How Long Does Taxidermy Take?
What to Expect When You Book with Kingston Wildlife Works
If you're a hunter in South Carolina excited to preserve a trophy from your latest adventure, one of the first questions you probably ask is:
“How long will my mount take?”
At Kingston Wildlife Works in Conway, we understand how meaningful that finished mount is—not just as décor, but as a memory preserved for generations.
While taxidermy isn't an overnight process, the wait is well worth it. Here's what you can expect from start to finish when you bring your trophy to us.
Typical Turnaround Times
Whitetail Deer & Other Mammals: 9 to 14 months depending on when it is brought to us during the season
Waterfowl & Birds: Around 9 months
These timelines reflect our focus on craftsmanship, not mass production. Every mount is carefully handcrafted for long-term beauty and durability.
Step 1: Skin Prep & Tanning
Once we receive your animal it is skinned off the skull or carcas, turned, and then salted and dried. Then the hide is shipped to a professional tannery. This essential step stabilizes the hide, preventing decay, shrinking, or cracking over time.
Tanning can take 3 to 6 months, depending on the species and current tannery backlog. All birds are done in house.
Step 2: Clay Work & Form Sculpting
When the hide returns from the tannery, we begin sculpting the form and laying in detailed clay work—especially around the eyes, nose, and lips. This is key for accurate anatomy and expression.
Whether it’s a South Carolina whitetail or a Lowcountry black bear, we ensure the form captures the lifelike posture of your trophy.
Step 3: Mounting the Hide
With the form ready, we stretch and place the tanned hide over the sculpture. This part of the process is all about precision—adjusting fit, alignment, and hair patterns.
After mounting, the piece must dry for 3–4 weeks, allowing all materials to cure and set naturally.
Step 4: Finish Work & Painting
The final stage brings your mount to life. This includes:
Finishing with apoxy
Airbrushing around the eyes, nose, and ears
Re-texturing details like nose pads
Feather grooming (for birds)
Glossing and final cleanup
We take our time with finish work to ensure every mount is museum-quality.
Why Quality Takes Time
We know it’s tempting to want your mount back fast—but great taxidermy takes time. Every phase, from tanning to finish work, plays a part in preserving the natural beauty of your game.
At Kingston Wildlife Works, our mission is to honor the animal and your hunt, and that’s a promise we take seriously.
Serving Horry & Georgetown County Hunters with Pride
Whether you’re hunting deer, bear, or waterfowl in Horry County, Georgetown County, or the surrounding South Carolina Lowcountry, we’re proud to serve you with unmatched quality and care.
➡️ Click here to contact us to learn more about our process and availability.
