's an extensive modification!

[dbllunger]

Nope nothing extra in charge.  500 bucks plus tax.  Again a good Taxi IMO takes that cost in stride to turn out top quality products.  Keeps the customer happy and coming back.  Again just my opinion.    He could not find the right MD mount, but a WT was really close.  So he is using the two mounts together.  If I remember correctly he is using the WT base, then cutting off and grafting on the upper neck and head off from a MD mount. 

[Michelle_Nelson]

 

Nope nothing extra in charge.  500 bucks plus tax.  Again a good Taxi IMO takes that cost in stride to turn out top quality products. 

That's an easy modification.  Only 15 minutes worth of work.  He is buying a whitetail form and a Mule Deer change out head.  A lot of taxidermists do that.  Usually taxidermists don't charge extra for that.

If you want a pose that is not available for your deer and it takes me longer than an hour to modify a form I'm charging extra for it!  That is time that I could be working on another mount. 

Yes changing out heads and modifying the eye to nose length is petty modification and I don't charge for it.

 If I have to put a radical turn, change the pose, turn a wall form into a pedestal I charge for it.  This is my business.  I have to make money to pay bills.  I charge $35 an hour to make radical modifications.  I do not do it for the sole purpose of gouging people.  It's like any doctor, lawyer, or mechanic.  You are paying them for their experience and expertise.

The same thing with unnecessary damage to capes and skins from poor field care.  Like splitting the brisket, cutting the throat, skinning a rug out wrong.  First time no harm no foul!  I will do the absolute best I can to fix it for free.  Unless it requires a replacement cape.  Than I charge for a cape. 

I will tell the customer what they did wrong but I will praise them for what they did right.  I will then educate them on proper field care and how to properly skin their animal.  If they continue to bring in the same type animal with the same problems I charge to repair them!

I mean what other option is their?     If just telling them and showing them does not work?

I go out of my way to try and help and educate people about proper field care.  If a customer does not know how to skin an animal or cape them I invite them to the shop and I will show them how to do it for free (usually me skinning).  Than I usually und up 1/4 ing it for them if I have time.  I tick Scott off quite often when I call off my plans to meet with a customer at short notice.

If I was in it for the money than I would not bother trying to educate people on skinning and field care.  I could make a lot of money just doing repair workbif I charged for everything.

I try to get as many extra capes as I can while seasons are open.  So when a customer needs a cape I don't have to pay another taxidermists mark up and pass it on to the customer. 

If anyone thinks I am off base ask boneaddict or hunting cowboy.  Both of them will be up front with anyone oh here!

[boneaddict]

Not off base at all.

[dbllunger]

I hope you did not think I thought you should work for free.  Absolutely not and I understand that and my Taxi would charge and does charge for peoples boned up stuff.  Totally fair to me.  No one should work for free period.  I don't.

[Hunting Cowboy]

Michelle makes some excellent points here and is right on the money as far as extra charges are concerned IMO. Also, I want to agree 100% with Coasthunterjay with regards to his comment about being up to YOU regardless of what others say or think. Whatever makes YOU happy is the right pose! I was just giveing my personal preference which is what I thought Shawn wanted. Hope you post a picture when you get that moose done Shawn! Good Luck.