Commissioning custom taxidermy costs $500-$1,000+ with 6-18 month waits and hidden fees. Buying pre-made mounts runs $525-$2,500, ships within days, and eliminates surprise charges. Compare options and save 30-50% by browsing our ready-to-ship taxidermy mounts.
Every hunter faces the same choice after a successful harvest: commission a taxidermist to mount your animal, or buy a finished mount? The decision comes down to more than just cost. Let’s break down what you actually pay for each option.
The Real Cost of Commissioning Custom Taxidermy
When you hand over your deer cape and antlers to a taxidermist, you’re quoted a base price. But that number rarely tells the whole story.
Base Prices by State (2026)
Custom whitetail shoulder mounts average $721 nationally, but location drastically affects cost:
- Lowest: Delaware, Alabama ($525-$550)
- Average: Most states ($650-$850)
- Highest: Alaska ($950+), major metro areas ($800-$1,000)
The quoted price typically covers skinning, mounting labor, and basic finishing. What it doesn’t always include can surprise you.
Hidden Costs That Add Up
Tanning fees: $100-$325 for commercial tannery work. Many hunters don’t realize this is separate from the mounting fee.
Form upgrades: Basic forms are included, but custom poses or larger neck sizes add $50-$150.
Habitat and base work: Want rocks, grass, or a custom wood panel? That’s another $200-$500.
Rush fees: Need it done faster than the standard 6-18 months? Expect to pay $100-$300 extra to jump the line.
Cape replacement: Field dressing mistakes or bullet damage can ruin a cape. Replacement capes cost $100-$200.
Final mounting panel: A decent plaque or backing board runs $50-$150.
Add these together and your $700 quote can easily become $950-$1,200.
The Timeline Nobody Warns You About
Here’s what really frustrates hunters: the wait.
Most taxidermists quote 8-12 months, but 49% of hunters report waiting 9-12 months, and some wait 18+ months. During peak season (late November through January), shops get backed up with dozens or hundreds of deer.
Why does it take so long? The actual mounting work only takes 2-4 hours. The delay comes from:
- Tannery backlog: 3-6 months just for hide processing
- Queue position: Your mount waits behind 50-200 other projects
- Small operations: Most taxidermists work alone or with one helper
- Seasonal overload: All the work arrives in a 6-week window
That trophy buck you tagged opening day? You might not see it on your wall until the following season ends.
Buying Pre-Made Taxidermy Mounts: The Alternative
Pre-made mounts flip the entire equation. Instead of waiting a year for custom work, you pick from available inventory and receive it within a week.
How Pricing Compares
Quality pre-made deer shoulder mounts run $525-$2,500 depending on:
- Antler size: 6-point mounts cost less than 10+ point trophies
- Pose and position: Upright, semi-sneak, and pedestal mounts vary by $100-$300
- Species: Whitetail, mule deer, and elk each have different price points
- Overall quality: Award-winning taxidermy costs more than average work
Our deer shoulder mounts include all finishing, professional tanning, quality forms, and mounting hardware. No hidden fees.
The 30-50% Savings Explained
When you buy pre-made, you skip:
- Multiple trips to the taxidermist
- Deposit payments and balance due dates
- Tanning upcharges
- Form selection confusion
- Habitat add-on costs
- Rush fees if you want it sooner
You also avoid the risk of poor field care ruining your cape or antlers getting damaged in transit.
Quality Differences: Custom vs. Pre-Made
The biggest myth about pre-made mounts is that they’re lower quality. That’s simply not true.
High-quality pre-made mounts feature:
- Professional tanning that prevents cracking and hair slippage
- Properly sized forms that match the animal’s build
- Detailed eye, nose, and ear work
- Clean, invisible seam stitching
- Solid antler attachment
The main difference is personalization. With custom work, you choose the exact pose, turn direction, and habitat elements. With pre-made mounts, you select from available inventory.
But here’s the thing most hunters don’t consider: unless you shot a true Boone and Crockett class animal, does it really matter if the mount isn’t that specific buck? For cabin decor, man cave displays, or office spaces, a quality 8-point whitetail looks impressive regardless of which deer it came from.
When Custom Taxidermy Makes Sense
Commission custom work if:
You shot the animal yourself and want that specific trophy preserved. There’s emotional value in seeing your exact buck on the wall.
You have specific pose requirements. Maybe you want a full sneak position or a hard right turn that isn’t available pre-made.
You’re willing to wait 8-18 months. If you’re patient and in no rush, custom work gives you complete control.
Money isn’t a major concern. Custom taxidermy with all the extras can easily exceed $1,200.
When Buying Pre-Made Makes More Sense
Buy finished mounts if:
You need it now. Decorating a new house? Opening a restaurant next month? Pre-made mounts ship immediately.
You want predictable costs. What you see is what you pay. No surprise bills or hidden fees.
You’re buying for decor, not memory. Hunters buying second, third, or fourth mounts for a trophy room often prefer pre-made options.
You value convenience. No field care, no transporting heavy capes and antlers, no back-and-forth communication about forms and poses.
You want to see the actual product first. With custom work, you don’t know what you’re getting until it’s finished. Pre-made mounts show exact photos and measurements.
Browse our selection of full body mounts and European skull mounts to compare quality and prices.
Other Mount Types: European and Full Body
European mounts offer a third option for budget-conscious hunters. Custom European mounts cost $100-$225 and take 2-4 months. Pre-made European skulls run $150-$500 depending on species and antler size.
Benefits include lower cost, less wall space, and a clean modern look that fits contemporary homes better than traditional shoulder mounts.
Full body mounts are the opposite: maximum impact and maximum cost. Custom full body whitetails start at $1,800 and can exceed $4,000 for large animals with habitat bases. Pre-made full body mounts range from $1,500-$8,000+ depending on species and size.
Making Your Decision
Here’s the bottom line:
Custom taxidermy costs $700-$1,200+ when you factor in all fees, requires 8-18 months wait time, but preserves your specific animal.
Pre-made mounts cost $525-$2,500 with no hidden fees, ship within a week, but won’t be the exact animal you harvested.
For most hunters decorating a cabin, office, or man cave, pre-made mounts deliver better value. For trophy-class animals or that once-in-a-lifetime hunt, custom work makes more sense.
The good news? You don’t have to choose one approach forever. Many hunters commission their best bucks and buy pre-made mounts to fill out their collections.
Ready to Compare Options?
See our current inventory of professionally mounted deer, elk, bear, and exotic animals. Every mount includes detailed photos, measurements, and transparent pricing.
Questions about sizing, shipping, or mounting hardware? Contact our team for personalized help.
All mounts include professional finishing and arrive ready to display. Free shipping on qualifying orders.