Central Minnesota School of Taxidermy

Central Minnesota School of Taxidermy operates from Rice, MN and has been teaching taxidermy for the past two decades. Their graduates now run some of the busiest taxidermy studios in central Minnesota—a testament to their instruction quality in an industry experiencing unprecedented demand.

"It's the golden age right now post pandemic. Wait times are running 12-18 months at most shops, and prices are steadily increasing."

The school teaches taxidermy on the four most-mounted animals nationwide:

• •Whitetail Deer – shoulder mounts, antler prep, mounting techniques
• •Fish – primarily walleyes, but also other species
• •Birds – pheasants, ducks, and various game birds
• •Small Game – raccoon, badger, otter, mink

Beyond basic mounting, students learn casting and molding techniques—bird head casts ($10-15 each retail) and deer nose/ear replicas save significant money when running your own studio.

Full Course: $8,500 (2027 tuition) Complete training resulting in 2 deer shoulder mounts, 4 fish, 2 birds, and one full-size small game mount. Structured across Winter, Spring, and Summer sessions with most classes held 2-4 days per week around weekends.

• •Species-Specific Classes (if availability allows):

The school offers pre-configured tool kits so graduates can start working immediately:

• •Full studio kit: $2,650
• •Birds: $1,450 | Fish: $1,550 | Small Game: $1,600 | Deer: $1,900

Kits contain approximately 95% of tools needed. Adjustments made if ordering multiple species kits.

• •Minimum age: 17 years old
• •Bring your own specimens (personal mounts encouraged) or use school-provided specimens at no extra cost
• •Licensing guidance provided for your specific state
• •Job placement assistance—the school receives referrals from taxidermy shops nationwide and locally
• •New: Saturday lunches included during class (elk roast, venison brats, BBQ sandwiches)

Location: 310 West Main St, Rice, MN 56367 | Phone: 320-393-2825 | Email: [email protected]