What You're Buying When You Buy a Kit
Taxidermy mount kits bundle the materials needed for a specific project into one box. Instead of researching and ordering foam forms, eyes, adhesives, and tools separately, you get a curated collection designed to work together. A quality kit eliminates guesswork and usually costs less than buying components individually.
Kits range from $50 starter packages (small mammal, basic supplies) to $300+ professional systems (premium materials, advanced options). Understanding what's included and what's missing helps you choose the right one for your skill level and budget. For more details, see our supplies guide.
Beginner Kits: Learning Without Major Risk
Small Mammal Starter Kits ($50–$100)
Mouse, rat, or small mammal kits teach fundamentals without high stakes. These typically include a pre-sized foam form, pair of glass eyes, ear liners, and basic adhesive.
What works: If you mess up, you're out $50 in materials, not $400 in premium supplies. You learn the core skills: fitting hide to form, positioning eyes, sealing seams. The form size is forgiving—mistakes are less obvious on small specimens.
What's missing: Often lack detailed instructions or videos. You need internet searches or experience to troubleshoot issues. Some omit proper adhesives or include cheap eyes that hurt final quality.
Best for: Absolute beginners. Anyone who wants to try taxidermy without investment. For more details, see our beginner guide.
Fish Mount Kits ($60–$120)
Fish are surprisingly forgiving first projects. Kits include a realistic fish form, scale finishes, eyes, and basic hardware. Installation is straightforward.
What works: Fish hide is durable. Mistakes in anatomy are less visible. The process teaches hide preparation and finishing without the complexity of mammalian anatomy.
Best for: Anglers wanting to preserve their catch. People who prefer working with aquatic specimens.
Bird Starter Kits ($80–$150)
Birds introduce feather work and complex head anatomy. Quality kits include species-specific forms, eyes, and detailed instructions for that species.
What works: You learn precision and anatomical positioning. Success teaches fundamental skills applicable to larger projects.
What matters: Form accuracy is critical for birds. A poorly sized form ruins the whole project. Buy from reputable manufacturers.
Intermediate Kits: Building Real Skills
Small Game Kits ($100–$180)
Fox, coyote, rabbit, and similar animal kits require real taxidermy knowledge. Hide preparation becomes critical. Eye positioning demands precision.
What you learn: How different hide types behave. Complex facial anatomy. Pose creation. These skills directly apply to larger projects. For more details, see our kit types overview.
Where to buy: Van Dyke's Taxidermy Supply and McKenzie both offer solid intermediate kits. We earn commissions on qualifying purchases through our links.
Upland Game Bird Kits ($90–$160)
Pheasant, grouse, and quail kits teach feather work in detail. The complexity jumps significantly from beginner birds.
Timeline reality: These projects take 30–50 hours. It's not a weekend project. Plan accordingly.
Deer Shoulder Mount Kits ($150–$250)
Entering trophy territory. Full shoulder mount forms, quality eyes, ear liners, and mounting hardware. These kits assume you understand basic taxidermy principles.
Prerequisites: Complete at least one beginner and one intermediate project first. Jumping straight to shoulder mounts with no experience leads to $250 in wasted materials.
Reality: A quality deer kit from McKenzie or Van Dyke's works well. The form quality determines success. Don't cheap out here.
Professional-Grade Kits: Premium Materials and Options
Competition-level kits cost $200–$350. They include premium forms, premium eyes, multiple finishes and options, sometimes video instructions, and sometimes professional-level adhesives.
Who needs these: Advanced hobbyists entering competitions. Shops looking to stock premium materials for specific species. Professional taxidermists doing show-quality work.
Reality: You're paying for materials you might not use. A beginner wastes money on premium options. Professionals justify the cost through output and results.
Kit Comparison Table: What's Actually Included
Budget kits include: Form, eyes, basic adhesive, sometimes instructions (usually incomplete).
Standard kits add: Ear liners, better instructions, proper degreasing agents, sealing compounds, maybe tools.
Premium kits add: Multiple form sizes, multiple eye options, specialty chemicals, video tutorials, sometimes plaques or bases.
Professional kits add: Everything above plus premium materials, professional-grade adhesives, competition-level eyes, detailed anatomical references.
Top Manufacturers: Realistic Assessment
McKenzie Taxidermy
Range: $60 beginner options to $300+ professional systems.
Reputation: Industry standard. Trusted by professionals and schools. Extensive product selection.
Shipping: Fast, reliable. Free shipping on orders over $150 (varies by location).
Value: Slightly higher prices than Van Dyke's but broader selection and expert support justify it.
Best for: Serious hobbyists and professionals. Anyone prioritizing quality over lowest cost. We earn commissions on qualifying purchases through our links.
Van Dyke's Taxidermy
Range: $50–$250 with strong beginner focus.
Reputation: Family-owned since 1949. Customer service is exceptional. Value-oriented pricing.
Shipping: Efficient. Processing times are quick (2–3 business days).
Value: Often cheaper than McKenzie for equivalent kits, especially beginner options. Customer support is a real advantage.
Best for: Beginners and intermediate hobbyists. Anyone valuing personal service and fair pricing. We earn commissions on qualifying purchases through our links.
Artworks Studios
Range: $50–$120, primarily beginner-focused.
Specialty: Small mammals and rodents.
Value: Cheapest entry point for learning. Quality is acceptable for learning purposes.
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners. Anyone wanting to try taxidermy with minimal financial risk.
Noses to Tails
Range: $80–$200, intermediate to advanced focus.
Innovation: Digital instruction access, online community support, modern approach to learning.
Value: Competitive pricing with emphasis on learning support.
Best for: Intermediate hobbyists who learn well from video and online resources.
Price Analysis: Beginner to Professional Spectrum
Entry level ($50–$80): Minimal tooling, basic materials, acceptable for first project.
Standard ($80–$150): Adequate for most hobbyists. Good balance of quality and price.
Premium ($150–$250): Professional-quality materials. Worth the premium for serious hobbyists or professionals.
Specialty ($200–$350+): For rare species or competition-level work. Highest quality, premium cost.
Mount Type Progression: Recommended Learning Path
- Start with small mammals ($50–$100)
- Progress to birds or fish ($60–$120)
- Move to small game ($100–$180)
- Finally tackle shoulder mounts ($150–$250) with confidence
Each step builds skills applicable to the next. Skipping steps leads to frustration and wasted money.
Kit Customization: Getting Exactly What You Need
Many suppliers allow customization. Want different eye colors? Most manufacturers offer substitutions. Want alternative adhesives? Possible. Want to substitute material components?
Best approach: Call directly. Explain your project. Ask what customizations are available. Most suppliers are happy to work with you if you're serious.
Instruction Quality: The Underrated Factor
A cheap kit with great instructions beats an expensive kit with vague instructions. Evaluate:
- Are instructions species-specific and detailed?
- Does the kit include video access or online tutorials?
- Is there customer support if you get stuck?
- Are anatomical references provided?
Van Dyke's and McKenzie both excel here. Cheap kits often lack adequate guidance, making them more expensive in terms of learning curve and potential failures.
Real-World Kit Success Rates
Beginner kits from reputable manufacturers have 70–80% success rates (meaning the finished product is displayable). Budget kits drop to 50–60%. This gap often reflects instruction quality more than material quality.
Lesson: A slightly more expensive kit with better instructions often results in better outcomes and less frustration.
Beyond Kits: When to Buy Components Separately
Once you complete 3–5 projects, buying components separately offers more control and usually better value. You know which forms work, which eyes you prefer, which adhesives you trust. At that point, kits are restrictive.
Professional shops typically don't use kits at all—they buy forms, eyes, tools, and supplies as separate items from multiple suppliers.
Final Recommendation
Beginners: Buy a quality kit from Van Dyke's ($80–$130) or McKenzie ($100–$150) for your first project. The instructions matter as much as the materials.
Intermediate: Progress to species-specific intermediate kits, or start buying components separately if you know what you want.
Professionals: Source components separately from preferred suppliers. Kits are too limiting.
Value shoppers: Artworks Studios beginner kits ($50–$80) teach the fundamentals without major cost. Step up to better kits after your first project.
The worst choice: Buying the absolute cheapest kit and expecting professional results. You'll fail, waste materials, and blame yourself for being bad at taxidermy when the real problem was inadequate instructions and cheap materials.