Javelina mount for a successful huntress!

DonMartin · Jan 25, 2015

I just got back from a Youth only javelina hunt with a friend of ours in Unit 18B.

The young lady, Laura Borden, who lives in Golden Valley, put the smack down on an almost 38 lb boar at 40 yards with my Rock River Arms Fred Eichler series AR. It was her first javelina hunt and her first javelina.

Now I'm thinking about getting it mounted for her.

I got a price from one taxidermist for a closed mouth mount for $400 and open mouth for $450.

Haven't had a javelina mounted in a long time and wondered if that is the going rate for mounts?

Thanks!

Don Martin
Arizona Wildlife Outfitters
Kingman, AZ

eldorado · Jan 26, 2015

Way to go young lady. I would go with the open mouth mount.

Eldorado

trophymuley · Jan 28, 2015

That's a fair price on mounts.

DonMartin · Jan 27, 2016

She just whacked her second javelina with the same rifle!

One shot at 185 yards!

Even bigger than the first one and now she is thinking she wants this one mounted.

Looking for a REASONABLE price, she can't afford $400..

Don Martin

bonecollector777 · Jan 29, 2016

Is that full body mount or shoulder mount for $400? If it's full body for $400 that's a smoking deal and you're not gonna find anything cheaper than that.

bonecollector777 · Jan 29, 2016

And it's a good deal for a shoulder mount so not sure how much cheaper you can get. Closed mouth shoulder mount is usually $550+ Open mouth shoulder mount is usually $700+

muley505 · Feb 2, 2016

Congrats to the young hunter! Javelina are great fun to hunt.

IMO, $450 is very reasonable for an open-mouthed javelina. I paid $400 for a closed-mouth (I regret not doing an open-mouth now) javelina about five years ago, and if you found someone who will do a good job on an open-mouth for $450, I'd go with that. Good taxidermy is not cheap, and if it's going to go on the wall, it should look nice so you aren't wincing every time you walk past it.

I'm of the opinion that youth hunters shouldn't have to fork over the full cost of their mounts anyway, so maybe she has some grandparents, aunts, or uncles who can help cover the cost. I helped a kid shoot his first pronghorn this year, and I had about five people lined up to help contribute to getting it mounted for him. He's going to work off part of it as well, but to ask a kid to swing $400 is a bit much in my opinion. It also takes a taxidermist several months to complete a mount, so the cost is spread out over several months at least.

Again, great job on the hunt, and maybe you could post a pic of the final mount when it's done if it works out. I love the look of a good javelina mount.

ortegageno · Feb 3, 2016

Congrats on your Javi, $450.00 is a steal for an open mouth mount. Hell the form alone cost $200.00 cast lip that is. People think us taxidermists make a killing on a mountand 100 percent profit. Let's break down a Javi mount.
Form $200.00 plus $20 shipping
Tann cape $45 plus $30 for shipping both ways.
Eyes $15.00, clay, glue, earlier aprox 25.oo. that's already pushing $300 in materials. Leaves you with $150.00/ say 10 hours = $15 bucks an hour now subtract your overhead. heat, power, electicity, insurance leaves you a few bucks profit on a $450 open mouth javi. Good luck and please post pics of mount when completed.

nmtaxi · Feb 3, 2016

Yeah Geno, those numbers don't add up. Only $50 difference for the open mouth? Just materials are way more than that, plus the extra time.

FullCryHounds · Feb 4, 2016

I would be very skeptical of a javelina mount for 400. If cost is the only deciding factor then of coarse that is a great deal. Remember, you have to look at that mount for years to come. Trying to save a few dollars on a mount usually ends up with something you'd be ashamed of showing anyone. Before letting any taxidermist touch anything, look at his work and make sure he knows what he's doing.

Rocky Mountain Wildlife Studios
rmwildlifestudios.com