How Much Does a European Mount Cost?

by | Jan 14, 2023 | Hunting

European mounts are one of the most popular types of mounts out there. However, it can be challenging to find out how much one costs. So I have compiled a bunch of data and even done some European mounts myself to find out how much it costs.

Here is the short answer:

For deer, it costs about 200 dollars to get a European mount, for elk, it costs about 300 dollars, for predators like bear or wolves, it costs 150 dollars, and for moose, it costs about 450 dollars. And if you do it yourself, it will cost about 30-200 dollars depending on how much equipment you have.

With the short answer out of the way, we can look in depth at the cost of a European mount, like how much it costs for different species of animals, what factors affect the price of a European mount, and how much it costs to do a European mount on your own. 

How much does a European mount cost for different animals

Different animals have different prices for a European mount. Let’s see what those prices are.

The average price for a European mount for a deer is 200 dollars. However, this price varies from taxidermist to taxidermist. Some taxidermists will charge 160 dollars others will charge 250 dollars. So, it is best to call your local taxidermist for a price quote. 

Elk are big animals, and they take a lot of work to European mount, so naturally, they cost more. The average cost for an elk European mount is 300 dollars, but, much like deer, this price can vary from taxidermist to taxidermist.

When it comes to moose, it is a more tricky subject. If you can find a taxidermist who will do a European mount on a moose, it will most likely cost about 450 dollars. However, actually finding a taxidermist who will do a European mount on a moose is difficult, so you may have to do some research.

For horn animals (blackbuck, sheep, aoudad), then it will cost about 170 dollars. Just like deer, the price will vary from taxidermist to taxidermist, but generally, it will cost about 175 dollars.

Predators such as bear or wolves will cost somewhere around 150 dollars, while smaller predators like bobcats or coyotes will cost 75-90 dollars. 

How much does it cost to do it yourself 

Now that we know the price a taxidermist will charge, we can see how much it would cost to do it yourself. But first, we need to see what gear you need to do European mount yourself.

What gear do you need

To successfully do a European mount, you need the right gear or else you will not get a good result.

Here is what you need:

  • A knife to skin the head.
  • A big pot to boil water in, the boiling water will boil the meat on the head.
  • A cooker for the pot to boil the water in the pot.
  • A pressure washer to wash off the boiled meat on the head.
  • A pair of pliers to pull out the brain and nasal cavity.
  • Cling wrap to wrap the antlers to keep them from becoming discolored when boiled in hydrogen peroxide. 
  • Tape to tape the cling wrap.
  • Dish soap. A dish soap and water mix will degrease the skull when you boil it.
  • Hydrogen peroxide to get the white color that you want in the skull.

Does the equipment cost

Now that we know what you need, we can see how much it costs.

I am assuming that you already have a knife, a pair of pliers, tape, dish soap, and cling wrap.

Here is how much each of these things cost

  • The cooker and pot will cost you 50-75 dollars
  • A good pressure washer will cost you 90-100 dollars
  • The hydrogen peroxide will cost you 10-15 dollars 

So, all in all, it will cost 200 dollars to do your own European mount. So, if it costs the same, why wouldn’t you just get a taxidermist to do it? If you decide to do more than one skull, it will cut your cost from 200 dollars to 15 dollars. Not to mention that most of the items can be used for more than just doing European mounts. 

Conclusion

European mounts cost about 200 dollars on average to get a taxidermist to do them. And for you to do it once it will cost the same. So if you plan on only having to do one European mount, go to a taxidermist. But if you plan on doing more than one European mount, it will be significantly cheaper to buy all the equipment.