Taxidermists in Clay County, North Carolina

If you are hunting the mountains around Clay County, you need a local shop that knows how to handle heavy mountain bucks and black bears. The terrain here produces some thick-necked deer, and getting your cape to a taxidermist quickly is essential when you are coming off the ridges. Local shops in the area understand the specific anatomy of Southern Appalachian game.

There are currently two professionals serving this area with shops located in Brasstown and Warne. Whether you need a standard shoulder mount for a buck or full rug work for a bear, UpRiver Taxidermy and other local experts can handle the preservation. These shops are conveniently located near the main corridors for hunters returning from the Nantahala National Forest.

2 taxidermists in Clay County

Serving Brasstown, Warne.

K&C Taxidermy LLC

Taxidermist VerifiedClosed

Warne, NC

Call Directions View profile

UpRiver Taxidermy

Taxidermist VerifiedClosed

Brasstown, NC

Call Directions View profile

Using taxidermists in Clay County

A taxidermist takes your cape and antlers, preps and tans the hide, then mounts the animal on a form. Most shops want the cape caped out and frozen, or the whole head delivered cold and unfrozen within a day or two of the kill.

What to ask before you commit

What is your current turnaround time, in months?
Do you tan in-house or send hides out?
What deposit do you require, and is it applied to the final price?
Can I see finished mounts of the same species?
How should I care for the cape before I bring it in?

What it usually costs

Shoulder mounts commonly run several hundred to well over a thousand dollars depending on species, form and finish work. European mounts are typically the least expensive option. Deposits of 30-50% are standard.

Timing matters

Get the cape cold fast. Do not salt or freeze a cape you plan to have mounted without asking the shop first — hair slip from a warm hide is the single most common ruined mount.