How Far in Advance Should I Book My Taxidermist?

By MountChief Editorial Team|Updated Mar 2026

Top taxidermists in high-demand states are booked out before archery season opens each year. Customers who book in advance secure the earliest spots in the production queue. If you're planning to mount your harvest and you care about which taxidermist does the work, booking in advance is not an optional courtesy, it's how you secure access to the best taxidermists.

Here's what advance booking looks like in practice and what happens when you wait.

TL;DR

Most hunters should contact a taxidermist 4-8 weeks before deer season at minimum.
For high-demand shops in prime deer states, 3-6 months before season is not too early.
Booking a deposit before the season secures your queue position at shops that allow it.
Out-of-state hunters should arrange taxidermy before their trip, not after.
Archery season openers are the last practical window to book before the firearms rush.

When Top Taxidermists Fill Up

In high-deer-population states like Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, and Illinois, where hunting pressure is high and taxidermist capacity is limited, the best shops close intake before firearms season ends. Some close intake within the first week of the season.

By the time a hunter harvests a trophy-class deer in week two of the firearms season, the taxidermist they wanted may already be at capacity. The only options remaining are the shops that are still accepting work, which are often shops that are still accepting work for a reason.

This isn't universal. Smaller markets and regions with less hunting pressure often have available capacity throughout the season. But in competitive hunting areas with established, high-quality taxidermists, booking availability is genuinely limited.

The Pre-Season Booking Option

Many taxidermists now offer pre-season reservation programs. You pay a small reservation deposit ($50-100) before the season, credited toward your full deposit when you drop off your harvest.

Pre-season booking gives you:

Guaranteed intake capacity, even if the shop closes intake later
Earlier queue position (pre-season reservations typically go to the front of the production line)
Peace of mind during the hunt, you know where the deer is going before you pull the trigger

The reservation deposit is typically non-refundable after a certain date but may be refunded if you contact the taxidermist early in the season without a harvest.

Can You Book Before Harvesting?

Yes. Pre-season reservations are specifically designed for this situation. You're not booking a specific mount, you're reserving an intake slot and queue position for whatever you harvest.

Some hunters book at the beginning of archery season for a harvest they're planning across archery, muzzleloader, and firearms seasons. The reservation holds their spot regardless of when the harvest occurs.

A taxidermist's intake slot is what you're booking, not the mount itself. The mount details (species, pose, form) are finalized at intake when you actually bring in the animal.

What Happens If You Don't Harvest?

Most pre-season reservation programs account for this.

Common policies:

Reservation deposit refunded (or credited to the following season) if you notify the taxidermist before a set date (often December 1)
Reservation deposit forfeited if you simply don't show up without communication
Reservation carried forward to the following season at the taxidermist's discretion

Ask your taxidermist about their specific policy when making the reservation. A good taxidermist works with customers who didn't harvest, they'll carry the deposit or refund it if you communicate promptly.

The Risk of Waiting Until After Harvest

The sequence that creates problems:

Hunter harvests on opening weekend of firearms season
Hunter immediately starts calling taxidermists
Three best taxidermists in the area are already at capacity
Hunter settles for a fourth-choice taxidermist
Result is disappointing on a trophy that deserved better

The fix is booking in July or August, before the season, when your preferred taxidermist still has capacity. The best taxidermists fill July and August pre-season bookings with their returning customer base. The hunter who comes in November without a reservation gets the spots those customers didn't take.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I book a taxidermist before deer season?

Yes, and for trophy-quality work you should. Most quality taxidermists offer pre-season reservation programs in July and August, a small reservation deposit ($50-100) secures your intake slot and queue position before the season opens. The deposit is credited toward your full deposit when you bring in your harvest. Pre-season booking guarantees access to your preferred taxidermist even if they close intake during the season, and secures earlier queue position, which typically means earlier completion. Contact taxidermists you're interested in directly in July to ask about their pre-season program. If they don't have a formal program, ask if they're accepting advance reservations, many will accommodate the request informally.

Do I need to have the animal to book taxidermy services?

No. Pre-season reservations and early booking are specifically designed for hunters who haven't harvested yet. You're reserving an intake slot and queue position, not completing the mount. The specific mount details, species, pose, form, any special requests, are confirmed at intake when you bring in the actual animal. If you end up harvesting a different species than you anticipated, contact your taxidermist before the season and confirm they handle that species. Most flexible taxidermists can accommodate a reservation originally made for deer that turns into elk if you notify them in advance.

What happens if I book in advance and then don't harvest anything?

Most taxidermists are understanding about this, it's hunting, and not every season is successful. Contact your taxidermist as soon as you know the season is over without a harvest. Most will either refund your reservation deposit, credit it toward the following season, or carry it forward informally. The key is communication before the taxidermist has made operational decisions based on your expected intake (like holding a production slot). If you simply don't show up without communicating, the deposit is typically forfeited, that's what the deposit is for. Ask about the specific policy when you make the reservation so you understand the terms going in.

Can I book a taxidermist before I even have a deer to mount?

Yes. Some taxidermists accept pre-season bookings for a deposit to hold a spot in their production queue. This is most common in high-demand areas or for out-of-state hunters who want to secure a specific taxidermist before traveling. Ask your preferred taxidermist whether they offer pre-season booking.

What if I wait until after deer season to find a taxidermist?

The best shops in your area may already be at capacity. You can still find a taxidermist, but your options may be limited to less-established shops or shops with longer turnaround times. Waiting until after season also means you are storing the cape longer yourself, which increases the risk of freezer burn or other storage issues.

Does booking early actually shorten my wait time?

Being early in the queue generally means earlier completion, all other factors equal. A shop that processes mounts in intake order will complete an early-season mount before a late-season mount. For customers who want their mount for the following hunting season, booking early is the most reliable way to get a shorter turnaround.

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Sources

National Taxidermists Association (NTA)
Breakthrough Magazine

Get Started with MountChief

Taxidermists who communicate their booking window clearly attract the prepared hunters who are the best customers to work with. MountChief lets you manage waitlists and pre-season bookings alongside your active queue so you always know exactly where you stand on capacity. Try MountChief before season to manage bookings professionally.