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We use a variety of carriers, including USPS, FedEx, UPS & Spee-Dee Delivery, choosing each carrier based on the weight, dimensions and destination of your order.

We pack and ship all of our items with a dedication to safe and secure transit, and over 40 years of taxidermy-shipping experience, utilizing innovative new ways to pack your order (box or crate), ensuring it arrives to you in the exact same conditon that it left our store.

The Taxidermy Store's Buyers Guide 

© The Taxidermy Store, Inc.

We want to ensure that shopping at The Taxidermy Store is as easy as possible, but if you’re a first-time buyer, things can get overwhelming fairly quickly! In this guide, we’ve outlined and defined everything from the most basic measurement terms, to the more complex scoring and ranking terms.

Dimensional Terms

Length - The maximum distance the item measures from end to end.

Depth - The maximum distance the item extends out from the wall.

Height - The maximum distance the item measures from top to bottom.

Width - The maximum distance the item measures from side to side.

Diameter - The maximum diameter measurement of an item (often seen on circle rugs or wooden bases).

Weight - Maximum weight of the item in pounds.

Scoring Terms

B&C Score - The total score the item receives (if applicable) using the Boone & Crockett scoring system.

SCI Score - The total score the item receives (if applicable) using the Safari Club International scoring system.

Gross Score - The score the item receives (if applicable) taking no deductions from the total score due to abnormalities or non-typical tines, etc (often the same as the SCI Score).

SCI Rough Score - “SCI Rough Score” is the approximate gross score of the horns or antlers on the item you are purchasing. If the item is likely not going to achieve a SCI Bronze, Silver or Gold Medal, we use this measurement method, which will generally come within +/- 5” of the designated score. This method helps keep cost down, saving you money.

Taxidermy Terms

Shoulder Height - The total distance contacting the wall, measured from the bottom of the chest (brisket) to the top of the back (in reference to a ‘shoulder’ mount).

Horn/Antler Length - The maximum length of the horn from the base to the tip (following any curves if applicable).

Horn Length Bottom - The maximum length of a secondary horn from the base to the tip (following an curves if applicable).

Total Horn Length - This is the total length of the horns, measuring from tip to tip, and following their entire length, crossing over the top of the skull (used in the SCI scoring method).

Main Beam Length - The total length of the main (primary) beam of an antler, following any curves, from the base to the tip (used in most scoring methods).

Tusk Length - The total length of the tusk, following any curves if applicable.

Beard Length - Most often seen in turkey, this is the total length of the beard from the chest to the longest protruding beard hair.

Talon Length - Most often seen in predatory birds, this is the length of the longest talon on the foot.

Spur Length - Most often seen in chicken or turkey, this is the length of the spur (claw-like talon) located on the heel of the foot.

Prong/Fork Length - The total length of the prong or fork (horn), following the curve if applicable.

G1/T1, G2/T2, etc - The total length of each of the tines, following the curves if applicable.

Abnormal Point - This is a tine, or “point” on an antler that does not have a symmetrical or sister point on the corresponding antler (these may also grow in a non-typical direction from the antler).

Base Circumference - The circumference measured around the base of the horn or antler.

Base Circumference Bottom - The circumference measured around the base of the secondary horn or antler (if applicable).

Burr Circumference - The circumference measured around the lowest growth point of the horn (below the “Base Circumference”).

H1/C1, H2/C2, etc - Circumference measured around specific locations on an antler (typically scored on deer, elk, etc).

1st/2nd/3rd Q. Circumference - Circumference measured at each quarter-length of a horn (typically scored on sheep, antelope, etc).

Outside Spread - The distance measured in a straight line from the outside of one horn or antler to the outside of the corresponding horn or antler.

Inside Spread - The distance measured in a straight line from the inside of one horn or antler to the inside of the corresponding horn or antler.

Greatest Spread - The maximum/furthest distance measured in a straight from from the outside of one horn or antler to the outside of the corresponding horn or antler.

Tip to Tip Spread - Measures the distance in a straight line between the tips of the main beams of an antler, or the tips of a pair of horns. 

Longest Point - Measures the length of the longest point or tine on an antler.

Longest Claw(s) - Measures the length of the longest claw(s) in a set.

Claw Length - Measures the length of a claw, following the curve.

Total Points - Total number of points, or “tines” on both antlers.

Boss Width - Measures the maximum width of the ‘boss’, which is the flat, widened base of the horn that grows across the top of the skull, typically found in African or Asian buffalo species. 

Palm Width - Measures the maximum length of the ‘palm’, which is the flat, fanned-out section of an antler, typically found on moose, fallow deer, etc.  

Outside Curve Length - Length of a fish measuring from head to tail, along the outside curve of the body.

Inside Curve Length - Length of a fish measuring from head to tail, along the inside curve of the body.

“Live” Fish Length - Estimated length of the fish at the time it was caught.

“Live” Fish Weight - Estimated weight of the fish at the time it was caught.

Girth - Circumference measured around the widest area of a fish.

Nose to Tail - Measurement in inches from the tip of the head to the end of the tail (if applicable) on a rug.

Length w/ Tail - Measurement in inches from one end of the rug to the other, including the length of the tail (if applicable). 

Width (Front Feet) - Measurement of the distance in a straight line between the front feet on a rug.

Width (Back Feet) - Measurement of the distance in a straight line between the back feet on a rug.

Base Length - The maximum distance the base measures from end to end.

Base Width - The maximum distance the base measures from side to side.

Base Height - The maximum distance the base measures from top to bottom.

Taxidermy Styles

Life Size Mount - A taxidermy mount that displays the entire animal in its original size.

Half Life Size Mount - A taxidermy mount the includes that head, neck, shoulders, front feet and a portion of the body (midsection).

Pedestal Mount - A taxidermy mount amount including the head, neck and a portion of the shoulder/brisket area that often has a finished back.

Shoulder Mount - A taxidermy mount amount including the head, neck and a portion of the shoulder/brisket area.

Wall Pedestal Shoulder Mount - A taxidermy mount amount including the head, neck and a portion of the shoulder/brisket area with an additional exposed back section.

Head Mount - Often also reffered to as a Shoulder Mount - A taxidermy mount amount including the head, neck and a portion of the shoulder/brisket area.

Neck Mount - A taxidermy mount amount including the head and neck areas.

Skull Mount - A skull that has been cleaned and whitened (or painted) for display, research or teaching.

Antler / Horn Mount - A set of Antlers or Horns that has been cleaned and whitened (or painted) for display, research or teaching.