Here is a breakdown of the actual time it takes to mount something.
Once the animal is dropped off, it's about a week to turn, flesh, salt and dry it. Another day to box it up and ship it to the tannery. Now this is where things can change. The actual tanning process doesnt take that long, maybe two weeks total time. If your tanner is taking months to get back to you, your hide is sitting around most of that time, it's not being worked. A lot of the extra time is caused by slow tanneries taking 6-8 months getting your hides back to your taxidermist. I use several tanneries depending on what it is. My tanner that I use for all my deer, elk, lions and bear type animals is typically around 30 days. Small game like fox, coyote and beavers is about 60 days.
So once you get your hide back, it's a day to shave it out, sew up any holes and prep the skin.
Now, if your taxidermist is on the ball, he should have measured your skin before sending it to the tanners. He should have ordered the form while the hide was out at the tanners and he should have the base made. At least it should be roughed out, ready to mount the form to it. The form will take at least a day, sometimes 2-3 days to alter, prep and get ready to mount.
Another day to prep the hide once it is returned from the tanner. Now the actual day of mounting a shoulder mount is 1/2 day. A life-size can take all day or a day and a half.
After two weeks to dry, the finish work can be done in a day, sometimes two. There may be another days work to finish the base and it's ready to deliver. So if your taxidermist is taking a year or two to get a mount back to you, something isn't right. I guarantee all of my European mounts back in 4 months but most are done in around two months. Shoulder and life-size mounts are guaranteed in 6 months, but most are done in 4. This does take a lot of work staying on top of each project and getting things done as soon as it can be done. But as you can see by looking at the actual timeline, it can be done. If your mount is taking a year, it's sitting around for months with nothing being done to it at all. If it's taking more then a year, find another taxidermist that is actually working each day and not working some other job.
Rocky Mountain Wildlife Studios
rmwildlifestudios.com