Hunting Washington Forum

Community => Taxidermy & Scoring => Topic started by: 180-GRAIN on April 08, 2012, 09:23:06 AM

Title: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: 180-GRAIN on April 08, 2012, 09:23:06 AM: Just wondering what the most some of you have paid for a shoulder mount on a deer? Reason I ask is my girlfriend had her first deer from last year mounted and the taxi wants $725.00. I'm thinking this is a little steep price wise as the most I have even heard of one costing was $575.00. :dunno:
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: bucklucky on April 08, 2012, 09:44:22 AM: I know of a few in that $800.00 range give or take. Was that with tax or what? Sounds like she used a Taxidermist that has pretty good clientel built up , probably does some real nice work ..... Id hope.
Title: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: sirmissalot on April 08, 2012, 09:46:43 AM: I know of a couple taxidermists that charge high rates like that for a normal shoulder mount, Alden's and I have heard Cedar River is in the 700's as well but that's not my first hand knowledge. Was it just a typical shoulder mount? My dad is getting his whitetail from this year mounted as a wall pedestal and it's around that price.
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: Black Ram on April 08, 2012, 09:47:40 AM: A good taxi is around 650 to 800. Be cautious about the ones that are cheap, you get what you pay for!
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: RB on April 08, 2012, 10:10:37 AM: Quote from: Black Ram on April 08, 2012, 09:47:40 AM
A good taxi is around 650 to 800. Be cautious about the ones that are cheap, you get what you pay for!

This is so true I have a Whitetail shoulder mount from 1994 that I paid about $350 for when standing 10 feet away it looks ok but when you get close all the imperfections really stand out staples in the ear hide seperating at the seams etc. I have had two remounts done on some family heirlooms (heads from the 1930's-1940's) and paid about $800 each for them and they both look like they just stepped out of the woods. Like Ram says you get what you pay for
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on April 08, 2012, 11:49:17 AM: We need a little more info than what you've provided. Is she getting a regual Shoulder Mount? A Wall Pedestal? I know several Taxidermists that are charging in the $600 - $800 range. Most of those have been around a long time and have a good client base built up. I believe the average is from $500 - $650 for a regular shoulder mount.

I'm $495 for a regular deer shoulder mount and have been for a few years now. That will Probably go up to $550 this year.
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: rasbo on April 08, 2012, 12:18:38 PM: 225.00
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on April 08, 2012, 06:49:55 PM: How long ago was that Rasbo? :chuckle:
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: woodman on April 08, 2012, 07:13:08 PM: Quote from: Michelle_Nelson on April 08, 2012, 06:49:55 PM
How long ago was that Rasbo? :chuckle:

Yes, how old is he? :chuckle:
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on April 08, 2012, 07:18:31 PM: $ 275.00 is definately gone :chuckle: just like gas being a buck 95 :dunno: :chuckle:
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: cedarriver on April 09, 2012, 08:37:29 AM: I just tell people to come check out my work.
It has already been said you usually get what you pay for. But there is some work done that is not so good, and some that is great on both ends of the dollar figure. So that's why you need to check their work out and make your decision. What I think is good enough and what someone else thinks can be two different views. Some see it, some don't.
Does it look mounted, or does it look like it's breathing, or could blink?
I'm at $625.
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: combs338 on April 09, 2012, 08:39:51 AM: $600.00
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: NWBREW on April 09, 2012, 08:51:58 AM: 782$ But that is with a deep snow habitat and an excellent taxi. Well worth it in my eyes.
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: rasbo on April 09, 2012, 08:54:26 AM: Quote from: Michelle_Nelson on April 08, 2012, 06:49:55 PM
How long ago was that Rasbo? :chuckle:
that was a while back,1989 Stans taxidermy in Enumscratch Muley
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: bucklucky on April 09, 2012, 10:26:21 AM: Im up to 575.00 for a shoulder. I must suck :chuckle:
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on April 09, 2012, 10:35:04 AM: We both suck! :chuckle:
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: bobcat on April 09, 2012, 10:36:27 AM: Quote from: bucklucky on April 09, 2012, 10:26:21 AM
Im up to 575.00 for a shoulder. I must suck :chuckle:

Yes apparently you do suck. This is proof:

Quote from: Black Ram on April 08, 2012, 09:47:40 AM
A good taxi is around 650 to 800. Be cautious about the ones that are cheap, you get what you pay for!
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: bucklucky on April 09, 2012, 10:39:54 AM: Here is at the time before my price increase for 2012 a $525.00 mount. I guess it sucks ??
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: bobcat on April 09, 2012, 10:43:23 AM: Quote from: bucklucky on April 09, 2012, 10:39:54 AM
Here is at the time before my price increase for 2012 a $525.00 mount. I guess it sucks ??

Yes it does, because you were $125 too low on your price. :chuckle:
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: cedarriver on April 09, 2012, 01:40:51 PM: Quote from: bobcat on April 09, 2012, 10:43:23 AM
Quote from: bucklucky on April 09, 2012, 10:39:54 AM
Here is at the time before my price increase for 2012 a $525.00 mount. I guess it sucks ??

Yes it does, because you were $125 too low on your price. :chuckle:
:yeah:
Did he just blink?
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: 180-GRAIN on April 10, 2012, 11:53:31 AM: Just a regular shoulder mount is what she is getting done. we got it back and got it home yesterday and noticed it had the wrong horns on it when we looked at pictures. it also had glue and thread in spots to fix holes that were made in the nose area im assuming he made when he caped it. This is the third thing he has screwed up that I have taken him, a bear skull that would have made book, a bear rug and now this deer. I should have learned my lesson after the first screw up but I was giving him credit I guess. He has done alot of great work for me and family but his work has gotten really poor the past couple years. Needless to say I took the mount back to him and made sure he is putting the right horns on this time. O Yah the tips of the ears on the thing are bald on the the back side and you can see the plastis inserts, It was just one thing after another with this guy. Hope his patch job works!
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on April 10, 2012, 12:25:35 PM: 550-750 is what seems to be pretty common today.
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: jackelope on April 10, 2012, 10:10:14 PM: The wrong horns?
You mean like it was someone else's deer antlers? Holy crap.
Charlie and Michelle, you guys really need to charge more. That or just draw straws for who gets what deer back when they're done. I'd return mine and you could put some 180" bones on top of my euro mount if you want. I'd give another $50 or so for that.
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: TeacherMan on April 10, 2012, 10:12:37 PM: Not enough, I've got a couple bucks over 170 I need to have redone. Cheaper is not always better. When I get my first BT buck that's even close to nice I'm going to have to talk to one of these sucky taxidermists on here, lol.
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: NWBREW on April 10, 2012, 10:17:21 PM: Quote from: bucklucky on April 09, 2012, 10:26:21 AM
Im up to 575.00 for a shoulder. I must suck :chuckle:

:yike: I hope not......you already have my 782$. :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: 180-GRAIN on April 11, 2012, 09:04:05 AM: Yep entirely different antlers! I will be using a different taxidermist in the future for sure, good thing this site has a couple good ones to choose from. Takes care of the shopping around.
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on April 11, 2012, 10:49:30 AM: Are you sure it's even your cape?
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: 180-GRAIN on April 12, 2012, 04:36:14 PM: Pretty sure the cape was right. but who knows Its another thing to kinda wonder about? He pulled another cape from a different box and showed me what he was using off that one to fix the ears on ours. So somebody else is going to be out a cape I guess. Just bad business all around in my opinion. I'm definitely switching taxidermists this season.
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on April 12, 2012, 04:42:21 PM: Well the cape he pulled out might also be a stock/shop cape.
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: bowpredator on April 12, 2012, 04:49:08 PM: Just got my Montana Whitetail back last night from a local taxi here in washington and it was $580. will post some pics later.
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: RoyBoy on May 30, 2012, 02:01:30 AM: i pay 595 at the Rainier taxidermy and he does amazing long lasting work ive got some mounts he did for my now passed on grand father that are from the 80's that still look like they stepped out of the timber.
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: summit creek on May 30, 2012, 06:20:10 PM: im 525 on a regular shoulder mount but the highest ive ever seen is fred peters at 875 before tax
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on May 30, 2012, 07:01:46 PM: Should I answer this question :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: woodman on May 30, 2012, 07:08:03 PM: Quote from: RoyBoy on May 30, 2012, 02:01:30 AM
i pay 595 at the Rainier taxidermy and he does amazing long lasting work ive got some mounts he did for my now passed on grand father that are from the 80's that still look like they stepped out of the timber.

Zack or Zach, not sure of the spelling does very good work. He has done some animals for me and my family also. I am always glad to show them to people, they look very professional
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: JohnVH on May 30, 2012, 07:23:14 PM: just dont bring anything to Over the hill taxidermy in Mt Vernon.
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: Hunterman on May 30, 2012, 08:02:18 PM: Out of the two mule deer I have mounted one is the largest deer my dad ever killed, and mine that is a bit larger, shot out of the same canyon, with the same rifle, about 10 years apart. The first trip I took back to "OUR " area after dad died. Dads deer cost 175.00, and mine was 225.00..

Hunterman(Tony)
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: Bean Counter on May 30, 2012, 08:09:47 PM: Quote from: JohnVH on May 30, 2012, 07:23:14 PM
just dont bring anything to Over the hill taxidermy in Mt Vernon.

Care to elaborate, sir?
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: summit creek on May 30, 2012, 08:11:15 PM: Quote from: JohnVH on May 30, 2012, 07:23:14 PM
just dont bring anything to Over the hill taxidermy in Mt Vernon.
is he over the hill or does the shop just do bad work
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: JohnVH on May 30, 2012, 08:13:50 PM: Quote
Care to elaborate, sir?

not the best work, my mount was botched(ears are weird, hunk of hair missing, bottom of chest covered in glue, etc, said would give a cash discount when dropping off, then charged full price.. wish I would have paid the extra for a better job. Super nice guy though.
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: summit creek on May 30, 2012, 08:25:43 PM: Quote from: RoyBoy on May 30, 2012, 02:01:30 AM
i pay 595 at the Rainier taxidermy and he does amazing long lasting work ive got some mounts he did for my now passed on grand father that are from the 80's that still look like they stepped out of the timber.
zack does great work thats why hes backed up 3 years
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: elkhunter1977 on May 30, 2012, 08:34:55 PM: I'm at $585 for a regular deer shoulder mount. There are a few other taxidermist lose to me that are higher. For future reference always ask to see some of the taxidermist work. I think most people are a little hasty when picking a taxidermist. Odds are if you don't like what you see in their shop you're not going to like how yours turns out.
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: Kowsrule30 on May 31, 2012, 02:09:29 PM: Most for me was $525.... Least $325.... They both look great.... Two different taxi's a year apart.... The $525 was the year before.... :chuckle:
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: Maverick on May 31, 2012, 06:13:14 PM: The guy I go to is $450. We'll be getting my dads buck back in the next few weeks. I'll post pics. I've gone to the guy for years and never had a problem. I think his shoulder mounts look great and have sent a lot of guys to him. He does it behind his house in a shop full time and doesnt advertise. Just word of mouth so he can keep his prices low for his customers.
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on May 31, 2012, 06:18:20 PM: Quote from: Maverick on May 31, 2012, 06:13:14 PM
The guy I go to is $450. We'll be getting my dads buck back in the next few weeks. I'll post pics. I've gone to the guy for years and never had a problem. I think his shoulder mounts look great and have sent a lot of guys to him. He does it behind his house in a shop full time and doesnt advertise. Just word of mouth so he can keep his prices low for his customers.

And that is the best way to do it.....................
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: Maverick on May 31, 2012, 06:28:59 PM: Small business guy that hasn't wronged me yet. So I keep coming back. did an amazing job on my foxes. Especially being his first ones. The cape is off a buck my dad shot last year and the horns are from 2002. Muley scored 158 and something. I hoping the age of the cape will match the size of the horns. We'll find out!
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: Whitenuckles on June 11, 2012, 09:53:25 AM: 180$ 2009 whitetail
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi440.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq126%2FJETWhitenuckles%2FIMG_1658.jpg&hash=f7dbad20541110df9469f0689c4e4b9e7eb7e7f2)
Title: Re: The most you have ever paid for a deer shoulder mount?
Post by: bloodhound on June 11, 2012, 10:08:32 AM: all i know is that charlies taxi posts all of his mounts online with close pics for everyone to see. thats a person that is proud of their work, and knows they did a great job, and has nothing to hide. ill be sending my work their hopefully this fall. im willing to pay the good money!