I have been working for a large taxidermy shop for over five years I also attended the central Texas school of taxidermy I am interested in swapping a shoulder mount or life size varment for a good Axis or Black buck if you are interested let me know thanks you can visit my website to see some work at bearcreektaxidermysa.com

You'll probably catch some takers if you quadruple that trade offer at a minimum. Just trying to help you out. Good luck.

I may be intrested in trading a hunt if you do a life size deer or exotic but not a varmit or shoulder mount, those are way cheaper than any hunts we sell.

X1,000 plus I know what the forms and stuff cost.

You need to up your Annie some bud before anyone would consider it.

Yea I would personally buy you a hunt somewhere for 4-5 shoulder mounts

I do taxidermy on the side and have been burned on this type of deal more times than I care to count. While I agree as currently offered the trade probably isn't even BUT for others thinking there should be 4-5 mounts included and you start looking at the "cost" of a mount- that's where stuff starts going south. Most guys want to trade for the value of the materials but don't want to trade the hunt/animal for the wholesale auction price. I never could figure out how that was supposed to work.
Another tip is to do the hunt first and make sure you work out what will happen if you don't get an animal. A couple times I did the work so they got their end of the bargain but when we hunted we didn't get anything. End up with some hard feelings over stuff like that. I know hunting is hunting and things can happen, but that needs to be worked out up front in the event it happens and what value is attached to a sight seeing weekend.
Just my .02 cents

For what my taxidermist charges and what the blackbuck and axis are bringing to hunt. Would easily be 3 mounts to possibly 4 shoulder or wall pedestal mounts. For like axis,blackbuck,sheep,whitetail

Market value on a shoulder mount is from $375 up to $575 plus extras depending on the taxidermist, I know for a fact there is less than $100 total for every tiny thing used to complete a shouldermount eyes, manikin glue etc. So there is 200%-400% mark up there. I can buy a live 33" axis buck for the same price as a hunt (true story) market is crazy right now. Not including day fees and a tip which im sure wouldnt be charged in a swap so you tell me if a trophy axis or BB hunt which is $2800 is not worth atleast 4-5 shoulder mounts.

BBD84- with all due respect if you are getting $375 shoulder mounts they can't be great quality.There's 10-14 hrs in a SH mount (it's been proven over and over again in taxidermy trade journals). So if a guy is charging $350, uses cheap materials @ $100 and makes $250 "profit" then he just earned $25 hr not counting any overhead, so maybe $15 hr in actual profit. Not bad I guess but not gonna make you a decent living.
In my area WT shoulder mounts go for $650-$800 and exotics being slightly higher. I'd say your $100 estimate for materials is on the low side but then again if you are getting $350 mounts I'd understand why. Quality materials, with a quality commercial tan, upper end eyes etc PLUS shipping costs $150 easy. That doesn't even put overhead into the costs.
My point is usually ranch guys want to trade for material costs on the mount versus retail costs of it and mostly want to TRADE a retail costs hunt value in return. That's all I'm saying.

It's not my deal but if you're asking if I'd trade five $800 mounts for a $2,800 hunt- answer is an easy NO. That's $4,000 retail in mounts for $2,800 retail in hunts.

I'm not arguing here - just giving my personal experiences with these things.

I did not say im paying $350 for any of my mounts but again I dont pay for anything but materials on 75% of my stuff, I get wholesale at $400 on wall pedistals here in Houston and retail on those mounts is $550 if you would like a friendly taxiderist challenge on best mount id put my 2 taxidermist against anyone you use any day of the week. My father did taxidermy for the last 25 years and now isnt doing it anymore so im using the other guy ive used for several years and trust me I know to the exact penny on cost of materials in every single mount I have had done. Being the OP has only been doing it for 5 years im sure he is good but not the best and if given the average say $650 in your instance to make you happy thats 4.3 shoulder mounts to be exact. Now 5 would be fair I guess but I wouldnt take that deal being replacment value on any trophy axis or blackbuck is $1800-$2400 depending on size alive plus delivery to my ranch. Now if you add that in they are worth way more than just a couple shoulder mounts and anyone that owns, runs or operates a exotic game ranch would probably back me up on this. Im not trying to come across as rude by this at all just stating the facts to be taken into concederation on a trade of this caliber. Now if a trade was done I could guarantee a animal but would want the same in return. Exotic market is going no where but up and it would be bad buisness IMPO to trade a animal you could sell for X amount of money for a lesser value.

$800 whitetail shoulder mount is a joke. In fact I have never seen a place even close to that so I think saying that "market" is $650-$800 is a tad bit unrealistic. Not saying there aren't places out there that charge that, but I'd bet money $500 is probably a more realistic average.

I was really looking for a low fence land owner not a big high fence operation who has to buy, stock, and manage their herds more like someone who may own a few hundred out west of san Antonio where the exotics are thick and one wouldn't be missed so much someone who their land is not their main source of income. I know it was a long shot but maybe there's a guy who has a nice deer or two that he would like to have mounted but doesn't nessasarly have or want to spend the money so this kind of trade out would work for both of us. By the way I use the best tanneries and supplies my cost is 195 with out labor included my retail price is 525 I would mount one lifetime or two shoulder mounts but that it and I want a animal for a animal not just a chance to shoot and never see one I want to be able to come back if the first trip is unsucsessful

Sounds reasonable to me, not everyone values their animals at the same price or has as much time/energy/money put into their herds. Good luck and hope you find the right person with the right land. If nothing else, it is worth a shot

If you will do a lifesize as I think thats what you ment to spell there please send me a PM and id like to see your work, not intrested in a couple shoulder mounts unless you want a exotic or meat animals or couple does to shoot.

Buck wild is one hell of a taxidermist. Prices from my area are 500-650 , that's for whitetail.

Ok I like these topics because I am a taxidermist up here in Iowa. I've been down there a bunch hunting extotics and where I would have to be if I traded would be 3 shoulder mounts (1 of them being a pedestal) for a BB or axis hunt. So that puts things in the $2000-2400 range. Does that sound about right? Not to hijack, but I'm looking for an axis bowhunt. Any takers?

On the other hand, I love to see the work of the taxidermists you guys use. OP, buckwild, BBD can you share some examples? That way we might get a better idea on if these trades are fair or not. Great topic guys

I just want to know which auction buck wild is going to where I can get a bunch of those good axis for the price of anyone's shoulder mount.

FYI low fence animals are "worth" just as much as high fenced animals. The market sets the price, not the seller.

I have no dog in this hunt, but I I'll say that there are both high and low fenced ranches with established herds that are still charging +/-$1600 for axis and blackbuck.......

The elite Taxidermists here in the Houston area will charge you $550 to $600 tops for a shoulder mount WT, Axis, Sika, Fallow, etc. If you have a connection with a taxidermist, as some do, myself included, it's not uncommon to pay $375-450 for quality work. Not only have I seen examples, I have them hanging in my living room.

I knew I should have stayed out of this LOL

Ok guys, those with conections can get lower prices,I understand- but yeah I can get lower to free hunts with my connnections so that's like me saying I'd never pay $2,800 for an axis cuz my buddy lets me shoot them for guide fee only.

BBD84- I’d be in for a little friendly taxidermy competition But here would have to be the rules- mount must be entered and judged in the Texas Taxidermy Assoc competition. I compete in the master’s division so hopefully your 2 taxidermist you are putting up for the challenge are in the masters category also. If not, we’d have to find a way to account for the harder scoring in that category versus the open or professional categories. If your 2 guys can beat me, I’ll give you 3 free shoulder mounts (at my retail cost $700). If I win, you give me a free hunt of equal value. Let me know as show is usually in June and I’d have to start getting ready .

bu2herndog- $800 might be a joke for you but it’s going rate in my neck of the woods. I never said $800 was market rate- I said in “In my area WT shoulder mounts go for $650-$800 and exotics being slightly higher”.

I will say Houston is an odd market in that there are so many taxidermist there that it keeps prices really low as there are plenty of guys willing to do $400 mounts but that’s no way to make a decent living.
Here are a few of the Houston area guys I know and consider to be above average. I’m sure there are others but I left Houston in 1998 for good reason so I haven’t kept up with taxidermist that way. Brush country 600-800 B&B 570- 700 Palermo 650-800

therancher- I never said you could buy an animal for the cost of a mount- I said in most cases of trades- the ranchers wants to trade retail price on animals but wants wholesale prices on the cost of the taxidermy.

It’d be funny to take this same thread over to taxidermy.net and see the replies over there. Sometimes it’s who’s home field you play on LOL

Over and out- I'm going to go kill some free turkeys this weekend

Dang it I forgot something

Avg price of WT form Mckenzie $55
high quality eye $15-18
earliners $6-7 (I can do bondo ones for $2)quality glue $30 gallon (you can get on avg 18 sh mounts from a gal so $1.50-$2 per mount)
commercial tan $40-$50
clay $2 (critter clay for eyes and mouth area, potters clay for ears and other area)
misc items $2-$4 - staples, 3-4 wood deck screws, brads, shampoos, cleaners, modge podge, sculpt all
good hanger .50-$1
paint $1 (paint, gloss plus laquer thinner etc)
shipping for form and eyes- apprx $10 per mount
shipping for skins to tannery there and back- approx $8-10 per hide

I’m @ $146 on the middle of the road costs on items above

now for the things you don’t “order”
tools, air compressor, paint guns, airbushes, shop space, vacation/sick time, retirement savings, employee costs, insurance, electricity, phone, water and the list goes on. Every person out there running a business knows what these type things would do the “cost” on an item.

Yeah I get it, raising animals is expensive also- but if you advertise $2,500 for a hunt then I assume you are making some profit. To assume a mount cost is $100 is not realistic.

Ok, now I'm going hunting

Buck wild is dead on and even a little low compared to me. I'm $50 higher for supplies due to tanning and shipping costs. I still would like to see some pics of the mounts your guys are giving you for such great deals so please post some up.

And I'm just telling you (buck wild), that wholesale prices for axis right now are about 2500+ for 30+" axis. You can shop the trappers and get them a little cheaper but not much cheaper.

And yes folsetth you can find cheaper axis hunts on ranches with AND without established herds. But there are different prices at different retail outlets in every market. As we've even seen on this thread with taxidermy prices.

As long as someone's willing to pay the price, the market is set by the consumer. The hunters market value and the ranchers market value really aren't far enough apart on trophy axis right now to turn a profit on put and take ranches.

I agree with you Axis assesment. I'll hunt (and do)an Axis every year for 2500 dollars and I love hunting big Axis as much as anyone you will meet but if the Axis hunts get into the 3500 range then I'm gonna hunt something else. Good Thread.