A good Taxidermist will be able to give you
a life like mount that will last for years.

So your thinking that in the future you may want to have an animal stuffed for your wall. But you're really unsure of where to take your animal, after all, aren't all taxidermists the same? A mount is a mount, right.

First things first, all taxidermists are NOT the same. Some are true artists that will create stunning life like mounts, others slab skin on a form and call it a day. If what your looking for is an over priced, stiff looking, unnatural wall mount, then you can go with the first taxidermist you happen to find. If not, you might wish to do some shopping around.

Generally it's a good idea to know where you would like to go before you hunt, the less time you wait, the less damage there is to the skin. Also, by talking to a taxidermist, you can learn valuable information from them, like how to cool down an animal, what is the best way to skin the animal, and how you should never cut the neck of an animal you wish to have mounted.

So how do you find a good one? One place I like to look is at sporting good stores. Sporting good stores, especially the privately owned ones, are staffed by outdoors people. These people generally know the area and know who in town is good. They will be able to give you a decent recommendation on where to take your skins. Also, these places generally will have mounts displayed. Sometimes, as a way to do viral marketing, taxidermists will take some mounts and have them displayed at hunting stores. They will usually have a plaque on them that will tell you who the taxidermist was that mounted that individual.

Check the phone book and go to some of the taxidermist's studios. They will have mounts out for you to look at if they are reputable. Also, ask if they will provide you with references. And always ask them if they have a price list. Cheaper isn't always bad, and expensive isn't always good. You will have to figure how much you are willing to spend, and trust me, I have seen some horrible mounts that were expensive, and some amazing mounts that were far cheaper.

In the end remember, taxidermy is an art form. It takes skill to get your animal's dead skin to look like a still living animal. The only way to figure out if a taxidermist is good is to see their work.