You gotta be kidding me

[gutsnthegrass]

I have a quick question, don't mean to thread jack here.  I had a 6'2" bear done a couple years ago, it was a simple rug with open mouth and 2 different colored layers behind it for accent.  I was charged $1100 for this rug, does this seem about right to you other taxis? And one other thing, you have have to look close, but is it normal to see staples in the ears? and if not would I be ok to pull them out myself?

[bucklucky]

I dont know why you guys are getting your panties in a bunch over a $2200.00 4 foot bear rug. I mean it is only like $550.00 a foot. I wonder if he charges extra for hangers too, probably $100.00 a hanger  . I mean , he is only like $400.00 a foot more than me  .......... 

gutsnthegrass, that price sounds fair . Did that inlude doing the skull also or just the rug? Looks like you paid about 175 a foot plus Tax. I call that a high average price. The staples shoudnt be there. There are so many ways Taxi's do things I couldnt tell ya why they are there. I dont use staples so I dont know.

[Kuduman]

WOW I had no idea this topic would generate so many responces.
 I'd like to give the name of the taxi but I have not personally talked to him about it and I don't plan to. His quote is his business and I don't feel it's to anyones benefit to address his personal business habits. Additionally I have a strict rule that I try never to say or do anyting to bring discredit to any other fellow taxidermist. I feel that dragging another person through the mud gets everone dirty and more often than not it's done for personal gain only and that's not what I wanted to do here. My only motivation in posting this topic was to educate sportsman as to what a reasonable price would be for a bear rug.


Gutnthegrass:
 Those staples are probably there because the taxi used a slow set ear adhesive when he worked on the ears. the should have been removed before leaving the shop so your probably OK to remove them. additionally I agree with Bucklucy on the price.

Charles I'll send a reply

[gutsnthegrass]

Bucklucky,
  No that didn't include doing the skull, wish it did.  I don't think I would recommend the taxi out here in Enumclaw, he did my bear and it took me 6 months to get the cigarette smell out of it, and wasn't the most personable guy.  That's just my experience with him, I hope others have had a better experience, he seems to be pretty busy.