is it possible to make a living being a taxidermist full time?
Return to Beginners Category Menu
First thing you need is some GOOD business sense and the will to work it as any another JOB
Go to that orange SEARCH icon and type in that same question dale. But before you go, here's a hint: "Don't quit your day job."
There are thousands of full time taxidermists all over the world making a decent living. If you have the skills and the ambition .go for it. Location is important . The same question can be applied to any trade. Do you think it's possible for a full time carpenter to make a living? Good Luck
But I'd rather stay a part-timer. But then if I'm only part time how come it takes all my time? Hmmm...
You name me just ONE SINGLE, INDIVIDUAL TAXIDERMIST who lives comfortably off of taxidermy work ALONE. JUST ONE. The successful taxidermists today have to run a school,teach classes, make manikins for resale, or have a sponsorship by some big conglomerate. This is a "craft" industry regardless of how we'd like for it to be something else. There are plenty starving artists out there if that's where you're going. Today's market simply won't bear prices that will allow an INDIVIDUAL TAXIDERMIST to pay a mortgage, utilities, health care, insurance, and retirement benefits along with a vehicle to ride in. A few years back a guy wrote that the best way to make a million dollars in taxidermy was to start off with 2 million dollars and by the end of the year, you'd be down to your one million.
I guess even negative comments are better than no comments. I will not speak for anyone else but you asked me to name one single individual taxidermist who lives comfortably off of taxidermy work alone. I can only state my own situation which is that my wife and I live comfortably off of the income generated by our taxidermy shop. We started this business by getting a bank loan to build the shop. I already owned the commercial lot to build on. This was in 1970. To begin with, I didn't think there would be enough taxidermy work to support us so I used the front end of the shop for a sporting goods store. After five years, I found that the taxidermy work was getting neglected so I sold the sporting goods stock and went to full time taxidermy. We paid off the bank loan with no problems and have been full time ever since. I do not even consider myself to be a really good taxidermist (about average I guess). I started off like so many others with the J.W. Elwood $10.00 taxidermy lessons at the age of 14. We do game heads, rugs, lifesize mounts, and antler and skull work. My wife is a tremendous help to me with the rug work and antler & skull work and skinning etc. We do not do birds or fish. With us, it is more of a lifestyle than a big money maker. Making lots of money never was my objective although it's nice to have enough to pay the bills. I do not like to work overtime or on week-ends unless it's absolutely necessary. We have never had any hired help and keep the overhead as low as possible. My week-ends are spent hunting or fishing or trapping on my registered trapline. Everything is paid for so there are no mortgages to worry about. We turn away non resident work and still have a hard time keeping up. We do no advertising. I would love to do some small and medium lifesize mounts for sale but just never have the time. If you will re-read my original post, I said location is important. I wouldn't set up next to Mike Boyce or George Roof. This area of northern B.C. ,Canada is a hunter's paradise. I am now 70 years old and my business is for sale which is why I made the original comments. George, if you don't stop your discouraging remarks, I may have to keep on mounting until I die. I'd rather be out trapping. As for your comment about having a vehicle to ride in, I can take my pick of a 1/2 ton pick-up or a 3/4 ton diesel pick-up with a camper, or 4 snowmobiles, or a jet boat, or a Polaris 6 wheeler with tracks. I must be doing something right. Dale was looking for some good advice and I gave him some from my 35 years of full time taxidermy experience. This is not bullsh1t George, it is just the facts. I would like to hear more opinions on this topic, either for or against. Fire away.
It takes time and countless hours of hands on and reserch before you can call yourself a taxidermist.Let me explane.before you start, mount as many animals as you can.Then study live animals and see how close you came to the real thing then know the taxidermist around you and work thay do. You will begin to see that if you can put out better mounts at about the same price you will do just fine.But give it time, start part time keeping your full time jod and every year you will grow.Remember word of mouth can make you or brake you.Yes you can make a living.I do it every yaer and still growing.For those taxidermist that say it can't be done most peaple around me go to work at a job that thay hate every day to make $30 to $35,000.00 a year.If you can't make at least that you need to look at what you are doing wrong.We are taxidermist not doctors or lawers you will not get rich face the facts.