How much $$$ do Taxidermists Make per year?

[HornPorn]

Seems like many taxidermists aren't taking work any more. Wait times for big shops are 12-18 months. Some say its a dying breed. I'm seriously thinking of getting into it, not for the money, but just because it interests me and I see a need for it. I have an eye for detail and see alot of crap out there...obvious misses. Mouth, lips, eyes, lots of really bad mounts out there and people think it looks good. I know its not something that happens overnight, but am curious, what does a full time taxidermist generally bring home every year? $100K? $200K? More? Its not about the money, but I think its a fair question to ask

Im not talking about the small time guy who mounts a few whitetail heads and largemouth bass in his garage as a side gig. Im talking about someone who mounts western big game, lifesize, etc....game from all over the world

 

[WeiserBucks]

20 years ago a taxi told me he quotes everything trying to make $25 hr. Who knows what is today.

 

[grfox92]

I have no idea what the number is, but I can tell you for sure it's 100% dependant on the quality of work you will do.

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[grfox92]

20 years ago a taxi told me he quotes everything trying to make $25 hr. Who knows what is today.

Yea that would be full blown poverty this day in age. I bet it's more like $75 to $100 and hour.

That's not what the taxi is making though. Just was his hourly is for the business.

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[go_deep]

Do you mind sharing what state your in, and a general area? I think it matters.

 

[Harvey_NW]

I don't know about the total numbers, but since you mentioned that it's not about the money it will widely depend on the product you intend to produce, and how much you can do on your own. My taxidermist is a little hole in the wall type shop that is about a 5hr drive for me to go to, but I won't take my stuff anywhere else unless he quits. He's able to keep prices lower than average, and usually gets shoulder mounts done within 6 months to a year. He owns his own tannery and does everything in house, and his soft tans come out like pliable buckskin leather, not the stiff crinkly feel of a cheap commercial tan.

If you're serious I would say call and get all your advice from him, and model your business after his. Jeremy - God's Creation Taxidermy - Valley, WA

 

[svivian]

Seems like many taxidermists aren't taking work any more. Wait times for big shops are 12-18 months. Some say its a dying breed. I'm seriously thinking of getting into it, not for the money, but just because it interests me and I see a need for it. I have an eye for detail and see alot of crap out there...obvious misses. Mouth, lips, eyes, lots of really bad mounts out there and people think it looks good. I know its not something that happens overnight, but am curious, what does a full time taxidermist generally bring home every year? $100K? $200K? More? Its not about the money, but I think its a fair question to ask

Im not talking about the small time guy who mounts a few whitetail heads and largemouth bass in his garage as a side gig. Im talking about someone who mounts western big game, lifesize, etc....game from all over the world

Starting out you are not going to earn what a seasoned good Taxi is making. It will be 10-15 years before you've done enough animals at a high enough quality to be earning what some of these guys do. It would be better to break this down into 0-5 years, 5-10 years, etc... etc..

Or start out by training under someone who is really good, if they are willing.

 

[SloppyJ]

One around here guides fishing trips in the spring/summer and does his own taxidermy the rest of the year. All of the guys get butt hurt when he's guiding clients fishing and they haven't got their mount back from the year before. He's every bit of 15mo out.

If you're good, I think it would be worthwhile. But that interest you find for it might dwindle down when it becomes a "job" and people are bugging you and not coming around to pick up their mounts.

 

[Scott7030]

Over the last 25 years, I have had a part time taxidermist business on and off. There is money to be made but it's not easy money. I gave up doing commercial work about 5 years ago due to wanting to have more time in the outdoors and time with my kids. I would recommend starting small and not quitting your day job to see what the market will hold in your area. Side note: I did a lot of taxidermy for myself and close family at material cost before I considered doing commercial work.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

The last thing I took to the taxidermist was 14 months out and cost 1250.00 for a shoulder mount. Im not sure how long it takes to make one but if they did 100 of them a year, you can do the math. Im not sure though if its possible to do 100 shoulder mounts a year though.

 

[IdahoBeav]

I don't think anyone is getting rich doing it.

 

[Wheels]

Have a good buddy that is a full time taxidermist. He does roughly 100 deer, about the same number if turkeys and the occasional elk, moose, african game. By the time you figure forms, tanning and supplies and time per, he isn't making a lot per hour. Hunting season is his busy time so no hunting for him!
Figure if he makes $500 per mount profit after paying for everything except himself, that's only about $100K per year.

 

[Billy Goat]

There's a few who do the shows, and win the taxidermy awards that kinda name their price.

Mostly its not that much money, but the guys who I know doing it take in enough work to cover their lifestyle, then hunt/fish a lot.

 

[Unknown]

Lots of guys are now investing in Beatles and doing euro mounts. With the cost of conventional taxidermy lots of folks are looking for guys that do euro’s. Guy down the road here does them and seems to make out OK.

 

[Yooper]

All the really good/sought after guys around me area are booked for year (+) but I can assure you none of them are wealthy or at least appear to be. Beater trucks, smaller shops, etc. Not to say it can't be done, but outside looking in it sure doesn't seem like a really lucrative business.