TAXIDERMY PRICE LIST FOR 2009

The costs set out below are a guide to pricing for work carried out on a commission basis only. A commission is any order where the specimen is supplied by the client. Prices are subject to change without notification.

IMPORTANT NOTES

Wildlife Licensing and Registration Service.
Global Wildlife Division.
Department for Environment Food and rural Affairs
Eagle Wing, Zone1/17K
Temple Quay House
2. The square
Temple Quay
Bristol.  BS1  6EB
Links to Government sites
Tel: 0117 3728120 

NOTES :

1. Sizes of deer ---- particularly Reds.

Red deer vary very greatly in size and experience has taught me to get the history of the animal before giving an estimate for the costs. That is where is it from (exactly) and is it park, wild (hill) or woodland Stag. Some Park reds, particularly from the south or Woburn Abbey, are Elk crosses and as such are Huge some have 20 or more points on each side.  These huge deer need to be quoted as “SPECIALS”.  Fallow can also fall into this category as a wild fallow from say Scotland seldom reaches the size of a large well fed stress free park animal.

2. TANNING

I regard the preparation: shaving, salting, degreasing, pickling and tanning/oiling process as absolutely critical to the final look of the mount. I do this process with great care and effort to attain a high quality tan whether on British skins or African and exotics. I tan all the capes I mount using a Lutan f.n tan.            For more info on this if needed please call me.

3. CAPES

As with all specimens for taxidermy I will inspect the cape not just for freshness but also for the coat and how it has been caped out from the dead animal. If I do not feel that the cape will do the mount justice I will offer a replacement cape at cost fee. Any replacement capes will be top quality full shoulder capes. If a skin “fails” I will replace the cape at cost to myself. By failure I mean slippage during tanning (if my fault). I never exchange a cape without first consulting the client however I always explain the options prior to accepting the commission.  Capes cut up the throat or badly shot requiring extra stitching MAY be billed extra.

4. SHORT NECK MOUNTS

Short neck mounts look very bad and, in the case of Fallow and Reds, are also impractical as the rack/antlers go well back over the shoulder and the head has the appearance of staring at the floor. I find most clients are happy to have a new quality cape, when given the option, to replace a very poor one. I also often re-cape old or poorly mounted heads or heads which have achieved medals but were not caped at the time (many stalkers and hunters do not realize that this is feasible.

5. THE CUTTING OF THE CAPE FOR A FULL SHOULDER MOUNT. How to do it How to do it

Sadly, in my experience the general standard of cutting capes for taxidermy in this country is poor, at best. The reason for this is that the majority of Estates and stalkers regard the venison as the priority and many game dealers will not take a carcass if it has been correctly cut for a shoulder mount. Because this exposes all the meat at the front of the animal, breaking the food hygene regulations. However, if a client is paying a very good trophy fee in the several hundreds or even thousands of pounds for a “head” then an extra £70.00 or so for the venison value of the carcass is a very small cost to pay for having a beautiful trophy for the wall or perhaps a pedestal mount. The venison of any male animal taken in the Rut is generally inferior and tastes poor when compared to that from say a late calver (Red hind) or a younger animal. Most trophy quality animals are, by definitiuon, going to be older animals, often deep in rutting condition. If you are the client and you are paying then the decision should be yours to take. A BADLY CUT (CAPED) SKIN IS A WASTED ONE.

My advice therefore, at its simplest, is if you are not sure how to cut it yourself then tell the stalker exactly what you want done with the skin and how you want it cutting. Alternativeley, if it is a Roe/C.W.D or a Muntjack fetch the whole animal FRESH ! and I will be happy to do it for you. Or follow the instructions on my FIELD PREPARATION how to correctly cape a deer. page in the gameheads section. Cutting the cape is not at all difficult it just takes a little time.

MEDAL HEADS

Instructions, costs and details on the treatment of potential Medal heads of deer

HOW ARE HEADS ASSESSED ? Assessing heads for medals can appear be a complicated exersize but basically the head is assessed as follows.The example used is a Roe deer.

1. Length of the antler- The antlers are measured for length in C.M and then added together and the average is worked out and multiplied by a factor of 0.5 to give the score
2. Weight. The entire skull is weighed (minus the lower jaw) and (in the case of a roe) 90 grammes is subtracted from the wieght to give a net weight. this is multiplide by a factor of 0.1 to give the score
3. Volume. The weight in water is subtracted from the weight in air to give the volume in cm3. This is multiplide by a factor of 0.3to give the score.
4. Inside span. This (in centimeteres) is divided by the average length and the answer multiplied by 100 to give a % age total. This is then expressed as a %age of the average length of the beam to give a final mark between 0 and 4, 4 being the highest points available.
5. Colour max 5 points
6. Pearling max 4 points
7. Coronets max 4 points
8. Tine ends max 2 points
9. Regularity and quality Max 5 points
10. These totals are then added up to give a total number of points
11. penalty points are deducted for deformity, obnormalities or damage
12. This gives the FINAL SCORE which is compared to the Medal award levels which are :BRONZE 105 points SILVER 115 GOLD 13

What does a Gold medal Roe buck look like ? Click here

• For the most accurate assessment the skull should be fully intact and thoroughly cleaned this is because the weight of the skull goes towards the final score (less 90 grammes). If it is not present the head can lose points for weight.
• For C.I.C measurement there must be a "statutory drying out period" before the head can be assessed for a medal.
• The cost of assessment of a Roe is                         h        £20.00       Fallow £20.00
• Postage and packing to and from is around          h            £40.00
• The cost of the medal, if given, is dependant on the type of medal: Gold, Silver ,Bronze and the Scoring systen employed C.I.C, U.K Trophy Commission, B.A.S.C, Rolans Ward etc                 h   
• Cost to boil out and clean the head for assessment is       £45.00
• Total typical cost for a roe head to be assessed ex the medal is around   £80.00
• The costs apply irrespective of whether a medal is awarded
• A score sheet will accompany the head to show how the final score was attained
• If I do not consider that a head will make at least a bronze I will usually recommend that the head is not measured. This saves time and money for the client.

CASES

Cases are extra and charged for as follows. To work out the costs .

For example a case measuring 23 inches high by 12 inches wide by ten inches front to back. Add up the dimensions 23"+12"+10" = 45. Multiply the 45 X £4.50 to get £180.00 this is the cost of the case.

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