Post by: butcher98951 on February 05, 2011, 05:34:17 PM
Post by: 400out on February 05, 2011, 05:39:05 PM
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,65931.0.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,65931.0.html)
Post by: top pin1 on February 05, 2011, 06:07:27 PM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on February 05, 2011, 08:25:51 PM
Joe
Post by: Whitelightning on February 05, 2011, 08:36:39 PM
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 05, 2011, 10:29:18 PM
Right now I am still going off of my 2010 prices. I am charging $165 per L/F (nose to tail) to do a Bear Rug. I am located in Rochester, WA. (360) 704 - 0034. :)
Here is a link to my website:
www.freewebs.com/mntaxidermy (http://www.freewebs.com/mntaxidermy)
Here are several links to pictures of Bear Rugs I have done.
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,53698.0.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,53698.0.html)
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,53342.0.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,53342.0.html)
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,54497.0.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,54497.0.html)
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,53339.0.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,53339.0.html)
Post by: 400out on February 05, 2011, 11:11:53 PM
Post by: dirty24d on February 05, 2011, 11:35:52 PM
Post by: dirty24d on February 05, 2011, 11:39:29 PM
Post by: butcher98951 on February 06, 2011, 07:18:04 AM
Post by: Kuduman on February 06, 2011, 10:01:29 AM
Butcher98951:
Lots of great taxidermists on here. I charge $145 per L/F but don't go solely on price. Have your friend visit the taxidermist and see for himself
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,39759.0/topicseen.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,39759.0/topicseen.html)
Good Luck
Jeff
A.K.A. Kuduman
Post by: Ray on February 06, 2011, 10:08:32 AM
Post by: CastleRocker on February 06, 2011, 10:46:08 AM
those are expensive :o are they really that labor intensive to do?
It's been my experience that most of the time, you get what you pay for.
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 06, 2011, 01:55:01 PM
those are expensive :o are they really that labor intensive to do?
It is labor and materials. Yeah there is a lot of work to a Bear Rug. It is hard to do a 100% accurate break down of suplies and materials because each Bear varies.
In a nut shell these are the material costs for a 6' Black Bear.
* Tanning @ $28 per L/F = $168.00
* Shipping to Tannery (ship multiple hides@one time) and for Supplies (large order) = $20 - $25
* Head Form w/ Jaw set (price has gone up) = $157.75
* Eyes = $8.50
* Badding (2 yards @ 6.99 per yard) = $13.98
* Backing (2 yards @ 7.99 per yard) = $15.98
* Felt (2 yards @ 4.99 per yard) = $ 9.98
* D-Rings (5 @ $.35 each) = $1.75
* Adhesive = $14.99
* Miscellaneous ( Bondo, Clay, Glues and Hide Pastes, Thread, Paint, Epoxy, Screws) $25
TOTAL = $435.93
That's $435.93 for supplies and we haven't even touched yet on Labor. These can only be approximate times because again each Bear varies.
* Splitting and Fleshing (2 Hours)
* Salting 2 x (45 minutes)
* Head Assembly (1 hour)
* Install Rug Shell ( 2 - 3 hours)
* Stretching the skin and sewing up bullet holes (2.5 hours)
* Rug work including sewing on felt, installing batting, and hand sewing the backing (8 hours)
* Finnish Work (1 hour)
That is 17.25 hours of Labor @ a shop rate of $35 per hours = $603.75.
I should be charging $1039.68 for a 6' Bear Rug. In 2011 I am $165 per L/F that's $990 for a 6' Black Bear Rug.
Shop rates ($35 per hour) are based on my Hourly Wage, Shop Utilities (Electricity, Water, etc), Purchase of tools and equipment, etc.
Keep in mind that those prices are based on if everything goes right.
If someone brings in a Bear that is not skinned out correctly, shot in the face, exit wounds I can put my fist through, knife cuts all over the Bear, and I have to make unnecessary repairs than I charge $35 per hour to make those repairs. Most of the time if I can make the repairs needed within 45 minutes I don't charge. Anything over that I have to charge.
Here is an example of a Bear cut wrong for a Rug. This is pretty extream though.
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,28803.0.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,28803.0.html)
Post by: runamuk on February 06, 2011, 02:03:59 PM
Michelle Nelson also does bear, that is who has mine :)
And I will add...she does really awesome bear rugs....I have seen a few of them and they are really nice...
Post by: Hyde on February 06, 2011, 08:12:37 PM
An excellent taxidermist could probably double their prices and still not really make what they are worth. The craft and "art" of the trade take years to master. From what I can tell, our "HW family taxidermists" are all excellent, and worth every penny of what they charge.
I do have to give a big shout out to Buzzi though.... he spent hours measuring my moose, and writing letters to B&C, and SCI for me. I tried to pay him, he declined. I sent a check anyway.... he sent it back. He wouldn't take a penny. He's a class act for sure, and an outstanding taxidermist!
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 10, 2011, 11:34:27 AM
you don't become a taxidermist to get rich... you do it because you love the work, the craft, the art." He impressed on me that days are long, and the pay is little (compared to how hard you work).
Thats for sure.
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 10, 2011, 11:37:20 AM
so what does a typical blackie run? 5 feet ? about 750.00? or am i way off?
Yeah a 5' Blackie at $165 per L/F would run $825. Plus Sales Tax, in my area it is 7.9%, so $65.18. Total for the Bear your looking at $890.18.
Post by: sisu on February 10, 2011, 12:15:55 PM