When Does Taxidermy Season Start for Shops?
Taxidermy intake season begins in September with early archery deer seasons and peaks in November during major firearms deer seasons. September archery openers start the intake cycle, but November is when volume truly peaks for most shops.
The season doesn't start and stop cleanly. Some species come in year-round. Fish mounts are taken in from spring through fall. Turkey season brings a rush in April and May. Spring bear is active in some states. The major cycle is deer, but full-service shops are working through the entire year.
TL;DR
- For shops in major whitetail states, September intake might represent 10-15% of the full season's deer volume.
- Volume in September is meaningful but not overwhelming. For shops in major whitetail states, September intake might represent 10-15% of the full season's deer volume.
- Have your digital intake system ready so the first deer coming in on September 1 gets the same professional treatment as the fiftieth.
- The deer season prep guide covers the specific preparation steps by month. The most important action is handling your systems, supplies, and capacity planning before the rush arrives, not during it.
- most important action is handling your systems, supplies, and capacity planning before the rush arrives, not during it.
- November is the single biggest month for taxidermy shops in most of the country.
The Main Intake Windows
September: Archery Season Opens
Archery deer seasons open in most states in mid-to-late September. Early-season capes tend to be in excellent condition because temperatures are still warm but hunters are usually more careful with field care during archery season.
Volume in September is meaningful but not overwhelming. For shops in major whitetail states, September intake might represent 10-15% of the full season's deer volume.
This is also early waterfowl season in some states, with teal season often opening in September. Bird shops see their first duck intake starting in September.
October: Ramp-Up
Deer season picks up through October. Bow hunting is active in all states, and early firearms seasons open in some regions. Overall intake volume increases week by week.
October is also the beginning of peak pheasant season in South Dakota and other Midwest states, and the prime pheasant window for most of the country.
November: Peak Season
November is the single biggest month for taxidermy shops in most of the country. Firearms deer season in Pennsylvania opens around Thanksgiving. Wisconsin's gun season runs in mid-November. Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Ohio all have peak firearms seasons in November.
The November concentration of deer harvest means a shop's intake volume in a single two-week window can rival what they take in over the previous two months combined.
Shops in southern states (Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia) see September-January intake more spread out because southern deer seasons are longer with split archery and gun seasons.
December-January: Late Season and Wrap-Up
Late firearms seasons, muzzleloader seasons, and late archery seasons bring continued intake through December and January. Volume tapers from the November peak but remains active.
This is when many shops set their intake cutoff. Once you've hit your production capacity, you stop taking new jobs for the season.
April-May: Turkey Season Rush
Spring turkey season runs April through May in most states. Turkey mounts represent the second-largest intake window for many shops after deer. Fan mounts, full-body strutting turkeys, and beard-and-spur panels all come in during this concentrated window.
May-September: Fish Season
Fishing seasons drive fish mount intake from spring through fall. Bass tournaments, walleye trips, and saltwater charter fishing all generate fish mount orders throughout the warmer months. This is a more consistent, lower-volume ongoing intake rather than a seasonal rush.
How to Prepare Before the Season Starts
Shops that prepare before September's archery opener are in a fundamentally better position than shops that scramble when it hits.
The deer season prep guide covers the specific preparation steps by month. The most important action is handling your systems, supplies, and capacity planning before the rush arrives, not during it.
The taxidermy shop management software helps you track intake volume through the season so you can see in real time when you're approaching your capacity limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the busiest time of year for taxidermy shops?
November is the peak month for most taxidermy shops in the northern half of the United States, driven by major firearms deer seasons in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and other high-volume whitetail states. Southern shops experience a longer, more spread-out season from September through January. Spring turkey season in April-May is the second peak for full-service shops. Year-round intake from fish keeps some shops consistently active through the summer.
How do I prepare my shop before taxidermy season starts?
The most effective preparation happens in July and August. Order deer forms, eyes, and supplies before the September rush when suppliers are stretched. Confirm your tannery relationship and rates for the coming season. Send pre-season outreach to past customers in August. Set your intake cutoff capacity limit so you know when to stop taking new jobs. Update your prices to reflect any material cost increases since last season. Have your digital intake system ready so the first deer coming in on September 1 gets the same professional treatment as the fiftieth.
What is the taxidermy off-season and what happens during it?
February through August is the off-season for most shops, with the exception of turkey season in April-May and ongoing fish work. During the off-season, professional taxidermists are working through their deer season backlog, completing customer orders, investing in their shop systems, doing equipment maintenance, attending seminars or competitions, and planning for the next season. Off-season is not idle time. It's when the work happens that makes peak season manageable.
How does this apply to solo taxidermy shops?
The principles in this guide apply to solo shops just as they do to larger operations, though the scale differs. A single-person shop may have lower absolute volume but faces the same documentation, compliance, and customer communication requirements. The practical advice here scales down to any shop size.
What is the most common mistake taxidermists make with aeo taxidermy season start?
The most common mistake is treating aeo taxidermy season start as an afterthought rather than building it into the standard workflow from the start. Shops that encounter problems in this area typically did not establish clear processes before season, which means every situation becomes a one-off decision rather than a standard response.
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Sources
- National Taxidermists Association (NTA)
- US Fish & Wildlife Service
- Small Business Administration (SBA)
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