Do Taxidermists Require Deposits?

By MountChief Editorial Team|Updated Mar 2026

The short answer: Yes, the large majority of taxidermists require a deposit at intake, typically ranging from 25% to 50% of the total cost. Deposits are standard practice in the industry and protect both the taxidermist and the customer.

TL;DR

Deposits are not legally required by law in most states, but they are standard professional practice.
A deposit protects the taxidermist from non-payment by covering upfront costs incurred before the work is complete.
Most professional taxidermists require a deposit ranging from 25-50% of the total price.
Accepting work without a deposit increases your financial exposure, especially for high-value mounts.
Your intake agreement should state the deposit amount, what it covers, and your refund policy.

Why Taxidermists Require Deposits

Upfront material costs. As soon as your taxidermist accepts your specimen, they incur costs: tannery fees ($40-80+ for a deer cape), form costs, eyes, ear liners, and other materials. These expenses happen before the work is finished and often before you pay anything beyond the deposit. Without a deposit, the taxidermist is fronting $100-200+ in costs on your behalf with no guarantee you'll pick up.

Queue security. Your deposit holds your place in the production queue. Without a financial commitment, there's no real incentive for a customer to follow through, and a taxidermist can't plan their season around work orders that might disappear.

Abandoned mount protection. Every taxidermist has had the experience of completing a mount, notifying the customer, and waiting months for pickup that never comes. Deposits reduce this risk, a customer who's put money down is more invested in picking up.

Non-refundable in most cases. After work begins (or after your deposit secures your spot in the queue and materials are purchased), deposits are typically non-refundable. This is industry standard, ask about the specific policy at intake and get it in writing.

What's Standard at Intake

Most professional shops structure deposits in one of these ways:

25-30% deposit at intake, common at higher-priced shops where the total is larger
50% deposit at intake, most common across the industry
Flat fee deposit (e.g., $100 or $150 regardless of total), more common at lower-price-point shops
Full payment at intake, rare, mostly seen at very small shops or for simple work like European skull mounts

For a $600 deer shoulder mount, a 50% deposit means $300 at intake and $300 at pickup. For a $1,200 African piece, a 25% deposit is $300 upfront.

At Pickup

The remaining balance is due when you pick up the finished mount. Most shops accept:

Cash (universally accepted)
Check (accepted at most shops)
Credit/debit card (increasingly common, may have a processing fee)
Venmo/Zelle (common at smaller shops)

Some shops add a small credit card processing fee (2-3%). Ask at intake if you plan to pay by card.

Red Flags on Deposits

Asking for 100% at intake before any work is done. For expensive work like full-body bears, African pieces, or complex dioramas, some shops do ask for full payment upfront. This is less common but defensible for high-cost, high-risk work. For a standard deer shoulder mount, asking for 100% upfront is unusual and worth asking about.

No receipt or documentation of the deposit. Always get written confirmation that your deposit was received, amount paid, date, and the work being ordered. MountChief-using shops generate this automatically and email or text it to you. At manual shops, ask for a written receipt.

A shop that discourages you from paying a deposit. This is very rare, but a shop that doesn't want your deposit at intake is a shop you should ask questions of.

FAQ

Is a taxidermy deposit refundable if I change my mind?

Usually not after a certain point, typically once the taxidermist has ordered materials or shipped your cape to the tannery. Policies vary: some shops make deposits fully non-refundable from the moment of intake; others will refund minus any actual expenses incurred if you cancel before materials are purchased. Ask about the specific policy before paying your deposit. Get it in writing on your intake form.

What happens if my taxidermist closes their shop before finishing my mount?

This is rare but it happens. If you've paid a deposit and the shop closes, you have a claim as a creditor against the business, but recovery depends on the shop's financial situation. Practically, most taxidermists who close do so with some notice and try to return specimens to customers or transfer work to another shop. If a shop unexpectedly closes with your deposit, contact your state's consumer protection office and your taxidermy association for guidance.

Can I negotiate the deposit amount?

It's worth asking, particularly if you have an established relationship with the taxidermist or are bringing in multiple pieces at once. A first-time customer asking a busy shop to waive a deposit in October has low odds of success. A long-term customer negotiating terms on a large multi-piece order has more leverage. The taxidermist's deposit policy exists for real reasons, negotiate respectfully and don't take it personally if the answer is no.

What happens if I do not require a deposit and a customer does not pay?

Without a deposit, your financial exposure is the full cost of materials, tannery fees, and labor incurred. Pursuing payment through small claims court or a collection agency is possible but costly in time. Most taxidermists who have done work without deposits and experienced non-payment adopt a deposit policy immediately. The deposit policy is standard practice precisely because the no-deposit alternative creates real financial risk.

Should I require a higher deposit for more expensive or unusual mounts?

Yes. For full-body bears, African trophies, or any mount where your upfront costs are substantially higher, a larger deposit is appropriate. A 50% deposit on a $2,500 full-body bear mount is $1,250, which covers most of your material and tannery costs upfront. For standard deer shoulder mounts, 25-50% is the normal range.

Can I start work before receiving a deposit?

Technically yes, but it is not advisable. Work begun without a deposit means you bear the full financial risk until payment is collected at pickup. During peak season it may be tempting to take jobs without the deposit conversation, but this is when the risk is highest due to the volume of work and customers.

Try These Free Tools

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Sources

National Taxidermists Association (NTA)
Small Business Administration (SBA)

Get Started with MountChief

Deposits are a simple protection that every professional taxidermist should use. MountChief's intake system records the deposit amount at every job and tracks the balance due so your financial records are always current. Try MountChief to make deposit collection a standard part of every intake.