Pricing, gallery and legal information
Alligator taxidermy
Here at Bayou Life Taxidermy, we have gained a positive reputation for doing quality alligator taxidermy. We strive to provide high quality service at reasonable prices and because of that, we have are blessed with an abundance of alligator work.
Here you will find information you need in order to make the necessary de
Preserve Your Memories with Bayou Life Taxidermy Taxidermy
Hunting and harvesting alligators
You booked your hunt, you've made your plans, and you have harvested a trophy of a lifetime. What's next? Get it mounted, of course!
After harvesting, you will need to attach your CITIES plastic tag to the tail end of the gator, no more than 4" from the end. The best place is between the top side, not underneath.
After harvesting, either skin it yourself or you can take it to an alligator processor. A processor is the quickest, easiest and most convenient way to make sure your hide and your meat are cared for correctly. There are two places in North Louisiana that Bayou Life Taxidermy has partnered with for alligators:
Wildthangs Custom Meats in Gibsland (318) 230-3231
Red Barn Deer Processing in Farmerville (318) 548-9597
Once the hide is removed from the carcass, it will have to be picked up and taken to a district office of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries department. They will "certify" the hide, check in, and you will have to ask for a transport tag. This yellow transport tag costs $4 and is necessary in order to transport your alligator to my facility. You will need the following information for your transport ticket:
Bayou Life Taxidermy
119 Little Bee Ln.
Monroe, LA 71203
Heads and parts do not need a transportation ticket, only full hides. Any technical or legal questions are automatically deferred to the LDWF.
Out of state alligators are subject to your states laws and Wildlife department guidelines. As far as I am aware, other states outside of Louisiana do not require transportation tickets but must have the CITIES plastic tag in the tail for me to accept the hide.
As a precaution, I highly encourage all of my customers to get digital photos of licenses, permits, paperwork, transportation tickets, and the cities plastic tag number on the alligator. Keep track of all of the photos in an album on your phone.
Hide prep before coming to the shop
Make sure to keep the hide cold and free of dirt. Try not to introduce it to a lot of moisture. Salted and then frozen is best if the hides will be kept long term. Be sure to double bag and maybe put in a Rubbermaid container in the freezer to prevent salty water from leaking everywhere.
The processors that I work with will take great care of your hides and heads and will know how to properly care for your trophy.
Pricing
Pricing varies with size.
Heads from under 10', no tongue: $275
Heads from over 10', no tongue: $375
With tongues: add $350
Shoulder mounts
Closed mouth: $500
Open mouth: $850
Habitat: $100
"Hard" rug mounts on plaque: $168/ft with or without head. Open mouth add $350. If the body width exceeds 46", a soft tanned hide ($136/ft) or a rug ($300/ft) will be recommended.
Soft rug mounts, NO HEAD, $136 per foot
Soft rug with felt or leather backing: $300/ft. *There may be additional shipping charges*
Life-size alligator mounts: $400/ft for standard mounts on all four legs. (Table mount) Closed mouth.
Add an open mouth to any life-size gator for $350.
Custom work: $200/linear foot extra. Anything that is swimming, mounted for the wall or has to have welding, brackets or braces or a customized form from a supplier.
Any additional animals, fish, aquatic mammals, habitat scenes or additional work added is additional charges.
Hunting Expeditions
If you are interested in booking a guided hunt near Monroe, Louisiana there are several hunting guides available. My preferred guide is David Hanson of Weed Pro in Swartz,, Louisiana. Give him a call and book your hunt today!
Getting your mount home
Local pickup is great if it can be done. We recommend a U haul or enclosed trailer to transport your alligator. Bayou Life Taxidermy and employees will not strap down your load and we are not responsible for damages on the ride home.
For out of state customers: great news! We have enlisted the help of trophy transport services, which can transport your trophy alligator (moose, elk, bear) to any location within the Continental United States. Shipping quotes can be determined at the time of pickup. International shipping is available as well. The most recent quote I have gotten is $1395 for a 10ft alligator table mount from my shop in Swartz Louisiana to Ohio. Trophies are shipped with the utmost care and concern and wooden crates are mostly unnecessary.
Get in Touch
Have a question or want to schedule an appointment? Contact us today to learn more about our services or to schedule a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!
318-355-8565
Reasonable time expectations
I strive to complete all my mounts within a year. Complex, large, bulky mounts may take two years to complete. This does not include soft tanned hides or rugs.
When I ship hides to tanneries, the timeline is out of my control. My tannery has an excellent track record of getting most soft tanned hides back to me within six months to a year. If a gator hide needs to be rugged, it will be shipped to a well qualified rugging company and then shipped back to me.
Measuring alligators
Alligators must be skinned prior to arriving to my shop. Power washed at a processor is preferred. Alligators are measured still wet, laid flat on its back, from top of tail to end of nose, as pictured. This is how I measure all gators for the purpose of charging a per foot price.
This gator is 133 inches or 11ft 1in.
Alligator hard wall rug mounts.