Musk Ox Tanning Price

[Pochuck]

I just had two musk ox and a fox shipped back from Greenland with Genus Logistics - all in all about $675.00 - not bad, I expected it to be more

They were shipped to a taxidermist in the states who has the USDA facility. The taxidermist's prices are:

Musk Ox Skull Cap Cleaning #1 175.00
Musk Ox Skull Cap Cleaning #2 175.00
Tanning - Musk Ox Cape #1 1,200.00
Tanning - Musk Ox Cape #2 1,200.00
Tanning - Musk Ox Half-Hide 800.00
Tanning - Musk Ox Foot - 2 @ $125 each 250.00
Tanning - Arctic Fox Life-size 450.00

I spoke with my local taxidermist who does amazing work and is a great guy - who doesn't do stuff for cheap either. He said these prices are way high and that musk ox capes should be around $450

I'm not a cheap guy when it comes to hunting, let alone mounts I'm going to be looking at for the rest of my life - but I don't like being taken advantage of either

Do these prices seem right to you? The taxidermist said I couldn't just pick them up myself either, even though they were shipped to the USDA facility-which is them. Do they need to be tanned before leaving a USDA facility and be given to the consumer?

 

[Pochuck]

I should note these are tanning prices only - I was planning on bringing them to my local guy who has done a bunch of musk ox before

 

[Erict]

Spend some time looking at Moyle Mink and Tannery website for their prices. They are a highly regarded tannery.

No idea about getting the hides released from that taxidermist. You need to read the fine print it sounds like.

 

[taxidermybycam]

You need to clarify some things.
Are these items already skinned fleshed split turned and salted ?
If they are then you can legally get them from him once it hits the "USDA approved facility " and do as you wish. The USDA approved facility is like having an FFL ,it's great if you need it ,but for the trouble it's worth unless your a huge studio ,it's much easier just for a regular taxidermist to call up a another and say hey I'll pay you a fee to get my customers skins for you being the middle man . Which is what it is essentially.
Some tanneries do offer that service . But it's a catch 22 ,there's only one I would trust. tanneries have access to the contact information of the potential and will steal customers from under other Taxidermist.
It takes a lot of money and hassle and space to be an approved facility. And the studio that you're dealing with wants paid for that. Which is what it is . Since they likely won't get the work they want you to pay for that. Which to me is understandable. If you go to a Toyota dealership and want work done but only buy the parts from the dealer. They'll up charge you since your gonna take it somewhere else.

You need to ask the studio that has it .
Are those prices if the fur is brushed or not. Musk ox have horrible hair . They are a mop . They will catch anything that's on it . Id venture to guess no that's not the final prices.

I do not believe those prices are unreasonable. You'll always find a cheaper guy. I'd probably charge you similar prices in my shop. A lot of the price they are quoting you is shipping. It's expensive as heck to ship anything. I think I paid 35 bucks to ship 2 salted Fox skins last week. You can only imagine what a musk ox would cost.
The taxidermist you talked to gave you his cost . Not what he needs to make , tanneries give wholesale tanning. Pricelists. And what he charges after that with overhead and shipping and time is his business. He won't work for free unless he likes you.
I hope this provides insight

 

[go_deep]

Seems fine to me.

 

[Pochuck]

You need to clarify some things.
Are these items already skinned fleshed split turned and salted ?
If they are then you can legally get them from him once it hits the "USDA approved facility " and do as you wish. The USDA approved facility is like having an FFL ,it's great if you need it ,but for the trouble it's worth unless your a huge studio ,it's much easier just for a regular taxidermist to call up a another and say hey I'll pay you a fee to get my customers skins for you being the middle man . Which is what it is essentially.
Some tanneries do offer that service . But it's a catch 22 ,there's only one I would trust. tanneries have access to the contact information of the potential and will steal customers from under other Taxidermist.
It takes a lot of money and hassle and space to be an approved facility. And the studio that you're dealing with wants paid for that. Which is what it is . Since they likely won't get the work they want you to pay for that. Which to me is understandable. If you go to a Toyota dealership and want work done but only buy the parts from the dealer. They'll up charge you since your gonna take it somewhere else.

You need to ask the studio that has it .
Are those prices if the fur is brushed or not. Musk ox have horrible hair . They are a mop . They will catch anything that's on it . Id venture to guess no that's not the final prices.

I do not believe those prices are unreasonable. You'll always find a cheaper guy. I'd probably charge you similar prices in my shop. A lot of the price they are quoting you is shipping. It's expensive as heck to ship anything. I think I paid 35 bucks to ship 2 salted Fox skins last week. You can only imagine what a musk ox would cost.
The taxidermist you talked to gave you his cost . Not what he needs to make , tanneries give wholesale tanning. Pricelists. And what he charges after that with overhead and shipping and time is his business. He won't work for free unless he likes you.
I hope this provides insight

Thanks for the insight it's much appreciated - I checked out your work online, very impressive!

 

[taxidermybycam]

Thanks for the insight it's much appreciated - I checked out your work online, very impressive!

Thank you I appreciate it