I don't post much here, but read postings almost daily. Iowabruce offered the best advice given on the topic. Search around and look at the QUALITY of a given taxidermist work. There are $200 mounts out there, and $600+. It's just like anything you get what you pay for. I'm in NE Iowa, and get $400. I learned from the best deer guy around, Joe Meder. When it's all said and done, I've got almost 30 hrs. in a deerhead. For all the guys who cry about the high price of taxidermy work, I have to ask, how much do you get paid for 30 hours of work? Quality taxidermy work is something that few do well, and the truly talented people who produce quality work deserve the prices they ask. Every year I get price checkers who think a mount should cost them $150. Yet some of these same guys shoot $1000 slug guns/bows. It doesn't make sense to me that these clients balk on prices on a quality deerhead, when spending so much time, effort,and money chasing a "wallhanger". The AVERAGE deer hunter mounts only 1 or 2 deer in his/her lifetime. Why not shop around for quality first, and get the best job you can afford? Just my two cents on the topic. I wish you all a safe and successful season. After all, your success in the field today, ensures I've got a job tommorrow!