Author Topic: rug prices? (Read 3032 times)

wipartimer · « **on:** March 12, 2004, 06:20:29 PM »

Well I'm getting set for my first bear hunt next sept. I got the money for the hunt and expenses set aside but... Any ideas on how much it will cost me to get an open mouth rug made from a black bear, if I get one? I will ask some local taxidermists also, but thought maybe some of you would be willing to share your experiences.

69beers · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2004, 01:17:55 AM »

My local taxidermist does them for $110 per foot + $90 for an open mouth. Some place in Alaska where I'm hunting charge $200+ per foot. Check your locals and make sure they have rug work to show you, or at least references.

Lawdog · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2004, 12:50:12 PM »

wipartimer,

It pays(saves you money) to shop around. Out west here it can cost anywhere from $100.00 a foot to over $250.00 a foot depending on the taxidermist. BUT as '69beers' stated be sure to view his work first AND GET REFERENCES. Then make sure you check with the references. A shoddy job can’t be redone. Lawdog

wipartimer · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2004, 02:52:54 PM »

Thanks guys. I know what you mean about seeing samples of their work. I got a coyote rug that looks fine, from a distance but kinda shabby up close. 'nother dumb question, are your price example sqare foot or linear foot, and how is it measured?

shooter · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2004, 06:04:09 PM »

From $95 to 150 per foot here in new york.
shooter

lilbiggun · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2004, 08:09:56 PM »

The shop my wife works in (shes the rugger) here in town its about 900-1000 for a black bear rug. They dont charge by the foot so if its a large blackie your saving money, if its a real small bear, well... you might want to shop around. You gotta look at the work, and talk to people who have had the work done. Taxidermy can be a shady business. Alot of detail gets overlooked when looking at work, some most people dont even think about. Dont worry about price, if you find a shop that does good work, use them, make payments, doesnt matter its worth it.

talon · « **Reply #6 on:** March 15, 2004, 03:31:00 PM »

I pay $95/ft for an open mouth rug that has two layers of felt all around. The green skin is measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tale. Be sure you know how your taxidermist does his measurements and what kind of backing will be on the rug. Also, whether it will be a 'stiff' or pliable. Find out his recommendations on keeping it from moulding or getting bug eaten. FYI: some dogs just love eating bear rugs, so take warning there. Too, decide if you or someone else will finish the skull. ( Plastic is used for the open mouth mount, and unless you find out otherwise, the taxidermist may just keep the skull for himself. (even small bear teeth have value). You are wise to get all these facts before the hunt. After you decide on a taxidermist, find out how he wants you to cut the skin, handle the skull and paws and and preserve it.

BW · « **Reply #7 on:** March 15, 2004, 11:22:03 PM »

Gents,

Just a favorable endorsment of 'lilbiguns' wifes work...

...we were very happy with the rug.

Can't really quote prices, as we had the skinning, tanning, and rug done seperately by different people, but the 7ft bear cost somewhere around 800-900 dollars.[/img]

wipartimer · « **Reply #8 on:** March 16, 2004, 04:43:54 PM »

Wow, beatiful rug! I called a couple of the local places today. The bigger, well known one will charge $160 per foot, measured from nose to rear foot. The other one has 2 grades of rug, $110 or $140 per fot, nose to tail. Gonna keep shopping. Thanks

catkiller · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2004, 02:59:46 PM »

I charge 150.00 a ft. from nose to tail. But I usually pay the tannery for their rush service which is 50% higher.

grizzy57 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2004, 11:17:36 PM »

Folks ! Reading these I wanted to tell this Bear rug story. My Dad shot a
Bear in Clinton CO. Pennsylvania in 1948!!A 250 pound male. In those days a group would go to Bear camp for a week to hunt.They killed two bears that year. He wanted to get a rug made and the head mounted so He contacted
Clearfield Taxidermy and they did the work. It took almost a year to get the head and hide back..Now!! That was 56 years ago I still have the Head and Hide hanging in my living room and it still looks like the day it came Home.
Oh another thing The total cost for the Head and Hide was $90.00 The work
order is on the back of the head mount board with the total price!!! BUT in
1948 $90.00 was a lot of money.I might add that Bear was killed with a 300 Savage!!And I still have the bullets recovered from it :lol:
Grizzy57

wipartimer · « **Reply #11 on:** April 26, 2004, 04:22:19 PM »

:grin: griz57, great story! it brings up another question, what do you do to take care of your rug and keep it looking new?

grizzy57 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 26, 2004, 10:50:18 PM »

The only thing I do is run the vacuum over it with the brush!!Believe me they
are great dust collectors.The rug don't get used it just hangs.As I look at it now I see it needs the sweeper (haha)
Grizzy57

Kathy-Fish River Lodge · « **Reply #13 on:** April 28, 2004, 04:49:55 AM »

The fellow we use up here has prices for each size - tip of nose to tip of tail - 1999-2000 4' t 5' $485 -- 5' to 6' $550, etc. These are old prices but he does fabulous work. Looks like I need a new price sheet. Saw one from one of our hunters a couple years ago, double padding under bear with scalloped edges. Looked great. Find out how long the fellow has been doing the work. There are a lot of people just starting out and since most people only do a bear hunt once in a lifetime, this is not something you want to take a chance with. The new guys can practice on their own animals, but check him out seriously. Make those calls, $10 in long distance calls will save $1,000 in disappointment.

A side note, I am sitting here watching the ice go off the lake. Hurray.

David Parenteau · « **Reply #14 on:** May 31, 2004, 06:52:25 AM »

I like my bears done without the felt backing(looks better in my trophy room) and that saves me up to $150 on the cost as a bonus.
Dave

Border · « **Reply #15 on:** June 01, 2004, 11:24:26 AM »

Hers a Maine bear taken with me last fall.It measured just under 7ft.Local taxidermist did it for $1100 I believe,including bleaching the skull.Hope I know how to add this picture !!

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Border · « **Reply #16 on:** June 01, 2004, 11:30:00 AM »

Obviously I have no idea on how to post pictures here !!!

wipartimer · « **Reply #17 on:** June 01, 2004, 04:05:33 PM »

if you email me the picture, I'll try to post it for you andaddy@chorus.net. Otherwise, upoald it to a website like boomspeed .com or hunt101.com to host your pic and then try it. good luck

Maine_Hound_Hunter · « **Reply #18 on:** June 02, 2004, 01:12:10 AM »

Quote from: Kathy-Fish River Lodge

The fellow we use up here has prices for each size - tip of nose to tip of tail - 1999-2000 4' t 5' $485 -- 5' to 6' $550, etc. These are old prices but he does fabulous work. Looks like I need a new price sheet. Saw one from one of our hunters a couple years ago, double padding under bear with scalloped edges. Looked great. Find out how long the fellow has been doing the work. There are a lot of people just starting out and since most people only do a bear hunt once in a lifetime, this is not something you want to take a chance with. The new guys can practice on their own animals, but check him out seriously. Make those calls, $10 in long distance calls will save $1,000 in disappointment.

A side note, I am sitting here watching the ice go off the lake. Hurray.

Kathy, who do you use in that area? My dad had his bear rug done by a guy in Portage, it's a beautiful rug and since your in that area just wondering.

Kathy-Fish River Lodge · « **Reply #19 on:** June 02, 2004, 08:58:01 AM »

We use Eldon Jandreau in Portgage. Found a 2003-2004 price list. Open Mouth 4' to 5' $550 -- 6'6" TO 7' $700 just as an example. He probably went up in prices but he does fabulous work.

Maine_Hound_Hunter · « **Reply #20 on:** June 02, 2004, 10:13:18 AM »

Quote from: Kathy-Fish River Lodge

We use Eldon Jandreau in Portgage. Found a 2003-2004 price list. Open Mouth 4' to 5' $550 -- 6'6" TO 7' $700 just as an example. He probably went up in prices but he does fabulous work.

Same guy my dad used, he does make some VERY beautiful rugs...I'll get a pictures of my dad's here when I can...

wipartimer · « **Reply #21 on:** June 02, 2004, 05:05:10 PM »

Here you go Border. nice rug, and dogs too

Border · « **Reply #22 on:** June 03, 2004, 12:46:52 AM »

Thanks alot Wipartimer ! I checked with my buddy.He said it was $1100 for this rug and skull bleaching.It was 6ft 11 inches.The bear weighed 422lbs

wipartimer · « **Reply #23 on:** June 03, 2004, 04:43:27 PM »

No problem, Border :grin: . I am alittle bummed though, I really don't want to spend that much after the hunt, It's looking like a rug may be out of the Question :cry: . Any other ideas That may be a little less costly?

Lawdog · « **Reply #24 on:** June 04, 2004, 11:01:15 AM »

wipartimer,

Ignore this if you want because it may not help you any but one of the best rugs I have was done by a gal that was studying to be a taxidermist. I paid for the materials and a little something for her troubles but she really did a great job. If I were on a budget and wanted a rug I would put an ad in the local newspaper and see if what I could find. Just an idea. Small groups and tight lines to you. Lawdog

Border · « **Reply #25 on:** June 04, 2004, 01:38:04 PM »

I really like the half mounts.I think thats what most people call them anyways.From the chest up with the front feet stretched out like a charge or leap.That runs around $600 or so around here.

wipartimer · « **Reply #26 on:** June 04, 2004, 04:35:12 PM »

Lawdog, I had a friend that did taxidermy as a hobby on the side. He did a beatuful coyote rug for me for the cost of materialsand a few fox and coyotes from my trapline :agree: . It was a great arraingment, but just won't work out right now but if I could find another deal like that, I would jump on it in a second. I've actually been kicking around the idea of skinning it ALL out myself and having it tanned until I decide what to do with it. I can get it tanned for $20/linear foot.
Another option is a 1/2 or3/4 mount like Border suggested. I am paging thru one taxidermist brochure right now looking for ideas. Only thing I havent seen is just a head/ shoulder mount like a deer. Maybe they do do them. Thanks for the help everybody!

Etter · « **Reply #27 on:** June 17, 2004, 07:26:21 AM »

I have one done as a half mount. Front arms are in a swiping position with a growling posture. It looks great. My Dad paid for it but I think it cost about 600. Getting a rug done right now too. I'm headed to canada in a few hours for my annual bear hunt but when I get back, I'll post a pic of that mount and maybe my latest bear kill.
-Etter