How Much Does It Cost to Get a Turkey Mounted?

As an avid turkey hunter, I know the excitement and satisfaction of bagging a big tom. When you’ve harvested a real trophy gobbler, it’s only natural to want to preserve those memories by having your bird mounted. But taxidermy work doesn’t come cheap, so how much can you expect to pay to get your turkey mounted?

I did some research into turkey taxidermy prices from professional taxidermists across the country What I found is that costs can vary quite a bit based on factors like your location, the taxidermist’s experience level, and the type of mount you want Here’s a breakdown of what to expect

Full Turkey Mount

A full turkey mount, where the entire body is stuffed and mounted, is one of the most popular options for preserved turkeys. This gives you the full profile of the bird in whatever pose you choose Some possibilities include

• Standing alert
• Strutting positions (1/4, 1/2, 3/4, or full strut)
• Gobbling
• Flying
• Perched on a branch

A full turkey mount will generally run you $500 or more. Simple standing mounts start around $500, while more complex poses like flying or full strutting can cost $600-$800. The more specialized the pose the more labor required by the taxidermist.

Tail Fan and Beard Mount

If your budget doesn’t allow for a full mount, the most affordable option is a turkey tail fan and beard mount. This displays just the fanned tail feathers and beard from your bird mounted on a decorative wooden plaque. No body is stuffed.

Tail mounts are much simpler for taxidermists to prepare, so they usually cost between $75-$150, depending on the size and quality of the tail feathers.

Other Turkey Taxidermy Options

There are a variety of other turkey mounts that fall somewhere between a full body and tail fan display:

• Head/neck mount – $200-$400
• Half body mount – $300-$600
• Tail fan with feet – $200-$300
• Beard and spur display – $50-$150
• Tabletop display with multiple beards and spurs – $500+

More specialized options like fighting or courting turkey mounts with multiple birds can cost $1,500 or more. So your budget is really the determining factor in what type of preparation you can afford.

Factors That Affect Cost

When budgeting for your turkey taxidermy there are a few key factors that will impact the final price:

• Taxidermist experience – The most skilled, award-winning taxidermists can charge upwards of $1,000 for a high-quality, full strut mount. Less experienced taxidermists tend to have lower rates closer to $500 for a basic full mount.

• Pose complexity – The more specialized the pose – like flying, fighting, or full strutting – the more preparatory work and specialty forms are required, driving up the price.

• Geographic location – In general, you can expect to pay more for taxidermy in urban areas and less in rural areas. Taxidermists in large metro areas tend to charge 15-30% more than small town taxidermists.

• Mount size – Larger birds require more materials and take more time to mount, which translates to higher prices. Extra large fans or heavy beards also up the cost.

• Use of premium materials – Upgrades like carved or custom wood bases, superior quality glass eyes, real turkey feathers for repairs, etc. add to the final bill.

• Habitat background – Options like painted habitat backgrounds, branches, rocks, grass, etc. to create a realistic nature scene will cost $100-$300 extra.

Estimated Turkey Taxidermy Costs

To give you a better idea of price ranges, here are some ballpark estimates I got for common turkey mounts:

• Basic standing full mount – $500-$700
• Half or 3/4 strut full mount – $600-$800
• Full strut or gobbling mount – $700-$1,000
• Flying mount – $800-$1,200
• Tail fan and beard mount – $75-$150
• Beard and spur display – $50-$100

Many taxidermists offer package deals if you get multiple pieces mounted, which can save you 15-20%.

Preserving Your Trophy Gobbler

While having your big tom preserved by a professional taxidermist isn’t cheap, it allows you to proudly display the trophy bird and relive those memorable hunts for years to come. For turkey hunters, it’s a worthwhile investment to memorialize a special harvest.

Just be sure to do your research to find a qualified taxidermist whose work you admire, and set an appropriate budget based on the type of preparation you want. With reasonable expectations of costs, you can have your gobbler mounted for generations of hunters to appreciate.