Taxidermist Pricing Guide: Average Mount Costs by Animal and Type

Big Game Mount Cost

The cost of a big game mount starts with the shoulder mount and goes up from there. Life-size and pedestal mounts cost significantly more because the form is bigger and the labor hours multiply. Based on taxidermist pricing we have analyzed, bison and caribou shoulder mounts run higher than whitetail, mainly because fewer shops do them. The table below covers bison, caribou, and pronghorn antelope. Deer, elk, moose, bear, and wild boar each have their own section below.

Cost of a Bear Mount

The cost of a bear mount depends on what you want done with the hide. Black bear is one of the most commonly mounted big game animals in the country. Most hunters go with a rug mount or half life-size. Full life-size bears cost more because the form is large and the labor is significant. From the listings we analyzed, a life-size black bear averages roughly double a rug mount on the same animal.

Cost of a Deer Mount

The cost of a deer mount is the most-asked taxidermist pricing question in the country. More whitetail deer get mounted than any other animal. Shoulder mounts are the standard. Taxidermist cost varies by region and form quality. An open-mouth pose or semi-sneak form will add to the base price. Mule deer shoulder mounts tend to run a bit higher than whitetail because they are less common and fewer shops specialize in them.

Cost of an Elk Mount

The cost of an elk mount runs higher than deer for one main reason: size. The form alone is significantly bigger than a whitetail, which drives material and handling costs up. Life-size elk mounts exist but require serious wall or floor space and budget. If you want to display the rack without the full taxidermist cost, a European mount is a fraction of the price.

Cost of a Moose Mount

The cost of a moose mount is among the highest of any commonly hunted North American animal. The forms are oversized, the hides are heavy, and freight often applies if you are not local to the shop. From the taxidermist pricing we pulled, moose shoulder mounts run higher than any other commonly hunted species. A European mount is the practical choice if you want the rack without the full mount cost.

Cost of a Wild Boar Mount

Wild boar mount costs are increasingly on hunters' radar, especially in the South and Texas. Most hunters want a shoulder mount with an open-mouth form showing the tusks. If you want to display the tusks without the full taxidermist cost, a European skull mount shows them well at a fraction of the shoulder mount price.

Predator Mount Cost

Predator mount costs vary more than almost any other category. A fox or coyote is relatively affordable. Mountain lion and wolf life-size mounts are a different conversation entirely. From the taxidermist pricing we analyzed, mountain lion life-size mounts average higher than most big game shoulder mounts. Smaller predators like bobcat and fox are often done as full-body table or wall-pedestal mounts.

Cost of a Bird Mount

Bird mount costs are set separately from mammal work because the skill set is different. Not every taxidermist who does deer does birds well. Feathers require different handling, different chemistry, and a different eye for positioning. Flying, strutting, and standing poses each require different techniques and forms, so pose affects taxidermist cost. Turkey and pheasant are the most commonly mounted game birds in the country.

Cost of a Fish Mount

The cost of a fish mount is calculated per inch of fish length, not as a flat fee. Take the shop's per-inch rate and multiply by your fish's total length to estimate taxidermist cost. Most shops we analyzed offer both skin mounts and replicas. Most shops won't tell you this: replicas often look better 20 years later. Skin mounts can shrink, crack, and fade. Replicas don't. If this is a fish you care about, the price difference is usually worth it.

Low-end outlier listings

These are the lowest published fish rates in the data set and are shown separately so they do not distort the main fish table.

European and Skull Mount Cost

The cost of a European mount is the lowest entry point in taxidermist pricing. European mounts clean the skull and display the antlers or horns without any hide work. No hide means no tanning, no form fitting, no eye setting. The result is a clean display that works in spaces where a shoulder mount would be too large. Based on listings we pulled, European mount costs run 60 to 80 percent less than shoulder mounts on the same species.

Cost of a Rug Mount

Rug mount costs cover the full hide laid flat with a felt backing, an open-mouth form, and claws intact. Bear is the most common. Zebra and exotic rugs exist but at significantly higher taxidermist pricing. The biggest driver of cost is size. A small black bear rug is a different job than a large brown bear.

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Taxidermist Pricing by State

Taxidermist pricing varies by region. A whitetail shoulder mount in Texas is not the same price as one in Montana or New York. These pages show real, published pricing broken down state by state for the most common mount types.

What Affects Taxidermist Cost

Every taxidermist sets their own pricing. Two quotes for the same whitetail shoulder mount can be $200 apart. Here's what's actually driving the number.

Frequently Asked Questions