Best place to have an Elephant shoulder mounted.

Hello all! New to the forum, but not African Hunting. Finally got my elephant back from a hunt in Botswana a few years ago. Where is the best place to get a shoulder mount? This will be using the real skin/cape.

Feel free to attach pictures if you have them.

Also have side panels to tan and use. Any recommendations on a tanner/preparer as well? Looking to use those for things like shoes, belts, etc.

Following. I hope this goes well for you. Expecting 6 figures?

K-man said:

Following. I hope this goes well for you. Expecting 6 figures?

Click to expand...

I hope not! I talked to a few Taxidermist at SCI, and none were even close to $100,000. Was I misled?

My dad had an elephant shoulder mounted in 1989 for 7000.00. Curious to see what today's prices are.

Note: I have not personally worked with the person I would recommend, but from what I’ve seen of his work he’s great.

Wilson’s Wildlife Artistry in Tennessee has an elephant shoulder mount on their price list, about $19k, and I’ve been following his work for years because he puts out some cool stuff. From what I’ve seen he gives each mount the level of respect the animal deserves, and would be my top choice if I ever wanted something like that done

Hello sir, I’d be glad to help you. I’ve worked with a lot of elephant over the years. In the interest of transparency I have not shoulder mounted one as of yet but I do know how and assure you we would do a first class job.

I can say that the leopard and Dik Dik mounts are mine. Eric did a museum quality mounts on them. I was very impressed and have my New Zealand trophy's and my wifes bison (Hunted on the Rocking G ranch last year) for him to do.

NoStepOnSnek said:

Note: I have not personally worked with the person I would recommend, but from what I’ve seen of his work he’s great.

Wilson’s Wildlife Artistry in Tennessee has an elephant shoulder mount on their price list, about $19k, and I’ve been following his work for years because he puts out some cool stuff. From what I’ve seen he gives each mount the level of respect the animal deserves, and would be my top choice if I ever wanted something like that done

Click to expand...

Agreed, the shoulder mounts are not 6 figures. Lifesizes definitely are. About 120k on average. I’d check to see if that listed price is current though on the shoulder mount. Forms, tanning, and freight have gone up exponentially the last few years. Even if they have molded their own form the foam to pour it alone is pretty dang high. I’d be willing to bet that price is dated but…. It’s not crazy low either. I’m about to crunch some numbers on this actually for another gentleman this week and I’ll see where it falls. I know often taxidermist will just throw a number on certain things like an elephant as they may never or only ever get 1 actual skin mount in their career. The price on it never gets updated as it just isn’t something 99% of all taxidermists ever get do. The studios that do actually get several here in the states have their finger on the pulse a little more. I’ve actually had this conversation recently with a taxidermist that’s mounted several over the years which is why I say that seems a little low but…. I’m not going to pretend I know how that particular studio prices something like that out. I just know what the things like all the freight to get the materials just to do it is likely going to cost. There are very few form companies that even make elephant forms and they have to be crated and truck shipped with current diesel prices, I know what the tanning for an elephant shoulder mount costs also, and it isn’t cheap, glue, labor, and on and on. Glue is very expensive just for one 5 gallon bucket. ProOne is 230$ plus shipping for a bucket of it and it’s gunna take a hellava lot more than 5 gallons to do it. You could use that in the parts that tend to shrink and drum more and cheaper alternatives in others but personally if I’m mounting something like this there is no way I’m going to use cheap crap that I know going in is t going to work well. Especially with elephant hide and that I’ve worked with a lot. It, rhino, and hippo can be miserable to work with sometimes. Most people get repro’s but actual skin mounts are a whole different cat.

ZebraHunter said:

Hello all! New to the forum, but not African Hunting. Finally got my elephant back from a hunt in Botswana a few years ago. Where is the best place to get a shoulder mount? This will be using the real skin/cape.

Feel free to attach pictures if you have them.

Also have side panels to tan and use. Any recommendations on a tanner/preparer as well? Looking to use those for things like shoes, belts, etc.

Click to expand...

Have you considered a Kanati replica? To me, they not only look better, but age better and are impervious to bugs. And congratulations.

So looking at this, I figured I would update all as to what it would cost at my shop. I’m waiting on confirmation on a couple materials pricing but it looks like it would be right at 20k. So, yes 19 as mentioned before is pretty much on par.

Going to Botswana in May and if I am successful I will get. a replica from Kanati. My taxidermist says it's way cheaper, a lot lighter and they deliver. Plus you can display the original tusks separately

gizmo said:

Hello sir, I’d be glad to help you. I’ve worked with a lot of elephant over the years. In the interest of transparency I have not shoulder mounted one as of yet but I do know how and assure you we would do a first class job.View attachment 801921View attachment 801922View attachment 801923View attachment 801924View attachment 801925View attachment 801926View attachment 801928View attachment 801929View attachment 801930View attachment 801931View attachment 801932View attachment 801934View attachment 801935View attachment 801936

Click to expand...

For US taxi I would trust only @gizmo

He has the experience with Africa animals and his work is as close to perfection as it comes!!!

Mike Baird of B&B Taxidermy in Houston is who you need. He recently built a new complex north of Houston with one very large building specifically to do large animals. He is working on several shoulder mounts and 1 lifesize elephant