How Texas Hunters Can Choose a Deer Shoulder-Mount Taxidermist

Choose a taxidermist for a legally possessed Texas deer by agreeing on the shoulder mount’s appearance, itemized cost, specimen records and pickup terms before handing it over or paying a deposit.

Confirm the shop accepts your deer shoulder-mount order

Confirm the shop accepts your deer species, offers shoulder mounts and can accommodate your handover. Whitaker’s, for example, serves North Texas and southern Oklahoma and lists deer shoulder mounts.[1]

Filter search results by the service offered. Of Fur & Feather, in Portland, Oregon, no longer accepts big game, including European mounts.[3] Animal Family’s 2017 article concerns pet preservation with shipment to Ohio—not a Texas deer commission.[4] Gotham’s pet-preservation page and AquaCrossings’ Phoenix/Tucson pet-memorial page also concern different services, not hunted-deer shoulder mounts.[5][6]

Put the pose and finish in writing

Once a shop accepts your deer, describe the intended appearance rather than requesting only “a natural-looking mount.” Whitaker’s advertises pose assistance and custom work; use that as a starting point for discussion.[1]

Ask the shop to agree to these practical order details:

• Species and format: identify the deer species and specify a shoulder mount.
• Pose and direction: record the body pose, head turn and which way the deer faces from the viewer’s perspective.
• Expression and finish: describe ear position, mouth position, eye expression, antler alignment and the desired finished appearance.
• Repairs and display: identify requested cape or antler repairs and specify any ordered panel, pedestal or base materials.

Attach labeled reference photographs or a sketch, noting which features the shop agrees to reproduce. Keep appearance preferences distinct from added work: Whitaker’s separately charges for wall pedestals, antler repairs and bases, so mark those requests for itemized pricing.[1]

Request an itemized total

Whitaker’s lists shoulder mounts for whitetail deer at $875 and mule deer at $910; all mounts include professionally tanned capes.[1] A wall pedestal adds $225, antler repair starts at $50, and a base costs extra.[1] Whitaker’s says prices may change, so request a personalized quote rather than treating the listed price as the final bill.[1]

Ottea’s lists whitetail and fallow deer at $825, mule deer, axis deer and Japanese sika at $845, and Dybowski sika at $845, illustrating why the exact species matters when requesting a quote.[2] Ask Ottea’s to confirm its service area and whether cape preparation is included before considering a commission.[2]

Request a written quote with separate lines for:

• Cape preparation, marked as included or separately charged.
• The agreed shoulder-mount format.
• Requested cape or antler repairs.
• Any panel, pedestal or base.
• Other approved work, applicable tax and any transport charges.

Ask for the total payable for the agreed order, and request written approval of a revised total before additional work proceeds.

Record specimen identity and accompanying paperwork

Attach the quote to a specimen receipt. Ask the shop to use the same specimen or job identifier on the receipt, work order and later correspondence. Include your contact details and the intake date.

As practical safeguards, ask the shop to record:

• The supplied parts, such as the cape and antlers, and accompanying records.
• Visible distinguishing features and agreed repairs.
• Intake photographs linked to the job identifier, with copies of the receipt and photographs retained by both parties.

These are recommended order details, not established Texas legal requirements. Whitaker’s and Ottea’s pages do not state required specimen-identity fields or Texas possession, tagging, transfer or recordkeeping rules.[1][2]

Before handover, ask what documentation the shop needs, including whether it requests hunter or harvest information. Keep its intake checklist separate from legal compliance: if you are unsure which wildlife records must accompany the deer, check authoritative Texas wildlife guidance before proceeding.

Settle payment, cancellation and changes

Whitaker’s requires 50% down on every taxidermy job, without exceptions.[1] Before paying, ask the shop to record:

• When the balance becomes due and which payment methods it accepts.
• What cancellation would cost, how completed work would be charged and how any remaining deposit would be handled.
• Who may authorize changes and whether written approval is needed before additional work starts.

For a change, request an updated order showing the revised appearance, charges and completion estimate. Keep the approval with the original order and payment receipt.

Agree completion, pickup and storage arrangements

Put the completion estimate in writing, distinguishing an expected window from any deadline the shop expressly agrees to meet.

Before leaving the order, agree on:

• Updates: contact method, update schedule, who initiates contact if timing changes and how the shop sends completion notice.
• Collection: how soon you should collect after notice. Whitaker’s requires an appointment for completed taxidermy pickups.[1]
• Storage: whether charges apply, their amount, when they begin and how the shop handles uncollected work.
• Transport: if needed, written confirmation of delivery or shipping availability, packing and transport responsibility, and charges.

Agree inspection and correction terms

Before commissioning, agree how inspection and corrections will work, including whether you can inspect before final payment or collection. Ask whether progress photographs or approval stages are available.

At completion:

• Match the specimen identifier and supplied parts against your receipt.
• Check the pose, ears, mouth, antler alignment, finish, repairs and ordered base against the written specification.
• Photograph discrepancies and ask the shop to record the agreed correction scope, charges and timing.

Ask what remedy the shop will offer rather than assuming free corrections or a warranty.

What to confirm with each provider

Confirm the following terms with Whitaker’s and Ottea’s, taking account of Whitaker’s published deposit and appointment-only pickup requirements.[1][2]

• Total charges: whether listed prices include Texas sales tax, plus the price of extras without stated amounts.
• Payment and cancellation: Ottea’s deposit schedule; each shop’s final-payment deadline, cancellation charges and deposit-refund treatment.
• Timing and communication: completion estimates, update frequency, approval stages and change-order procedures.
• Collection and remedies: storage fees, uncollected-work terms, inspection periods and correction or remake arrangements.

Before committing, obtain a copy of the written order covering the appearance, specimen identifier, supplied parts and records, total charges, payment, completion communication and collection terms. Pause if specimen identification, authorization for extras or pickup obligations remain unresolved.

References

1. Taxidermy Services | Mounting Service | Iowa Park, TX (whitakerswildgame.com)
2. Ottea Taxidermy Studio San Antonio (otteataxidermy.com)
3. Of Fur & Feather Taxidermy (offurandfeather.com)
4. Pet and dog taxidermy in Houston, Texas. Cat and pet preservation in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey (animalfamilypet.com, 2017)
5. Pet Preservation — GOTHAM TAXIDERMY (gothamtaxidermy.com)
6. Expert Pet Taxidermy & Preservation Services in Phoenix & Tucson, AZ | AquaCrossings (aquacrossings.com)