I'm really curious. Has anyone picked up taxidermy lessons so they could mount their own game and same some money? I'm not an artist but, I do consider myself handy around the house. I know that I enjoy mounting the bucks I have killed. To me, it is a preserved memory in my head as well as the wall. Each trophy has a story to tell. I just don't think I'll have the same feeling with a euro mount although they look nice. That brings me to the actual problem...the cost of mounting. About 500 bucks in my area with an oak plague. With a family, mortgage, etc. It is harder and harder to justify. Curious on the self taxidermy and if it makes any sense or saves any significant bucks....pun intended!
From what I understand, the classes are pretty expensive and in PA at least you need proper permits/lic to do so. (I think)
The material costs of mounting a deer is relatively cheap, think my dad's buddy told me he does his own for around $125. But i can promise you, there is a reason you pay for an artists labor. your first dozen or more mounts will look more like mutants than deer!! i've seen some rough stuff from beginners, but at the same time, its all about learning, and i would love to try it myself.
i struggled with the cost of mounts for a while but then told myself that my buying a tag meant the xtra $125 (processing) and $450 (taxidermist) fee. i lump that into the "maybe" cost of hunting and chalk it up like that. if i expect to see big deer and want to harvest them, then expect to pay thru the nose... much easier said for me (single no kids) you are correct it would be cool to be able to mount your own deer! i'd just be afraid of messing up.
I've mounted a few deer and a bunch of other critters. But my good friend is a full time taxi, so I got my pointers for free. I wanted to make my basement look like a hunting lodge and didn't want to spend a fortune on mounts. So I mounted a bunch of small game myself a few deer heads and 2 turkeys. Most turned out better than I expected, but it is a nasty job and a lot of work.
I learned through Dan Rhinehart out of edgerton wisconsin. I didn't take his classes but I watched his DVD's and view on line type techniques and have talked to him personally when I have questions. I'm a visual learner, so by watching someone do something I can learn, I don't have to be right there to learn it. Plus I'm only doing whitetail deer because I already have a full-time job and whitetails are my passion.
Yeah man, i wouldn't do it unless you are looking to pick it up as a skill for extra money, and are willing to spend lots of time learning this skill. You HAVE to apprentice with someone who knows what they are doing, otherwise you will waste tons of time and money doing it the hard way. A good friend of mine does this for a living and also works for Bass Pro. He gives a demo every year at the Harrisburg PA Hunting Show. Its not to far from you, and its worth the trip just to see everything at the show.
i took up taxidermy about 2 years ago. i didnt take any lessons just went on taidermy.net and bought a few videos. My first few deer were nothing to be proud of but i kept learning new techniques and started producing a decent mount. I am now taking in clients and have gotten pretty good at it. It definatly does take a lot of time a patients, both in the learnring/research process and in the mounting process. I would encourage you to go to taxidermy.net if you are serious about this and just look around for a while. goodluck
Thanks for all the information and posts. I read all of them and started thinking hard on the subject.Looking up the websites mentioned as well as others. I also read a quick thread on a random forum which outlined the steps involved and time frames of the process. I have come to the conclusion that with one kid at 3.5 years old and another due in less than 30 days. I would not have the time involved to do this properly. Maybe in a few years however, not in the next 4. It's just not realistic. I have choices to make. Don't mount, Euro mount, Don't shoot etc. All with in my control High class problems to have. isaiah - I have the same approach now. My costs are close. Approx $150 my out of state PA license, $150 for processing, 475 for the mount. That is one expensive deer. Not bad if it is 1 deer every 3 years. I have VERY lucky to get a buck the last three years. Since I hunt DE as well as PA, there is a chance I double most of the costs. Thanks again for the help, encouragement, and advice.
I went through the same thing you are doing now, several years ago. I even went as far as dabbling with it, and realized I didn't have the time to do it right. Bottom line, taxidermy is not something you want to skimp on, and unless you are going to commit alot of time, you probably won't be successful at mounting your own. My advice, process your own deer....and save $150/yr. In a few years, you'll have enough to mount one I also do my own plaque mounts, and Euro mounts on bucks as well. They basically don't cost much of anything to do, and its a great way to "mount" your bucks. When I do get my next buck that I want to shoulder mount, I'll spend however much I need to - to get the best quality job I can. I want it to look awesome and last a long time. I personally like Euro mounts. Here is one I did for my son's buck a couple years ago. Cost me about $15 total. He loves it.
If it was me, I'd be more worried about the fees you guys pay to process. When I don't process the animal myself, I pay (at most) 75 bucks. I'd never pay over 100 dollars to have one processed.
Less expensive alternative. I had considered having my 2010 buck shoulder mounted, but, this camo dipping looks awesome. Having this done and the skull placed on a pedestal, attached to a shed antler. http://badtotheboneskullcleaning.com/camo/
