Hello I would like to start a conversation about the income levels of full time taxidermists. i have no clue as to what i would make after a full time shop has been established. i would like to know what full time taxidermists clear and what percentage of income comes from whitetail shoulder mounts. how many do full timers do in a season? thank you Jap
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On average we check in 50 to 60 deer a season, the most being 96. Seems that every other year we have high numbers. We charge 335.00 currently for standard whitetail shoulder mounts, with around 150.00 going into supplies, roughly making a profit of 80 to 100 per deer, after overhead. We average around 5000.00 to 7000.00 from deer season. As we specialize in gameheads and lifesize this makes only a small percentage of our yearly income. Also depends on your area and the amount of competition.
seems not to know the differences between gross profit and net profit or the differences between hourly wages overhead expenses and profit margines, etc. Thats why he is low priced and probably struggles even more than even the average taxidermist in this game. Of course his wife probably works full time to cover his home expenses or he is full pentioned retired. The average taxidermist in this country full time gross wages apx. 22,000 per year before taxes. Not that much $ for a skilled craftsman and sure not what he or she is really worth and it is TOTALLY thier own fault. High numbers of mounts in most cases, does not spell success in this business, only a lot of work and stress at low wages and lower yet profits.
would a full time taxidermist charge more or less? I am part time and I don't recall being asked if I am full or part time when I order my supplies or pay my bills. I have a good paying job with good benefits but find that my extra time is very valuable to me. I do quality work and charge for it. If you plan on being full time, calculate what it would take income wise and let that be your goal. Best of Luck!
well i pretty much live in deer heaven so i will get over 200 heads a year. Then i have my dad who lives right next to lake michigan so he takes in all the fish in fish heaven. I give him 10$ for every thing he takes in. I charge 450$ for a deer head and 12$ an inch for fish. I put in long hours sometimes 16 hour days but i gross over 80,000$ a year by myself. I am really thinking about getting some other full time help cause its alot of work but i only work 4 days a week and when october november comes along i dont work at all i just pretty much hunt whitetails.
bob, you're so fulll full of crap, its got to be runnning out of your ears. 200 heads?/? By yourself? You're not hunting whitetails in oct nov, you're skinning heads! 200 heads x 15 hrs/ head = 3000 hours (1.5 FTE) plus fish. It's no wonder there is so much nasty taxidermy out there. Have at it. Better you than me.