Should you EVER pay a taxidermist anything in advance?

[JimP]

I used to be really patient on the time it takes to get work back, however the older I get the quicker I would like it back. You never know when your time is up. Morbid way to look at it but I ain’t getting any younger!

After my pronghorn hunt in Wyoming this past October there was a taxidermist that was recommended that had three price tiers. One for 12+ months, one for 6 months, and one for 3 months from drop off to finished mount.

Naturally they were priced accordingly with the 3 month one costing a extra 40% othe 12+ month one.

But I know where you are coming from. As we get older we want to enjoy our mounts as long as we can. I'm down to around 13 months before I get my pronghorn back.

 

[Sabre]

I used to be really patient on the time it takes to get work back, however the older I get the quicker I would like it back. You never know when your time is up. Morbid way to look at it but I ain’t getting any younger!

I can understand that side of things. In regards to longevity, I more so wish I could go on more hunts per year for the same reason. There is clock ticking somewhere, whether it be due to death, or just mobility issues.

 

[HankBuck]

Just some general advice from a taxidermist who does not want any work from the great members on this site, so moderators try decaffeinated a day or so, use an established taxidermist with a real shop and experience. Not someone with a full time career, possibly that works out of state that does mounts in the kitchen during layoffs. You will be fine with a reasonable deposit and acceptable turnaround time. I am very comfortable referring people to top of texas taxidermy who is a sponsor on this site. Great guy.

@Tgood1 — I agree with you and especially if its for anything other then a deer head (although they can get messed up too). Life size mounts, Cats, Fox, Birds seem to require higher skills and experience and I would want to see examples of their work first

 

[Surgeon1]

I don't see a lot of progress on many trophies I have at 2 different taxidermists. Very frustrating.
Had an Audad done in Texas and the shipping was more than the work that took 20mo paid in full
at time I left the trophy. Currently have over 40 out of Africa at one taxidermist with no progress since 2020.

 

[Hunt anything]

@Surgeon1 , who is your taxidermist? Having your trophies since 2020 is totally unacceptable.

 

[atrious]

I've almost always paid 50% down. I won't pay the rest until I get a product I'm happy with. I've had friends do a lot of work for me, so they don't always get down payment immediately, but I don't expect them to do any work until I give them something.

Remember, they have to pay for the tanning, form, eyes, etc. before they can even start. I think it's fair for them to expect something up front.

I've got 5 mounts at the shop right now. I'm about to have a big bill come due.

 

[HookMeUpII]

I paid my costs upfront. All of the other guys in my group paid deposits or partial. All of our crates are now ready and will ship sometime in January.

Two of the guys who paid partial, their crates were ready first. Mine was ready third. The last, another partial payment. Everything was ready within 2-3 months of one another and it didn't really matter because Wyatt from SSI said he would move everything together in unison to save on shipping.

At the time (almost 3 years ago), there was no expediting for paying upfront. I ended up paying upfront because I mostly didn't want to have to worry about shelling out a couple thousand 2-3 years down the road, plus shipping and import. I feel a bit better about it seeing what shipping and import runs these days.

I hadn't heard about the time advantage for paying upfront, but makes sense. I never looked at it as a "pay/save as you go" sort of thing and had a budget of what I was shooting/mounting before pulling the trigger. This was another reason I figured lets just pay up now and get it over with.

There is a part of me that pauses to think: Making only a partial payment or deposit does incentivize them to get your mounts done sooner, or done at all.

 

[Muskox]

The biggest problem I have with taxidermy is you are generally dealing with only one taxidermist.

The big shops are great because they actually move on work, and are not subject so much to on the job illness, vacation, or their own laziness. Less Ponzy scheme.

I knew a guy that was chasing a Weatherby Award and he had a full time one that worked for him and him alone. Was almost as much of a pain in the ass getting what he wanted, as he went through multiple guys before he got one that was good. Then that guy worked for him for a few years and quit on him for a woman to move out of state.

No right answer on it.

Well the right answer is skull mounts and forget it. But I like most people get caught up in the beauty of it.

 

[JimP]

I paid my costs upfront. All of the other guys in my group paid deposits or partial. All of our crates are now ready and will ship sometime in January.

Two of the guys who paid partial, their crates were ready first. Mine was ready third. The last, another partial payment. Everything was ready within 2-3 months of one another and it didn't really matter because Wyatt from SSI said he would move everything together in unison to save on shipping.

At the time (almost 3 years ago), there was no expediting for paying upfront. I ended up paying upfront because I mostly didn't want to have to worry about shelling out a couple thousand 2-3 years down the road, plus shipping and import. I feel a bit better about it seeing what shipping and import runs these days.

I hadn't heard about the time advantage for paying upfront, but makes sense. I never looked at it as a "pay/save as you go" sort of thing and had a budget of what I was shooting/mounting before pulling the trigger. This was another reason I figured lets just pay up now and get it over with.

There is a part of me that pauses to think: Making only a partial payment or deposit does incentivize them to get your mounts done sooner, or done at all.

I would hardly ever consider paying a African taxidermist the total amount upfront. Just way too many ways for it to go sideways either with them or on the shipping end.

Now a US taxidermist who I have done business with I have paid it all upfront.

 

[HookMeUpII]

I would hardly ever consider paying a African taxidermist the total amount upfront. Just way too many ways for it to go sideways either with them or on the shipping end.

Now a US taxidermist who I have done business with I have paid it all upfront.

I don't disagree with you. I can't say knowing what I know now, I would have done anything different at that time. It seems like it's going to work out in the end, other than being quite a long wait. Crates are at the shipper and Wyatt is in the process of getting things in the air in January.

However, in the future, I'd probably pay the minimum and put the balance aside in something earning a couple percent. At the time I just wanted that portion done and accounted for. Live and learn. Thankfully I didn't really have to learn a lesson here.

 

[Hunt anything]

I would hardly ever consider paying a African taxidermist the total amount upfront. Just way too many ways for it to go sideways either with them or on the shipping end.

Now a US taxidermist who I have done business with I have paid it all upfront.

I agree, if you pay the total amount upfront, whats the incentive for them to get on your work in a timely fashion?
The taxidermist may get your work done to try and get you as a return client is the only reason I can think of other than having to pay the balance plus shipping and clearance into the states and I totally understand.
@HookMeUpII , did they send you any pictures of the finished work? It’s always exciting to open up a crate of trophies. I’ve had taxidermist send me pictures of finished work snd some I didn’t, not sure whats best. On one hand I like to know what to expect and on the other hand the surprise is good as well.

 

[Sabre]

I paid my costs upfront. All of the other guys in my group paid deposits or partial. All of our crates are now ready and will ship sometime in January.

At the time (almost 3 years ago), there was no expediting for paying upfront.

Why do you think it took so long for your taxidermy to be done? With increased shipping and taxidermy costs lately, I hear a lot of people say the one benefit to having it done over there still is the much faster turnaround time. But I feel like it isn't uncommon to hear people who are still waiting years later for their taxidermy either.

 

[Sabre]

I agree, if you pay the total amount upfront, whats the incentive for them to get on your work in a timely fashion?
The taxidermist may get your work done to try and get you as a return client is the only reason I can think of other than having to pay the balance plus shipping and clearance into the states and I totally understand.
@HookMeUpII , did they send you any pictures of the finished work? It’s always exciting to open up a crate of trophies. I’ve had taxidermist send me pictures of finished work snd some I didn’t, not sure whats best. On one hand I like to know what to expect and on the other hand the surprise is good as well.

I've had a taxidermist request that I don't pay it all off early. He said it's nice to be paid at pickup so they feel like they worked for the money.

Sometimes with a taxidermist I trust, I like to have more paid off on deposit so when I pick it up I can focus more on the new mount than the new hole in my bank account. But I suppose for them, it feels nice to get handed a decent sized chunk of cash at pickup.

 

[JimP]

I don't disagree with you. I can't say knowing what I know now, I would have done anything different at that time. It seems like it's going to work out in the end, other than being quite a long wait. Crates are at the shipper and Wyatt is in the process of getting things in the air in January.

However, in the future, I'd probably pay the minimum and put the balance aside in something earning a couple percent. At the time I just wanted that portion done and accounted for. Live and learn. Thankfully I didn't really have to learn a lesson here.

On my last trip over I had my taxidermy done in South Africa. The mounts were done just about this time, but then you wait and wait some more, after all you are now working on African time.

I finally got my mounts the first part of August.

 

[TheWhitetailNut]

It may appeal to a dark side of human nature, and I may be enabling the worst to come out in some people, but my experience is that down payments to many types of contractors end badly. I see folks take the money and run. Take half down and then consider the last half to be too little compensation to even proceed further. At the best of times, the completion date is doubled or even quadrupled. Some things never get finished. Many get buried in some dusty corner, to be gotten to "someday." Few seem to consider the contract from the side of the consumer.
Meanwhile, hides get old and dry, or too long in the freezer, maybe unskined so long they mummify in the freezer, or the hair eaten by mites or whatever the cooties are that attack fur. I don't know anyone who has had their completion date even approached, much less honored who has paid in advance! What good does it really do? I only make it financially possible for them to skip out to the next project. I wish I would ever learn, but like a dummy I hand it over in my enthusiasm.

Prove me wrong!

So... You've got some rentals?

 

[HookMeUpII]

@HookMeUpII , did they send you any pictures of the finished work? It’s always exciting to open up a crate of trophies. I’ve had taxidermist send me pictures of finished work snd some I didn’t, not sure whats best. On one hand I like to know what to expect and on the other hand the surprise is good as well.

They didn't send any pics. That would have definitely been cool. From what a couple folks have said, this particular outfit does very good work but takes a very long time to complete it. Wyatt seemed to confirm that as well as he's worked with them before.

Definitely getting excited now. It will be 3 years in May. If we can have them in hand by then, we will be in good shape.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Why do you think it took so long for your taxidermy to be done? With increased shipping and taxidermy costs lately, I hear a lot of people say the one benefit to having it done over there still is the much faster turnaround time. But I feel like it isn't uncommon to hear people who are still waiting years later for their taxidermy either.

They are just known for that. Couple folks have confirmed as well. Good work but very long TA time.

The reality is most taxidermist take a long time. I know of someone who had a Lord Derby Eland dipped and packed, and sent back to the USA for completion. Taxidermist here received it. Dip and pack was wrong so it went out to a USA tannery. Then it came back. They remounted it. From the time he shot the animal to getting the mount back was about 2 years.

My bird guy here does amazing work and has a TA of 6 months which is lightning fast.

You hear of some very high end African places turning stuff around in 6-12 months but you can bet you'll pay for it.

 

[HookMeUpII]

On my last trip over I had my taxidermy done in South Africa. The mounts were done just about this time, but then you wait and wait some more, after all you are now working on African time.

I finally got my mounts the first part of August.

I guess we shall see. I know they are essentially sitting on the crates and permits because everything has been shut down for the holiday.

Wyatt from SSI has been absolutely top notch. We feel good about using him. He has worked with both the outfitter and the shipper before so he's pretty efficient it seems.