After making a phone call enquiring about the price, I sent an pronghorn cape and skull to a taxidermist back in 2010. I recall the quote was for around $500.
A year later I get an email telling me the mount is ready, and asking for the original hunting license, which is needed for export purposes to me in Italy.
It took a few weeks to get a copy of the license from the DOW since I never kept it because I wasn't aware that anyone would ask me for it again.
Then I received the final invoice, asking for a total of $1540, of which $592 are for shipping, $595 for the mount, and the remainder for various expenses.
I wrote back expressing my concerns about the shipping cost being rather high, and was told that it may be “due to the insurance purposes”. In all honesty, I don’t find that to be a satisfactory response, nor do I find it probable or comparable to the freight I have paid for trophies come from all corners of the world.
Does anyone feel the same way as I do about this?
So far my correspondence has been only with employees and not with the owners of the company, so I have written through the website hoping to get the owners opinion on the matter and see what comes of it.

Your lucky you didn`t have to deal with brokers and exporting permits or that total would be 3000 instead.If the mount is done good even 3000 is worth paying for.If it is not,it would be like hanging a piece of garbage on your wall.I was blown away by my recent buff mounts- especially the 40 incher.Like anyone,I`ve spent money on all kinds of things but very few was worth it compared to good taxidermy.I like to see the reaction on peoples faces when they see my mounts-makes me feel very happy!

I'm not disputing the cost of the mount, I knew this taxidermist was expenive and was happy to pay the little extra for good work.

It's the fact that I'm being lumped with one thousand dollars of additional costs I hadn't been warned about.

Ask for a email photo of the mount. The price for shipping seems about right for from USA to Italy and the price for the mount is fair for good work. Add about 100 or so for a decent wood crate. Not sure what the other fees are; may be broker fees?

as high as it is, seems about right for something going from the US to Italy. the shipping/taxi cost come to about $1200( normal), leaving about $300 for crating, paperwork, and permit fees. the crate fee is easily $100. this kind of experience( in addition to having no more trophy room space) is why i bring home only pictures/video. once you decide to hunt in a foreign country and bring stuff home, the REAL costs skyrocket!

Ok so the shipping seems right? That certainly is strange since I paid about the same amount for a brown bear hide and skull to go from Kamchatka to Moscow then Moscow to Italy.
I also have paid a copmparable amount for a crate from Burkina Faso containing 2 buff, 2 roan, lion, and and bushbuck. That was actually around $1000 but was split. I go on a safari/hunt once or twice a year, for the last 10 years, so I am familiar with the costs involved, but for one small mount, I have never been charged $1500 nor have I ever been presented with a bill for three times the prospected price.

I also know I can post a parcel wieghing up to 20lbs with USPS for around $60. Their standard large box would not be quite big enough for a mount, by a few inches.

Whatever the cost and shipping method I think it is only fair to inform the client at the time of undertaking the job.

I once got a shipment of three 120lbs bags of coffee from NY and was asked to pay 1200 for the shipping(UPS).I was shocked since I usually pay 150.When I called to enquire I found out that it was shipped without the senders discount.I then called to correct the issue.