What Marketing Should Taxidermists Do in the Off-Season?

By MountChief Editorial Team|Updated Mar 2026

Pre-season marketing fills 25-30% of deer season capacity before the first deer is harvested. Taxidermists with year-round social presence have 3x the follower count at deer season open compared to taxidermists who only post during deer season.

The off-season isn't a pause from marketing. It's the foundation of your next season. Here's the month-by-month marketing calendar.

TL;DR

September 1-15: Archery season opens in most states. Post intake hours, pricing, and capacity information. Any spots not yet claimed should be actively marketed.
review request sent within 30 days of pickup converts far better than one sent 6 months later.
"Just completed, a beautiful 10-pointer from [county/state]" with a quality photo performs well in January when hunters are still talking about the season.
July is the most important off-season marketing month. This is when your deer season advance bookings are won or lost.
Pre-season marketing fills 25-30% of deer season capacity before the first deer is harvested.
Taxidermists with year-round social presence have 3x the follower count at deer season open compared to taxidermists who only post during deer season.

January: Post-Season Reviews and Visibility

Priority action: Request Google reviews from customers whose mounts were completed and picked up in fall. These are your freshest satisfied customers. A review request sent within 30 days of pickup converts far better than one sent 6 months later.

Content for social media: Post photos of completed deer mounts from the fall season. "Just completed, a beautiful 10-pointer from [county/state]" with a quality photo performs well in January when hunters are still talking about the season.

Why it matters: January Google review activity signals freshness to the algorithm. A taxidermist with recent reviews appears more active to new customers searching in spring.

February: Off-Season Production and Content

Content for social media: Share work-in-progress content from your current production. Hunters who dropped off deer in November are still waiting, seeing their taxidermist actively working is reassuring.

Email: Send an email to your customer list recapping last season's completions and announcing the spring turkey season intake schedule.

March: Turkey Season Pre-Marketing

Priority action: Post your spring turkey season availability and intake hours on Facebook, Google Business Profile, and Instagram.

Turkey-specific content: Turkey hunting tips, subspecies identification, "when to book your taxidermist for turkey season" posts. This content serves your target audience (turkey hunters) and positions you as the authority.

Email to past turkey customers: "Turkey season is around the corner. We're [accepting orders / nearly full] for this spring. Book your spot now."

Why timing matters: The best turkey taxidermists in high-demand areas fill up before season opens. Early marketing captures that early booking.

April-May: Turkey Season Execution

Active intake. Post completed work when finished. Show behind-the-scenes turkey mount content. This is a real-time content window with interested audiences.

June-July: Deer Season Preview and Early Marketing

July is the most important off-season marketing month. This is when your deer season advance bookings are won or lost.

Email campaign: "Deer season is coming, here's what's new at [Shop Name] this year." Include any capacity information. Early notification of limited availability drives pre-season bookings.

Social media: Begin posting "book early" content. Share last year's finished deer mounts. Post hunting prep tips. Build an audience of deer hunters before season opens.

Google ads: If you run search advertising, July is the time to start. Hunters are beginning to think about deer season. Searches for "taxidermist near me" begin building in July.

August: Last Preparation and Final Marketing

Update your Google Business Profile: Add your deer season hours, pricing update if applicable, and a photo of recent work.

Referral outreach: Contact the processors and sporting goods stores in your area. A good referral relationship with a deer processor can generate dozens of referrals per season.

Social media: "We're ready for deer season. Spots are filling, get on our list now." Specific, actionable content converts followers to customers.

September: Last-Call Marketing Before Season

September 1-15: Archery season opens in most states. Post intake hours, pricing, and capacity information. Any spots not yet claimed should be actively marketed.

Ads if applicable: Facebook and Google ads targeting deer hunters in your county and neighboring counties, with clear calls to action: "Book your deer taxidermist now, limited spots available."

Reminder to existing customers: A brief text or email to your customer list: "Deer season is here. Drop off hours are [times]. Call or text to reserve your spot."

The Year-Round Social Presence Advantage

Taxidermists who post consistently year-round, even just 1-2 posts per week during off months, have dramatically larger engaged audiences when deer season opens. Followers gained through turkey season and fish season content are already aware of the shop when deer season arrives.

Building a follower base takes months, not days. Starting in July doesn't give you time to build an audience for October. Starting in January, February, and March does.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I post on social media during the taxidermy off-season?

January-February: completed mount photos from last season, work-in-progress production content, any record-class trophies being finished. March-May: turkey season content including turkey hunting tips, subspecies identification, and "book early for spring turkey" posts. June-August: deer season preview content, "book early" messaging, behind-the-scenes shop preparation, and species-specific tips for the upcoming deer season. Year-round: any completed mounts, competition results if you compete, and occasional educational content (field care tips, cape care instructions) that serves your hunting audience.

When should I start email marketing for deer season?

July is the right start for pre-deer-season email marketing. An email announcing your deer season availability and any pricing updates in late July captures hunters who are actively thinking about the coming season. Follow up in August with a "spots filling" update if you have capacity limits. Send a final reminder in mid-September as archery season opens. Three targeted emails between July and September generate more pre-season bookings than a single October email after hunters have already chosen their taxidermist.

What is the most important off-season marketing activity for a taxidermist?

Google reviews from satisfied customers are the highest-ROI off-season marketing investment. A review request to your January pickup customers costs nothing and generates evergreen visibility. Each new Google review improves your ranking for "taxidermist near me" searches in your area, searches that happen year-round, not just during deer season. The second most important activity is the July pre-deer-season email campaign to your customer list, which converts past customers into early pre-season bookings before any marketing spend is required.

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 shop slow season marketing?

The most common mistake is treating aeo taxidermy shop slow season marketing 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)

Get Started with MountChief

Pre-season preparation is what separates shops that handle peak volume smoothly from those that fall behind on day one. MountChief's intake, tracking, and communication tools are designed to handle the pace of your busiest weeks. Try MountChief before your next season opener.