How Far in Advance Should I Book Taxidermy Before Season?
The best taxidermists in high-demand states are booked before deer season even opens. Some have waiting lists that start filling in the spring. If you're waiting until after you harvest an animal to choose a taxidermist, you may be behind the curve on both scheduling and timeline.
Here's when to book, and why the timing matters.
TL;DR
- Most taxidermists recommend booking your mount before deer season opens, not after.
- High-volume shops in prime deer states often fill their season capacity weeks before firearms openers.
- Booking early secures your spot in the production queue and can shorten your wait time.
- Archery seasons open 2-6 weeks before firearms seasons, giving you an early intake window.
- Out-of-state hunters should book before their trip, not after the harvest.
Why Pre-Season Booking Matters
Taxidermy operates on a queue. First in, first out, with some variation by species and complexity. A deer taken by Hunter A in the first week of archery season and dropped off in October will typically complete before a deer taken by Hunter B in the last week of gun season and dropped off in December, even if both go to the same shop.
This is how it should work. The taxidermist takes jobs in order and works through the queue. Early customers get earlier completion dates.
If you wait until after you harvest a deer to look for a taxidermist:
- You may find that your preferred shop is at capacity and not accepting new intake
- If they are accepting intake, your job enters the queue at the back. Behind everyone who booked earlier
- Your estimated completion date is later than it would have been with pre-season booking
That later completion date might be a minor inconvenience. Or it might push your mount completion into the following year, past the next deer season, which genuinely bothers some hunters.
When to Start Looking
Spring (March to May): This is when to identify and talk to taxidermists you're interested in. Check portfolios. Read reviews. Visit shops if you can. Make your decision and express your intent to a specific taxidermist.
Some taxidermists accept pre-season reservations in the spring. You might pay a deposit to hold a spot, with your mount taken in the fall. This is increasingly common for high-demand shops in trophy deer states.
Summer (June to August): This is when to confirm your relationship with your chosen taxidermist. A check-in call or email in August ("I'm planning to drop off this fall, confirming you're still accepting deer") helps you understand their current capacity situation before season opens.
September: Season opens in some states. If you haven't made your taxidermist selection by now, the urgency is real. Early archery season deer hunters in Alabama, South Carolina, and other early-opening states are already dropping off animals.
October and November: Prime-time booking for most of the country. You should have your taxidermist selected before you have an animal on the ground. Don't make this decision while standing over a harvested deer in the dark.
Does It Matter When I Drop Off If the Shop Takes Everything?
Yes. Even at shops that take all comers without a capacity cap, earlier dropoffs get earlier completion dates. The queue is still real.
Some shops also adjust their intake based on tannery batch timing. A deer dropped off in October might make it into the first tannery batch of the season. A deer dropped off in late December might miss that batch and wait for the next one, adding weeks to the production timeline.
Ask your taxidermist about their tannery batch timing. "If I drop off in October, does my hide make your first batch to the tannery?"
What Happens If You Wait Too Long
Some scenarios if you wait until after harvest to find a taxidermist:
Preferred shop is at capacity. You may be turned away at the shop you wanted. You're now scrambling for alternatives while your cape is in a cooler.
Late queue placement. Your mount gets the latest completion date of anyone from this season.
Cape deterioration. While you're figuring out where to take your deer, the cape sits in a bag in your chest freezer. Properly frozen, this isn't an emergency. But it's unnecessary waiting.
Rushed decision. You end up choosing a taxidermist based on availability rather than quality because your preferred options aren't open.
Pre-season selection removes all of these problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose my taxidermist before deer season?
Yes. Identify and confirm your taxidermist before the season opens. Check their portfolio, read reviews, and confirm they're accepting intake for the upcoming season. Having this decided before you're in the field means you have a plan for harvest day rather than making a hurried decision with a deer in the truck.
What happens if I don't pre-book a taxidermist?
You may find your preferred shop at capacity when you arrive. If a shop is still accepting intake, you enter the queue at the back (behind everyone who booked earlier) which means a later estimated completion date. In high-demand markets and trophy states, top taxidermists can be fully booked before the season even opens.
Does it matter when I drop off my specimen if the shop takes everything?
Yes. Earlier dropoffs enter the production queue earlier and get earlier completion dates. Earlier hides may also make the taxidermist's first tannery batch of the season, which advances the tannery processing timeline. A November dropoff at the same shop will almost always complete before a January dropoff, even if both animals were taken the same week.
How far in advance should I book my deer mount?
For shops in high-demand areas, contacting your preferred taxidermist 3-6 months before deer season is not too early. Shops in competitive markets may fill their season intake capacity before the archery opener. For less busy areas, contacting 4-8 weeks before your planned hunt is usually sufficient. Earlier is always better than later.
What should I do if all the good taxidermists in my area are already full?
Ask to be put on their waitlist for the current season and commit to booking early the following year. Many taxidermists contact their waitlist first for next-season bookings, so being on the waitlist this year can secure you a spot next year. You can also expand your geographic radius; a quality shop two counties away that has availability is better than a mediocre shop nearby.
Do taxidermists actually fill up before deer season?
Yes, regularly. Shops with strong reputations in high-deer-density areas routinely close intake before the firearms season ends. In Iowa, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and other top deer states, the best shops may cap their intake within the first two weeks of deer season.
Related Articles
- How Long Can a Taxidermist Hold a Specimen Before Mounting?
- How Long Should Taxidermy Intake Take?
- What Should a First-Year Taxidermy Shop Expect During Deer Season?
- What Marketing Should Taxidermists Do in the Off-Season?
Try These Free Tools
Put these insights into practice with our free calculators and planners:
Sources
- National Taxidermists Association (NTA)
- Breakthrough Magazine
Get Started with MountChief
Taxidermists who have good systems in place are the ones customers come back to year after year. MountChief's customer portal and communication tools keep your customers engaged and informed so they think of you first when booking season arrives. Try MountChief to give your customers the experience that builds lasting loyalty.