How much $$$ do Taxidermists Make per year?

[loganwayne]

im not sure who is tanning for everyone but my taxidermist is sitting around waiting for hides to get back to him right now, including my deer. he is waiting over 6 months to get hides back right now. and he is trying to get kids mounts done first.

 

[Rich M]

Post up some of your work and we’ll let youk know if you have what it takes.

Once you hit stride, say you can finish 1 shoulder mt/day. That’s $600/ day x say 335 days = $201,000 before expenses. 3:5 capes in a freezer and racks scattered about?

Do you mess around w the low money things like euros? Can probably do 6-10/day.

Gonna mess around w birds and fish, etc? Stay away from predators if you find it isnt in your gifting - that’s a facial thing and tough to hit.

Nothing wrong w taxidermy. Start w you and friends. If you can handle/stomach doing it every day and produce a nice mount. Give her a go.

Fwiw, im considering doing a couple DIY taxidermy deer heads if my hit list bucks show up. Did taxi as a kid and maybe can turn something out, if not only out couple hundred bucks on taxidermy kit.

 

[HuntHarder]

One of the top taxidermists in AZ, in my opinion, has a 2nd job. Another Taxi I used to use had to close shop. He was busy too, just small mismanagement steps took a toll on him. Generally speaking, taxidermists are artists first and foremost and businessman 2nd. Most, in my experience, are severely mismanaged and prevent them from making real good money.

 

[trevore]

Most taxidermist make less than 75K a year. Probably 75% make 50K a year or less. The big shop owners and I mean big 1000 -2000 mounts per year with a team a hard working and very experienced taxidermists, finishers, and habitat people can make $150K+ per year plus equity in the business. Obviously those shops gross a million or even 2 but that disappears mighty fast. I did taxidermy full time for 20+ years and my best years were working as a contractor for one or two of those big shops plus 1-2 smaller shops. I made right at $100k a year and that was hustling. I could probably make a little more now due to the prices today but I pretty much hate it at this point in my life.

 

[Dogone]

Where I live most taxidermists are hobby/part time. A lot take a taxidermy course. Then fill a couple freezers with work. Then take two years for a squirrel. Then move on. Very unusual for anyone to stick with it for years. Like dog/horse trainers and guides ; seems like money and fun from the outside.

 

[Beagle1]

The best line I heard from my taxidermist many years ago when I questioned him about the below market price he quoted me on the first deer head I brought to him. “If it’ll make you feel better I’ll charge you more.”