Stone sheep should mount value

[Kurt Swanson]

A long time ago I purchased some North American mounts at local auctions, garage sales, Craigslist, etc. to decorate my cabin. I’ve since moved my African mounts up there, so over the past few years I’ve sold and traded away a few of the NA mounts. I have just a couple left, which a friend wants to buy: a bison and a stone sheep. I’m able to find plenty of bison mounts online to establish a fair market value, but the stone sheep I see for sale are crazy expensive. I suspect I’m just looking in the wrong places. Can anyone suggest a website where I could see what this sort of thing goes for?

 

[Safari Dave]

This is a tough road to navigate...

Selling North American shoulder mounts can be very tough or very lucrative depending on who you can find to buy.

Your best bet is probably eBay because of so much exposure. (folks who decorate restaurants, serious collectors, the whole gamut, etc...)


If the head is pretty impressive, have it scored by a B&C scorer, and include the paperwork.

 

[BJH65]

The Taxidermy Store - Taxidermy Mounts For Sale

Taxidermy For Sale - The Taxidermy Store has a vast selection of Taxidermy Mounts, Horns, Antlers, Skulls & Wildlife Decor from Africa, North America and around the World.

thetaxidermystore.com

 

[IvW]

Plenty online between 4 and 10k.....

 

[Kurt Swanson]

Plenty online between 4 and 10k.....

That's what I'm seeing too, which seems crazy to me. I bought it for $250, so did I get the deal of a lifetime?
It's nothing record class, just a decent head in the mid 30's, and the mount is in good shape.

 

[Aaron N]

So if he’s a friend, just sell it to him for what you paid, and don’t try and make a buck off him. If you want a profit, sell it online

 

[BJH65]

I think what Safari Dave said. In addition, if you have the ability to professionally crate and ship through freight the taxidermy like thetaxidermystore.com, yes you can get top dollar. Most don’t like the hassle of that. Ive seen some nice taxidermy go for ridiculous low prices. I few years ago, I observed an online estate sale in Cody Wyoming of a variety of African and North American taxidermy, life size brown bear, life size African taxidermy…the only caveat, no shipping, you must go and pick up if you won a bid. Bighorn sheep heads for $200, life size brown bear for $800-900, just ridiculously low…. But how many had the ability to rent a U-Haul and drive out there to pick up?

 

[Deleted member 99613]

So if he’s a friend, just sell it to him for what you paid, and don’t try and make a buck off him. If you want a profit, sell it online

I agree, you already have a buyer, maybe adjust the $250 for inflation, ask if he wants to make a trade, or just sell for $250. Friends are worth more than money imho. Consider that if you sell online you may sit on it for 6 months or a year waiting for a buyer to pay top dollar.

 

[Hunt anything]

Contact some of the auction houses that advertise with SCI, see if they have sold any recently and their possible value.

 

[Rare Breed]

That's what I'm seeing too, which seems crazy to me. I bought it for $250, so did I get the deal of a lifetime?
It's nothing record class, just a decent head in the mid 30's, and the mount is in good shape.

The thing I have found having helped a friend sell his mounts one of which was a 60+ kudu mount is unless you have something like a true trophy like the kudu in reality you get pennie’s on the dollar. Your sheep may be listed between $4-$10,000 I highly doubt they actually sold for anywhere even in those ranges whatsoever unless it was a world class trophy to a person who even knows what that is.

 

[Rare Breed]

I do not mean you but what you found others listing their sheep

 

[Goat416]

I was once told that the value of animal mounts is roughly the cost to have the taxidermy work completed. Unless the mount is a world class trophy or a well known animal I have found this to be fairly accurate. I would look at the taxidermy pricing on several websites and that will give you a good place to start.

 

[Kurt Swanson]

I told him he can have it for $250. I suspect these prices you see online are asking prices that are rarely achieved.