I used to giggle when I would get a call from a customer wanting a price for taxidermy service before they got the animal. I would think they just jinxed their hunt/trip by assuming they would be successful.

However it’s not a bad idea to have some idea what you want to have done “if” you do get lucky. For instance: I recently had a client call me on his way home from a successful bear hunting trip. He just figured a rug would be the least expensive option. So he had the outfitter cape the bear for a rug. When he called me he found out a nice rug with backing can cost almost as much as a half life size mount. Now he’s wishing he had it caped for a mount instead. Hopefully the cape can be saved for a 1/2 life size. We will have to work out taxidermy magic!