A mountain lion is a once-in-a-lifetime trophy for most hunters, and the mount should show it. Stehling’s Taxidermy has been building cougar mounts in Jefferson, Wisconsin since 1978 for hunters from the Rockies, the Southwest, and the Upper Midwest. Every cat is mounted on a cat-specific form under Aaron and Austin Stehling, with the face, whiskers, and the loose skin of the belly and legs finished by hand, because those are the details that make or break a big-cat mount.
Start Your Mountain Lion Mount | See Pricing | Call or text (920) 650-7800
Mountain lion quick facts
- Puma concolor, also called cougar, puma, panther, or catamount depending on where you hunt.
- The largest range of any wild land mammal in the Americas, from the Yukon to the southern Andes.
- An M-shaped pad on each foot with three lobes on the heel, the track that gives a cat away in snow.
What Makes a Mountain Lion Mount Look Right
Three things separate a lion mount that looks alive from one that looks stuffed. First, the face: eye set, the tension in the brow, the lip line, and whisker placement are all sculpted to the individual cat rather than left to the form. Second, the pose: a cougar is all shoulder and hip, and the pose has to load those muscles the way a real cat does when it stalks, crouches, or looks back over its shoulder. Third, the habitat: rock, snow, deadfall, or a tree limb, built to the room the mount is going into. If you are still deciding between a life-size, a shoulder mount, or a rug, our mountain lion pose ideas guide walks through the options with photos, and pre-hunt planning is free if you want to talk it through before the hunt.
Mountain Lion Mounts From Our Studio
Mountain Lion Taxidermy Options
A mountain lion is a once-in-a-lifetime trophy for most hunters, and the mount should show it. Stehling’s Taxidermy has been building cougar mounts since 1978 for hunters from Wisconsin, the Rockies, and the Southwest. Every cat is mounted in our Jefferson studio under Aaron and Austin Stehling on a cat-specific form, with careful attention to the face, whiskers, and the loose skin of the belly and legs that make or break a big-cat mount.
Life-Size Mountain Lion Mount ($4,500)
The pose most hunters choose. Options include a walking or stalking cat on a rock base, a crouched cat about to pounce, a sitting or lying cat on a ledge, or a treed cat on a limb that recreates the hunt. Rock, log, and snow bases are built to your space and quoted separately.
Mountain Lion Shoulder Mount (quote on request)
A shoulder or half mount with the head turned and mouth open or closed. A good choice when wall space is limited or when the hide has damage on the back half.
Mountain Lion Rug
A traditional open-mouth rug with a felt border, or a flat rug for the wall. Quoted by size.
Cougar Skull European Mount ($150)
Cleaned and whitened skull on a plaque. A great add-on next to a life-size or rug.
Mountain Lion Mount Pricing
| Mount | Price |
|---|---|
| Mountain lion life-size | $4,500 |
| Mountain lion shoulder or half mount | Quote on request |
| Mountain lion rug | Quote on request |
| Skull European mount (small game rate) | $150 |
| Rock, log, and habitat bases | Quote on request |
Pay in full, 50/50, three installments, or monthly through our Easy 8 Payment Plan. Standard delivery is 12 to 14 months; rush service at 180, 90, or 30 days on select orders. See the full price list.
Field Care for a Mountain Lion Mount
- Decide on the pose before you skin. A life-size mount needs the whole hide, including the feet and tail, skinned carefully. A shoulder mount needs the cape cut well behind the front legs.
- Skin the feet to the last knuckle and leave the claws in. Split the lips, ears, and nose if you know how; if not, leave the head in the hide and get it frozen.
- Cool it fast. Cat hides slip quickly if they stay warm. Get the hide out of the sun and frozen within a day, or salted heavily if freezing is not an option.
- Freeze flat, hair out, in a heavy bag. Squeeze out the air.
- Ship 2-day early in the week or bring it to our Jefferson or New Franken (Green Bay area) showroom. Full instructions on our shipping page. Some states require a tag or seal to stay with the hide; keep it attached and send us a photo of it.
Hunting with a houndsman? Most guides will skin the cat for a life-size mount. Ask them to leave the feet and head in and to keep the hide cold.
Mountain Lion Taxidermy FAQ
How much does a mountain lion mount cost?
A life-size mountain lion mount is $4,500 at Stehling’s Taxidermy. Shoulder mounts and rugs are quoted per cat. Bases are extra.
Do you mount bobcats and lynx?
Yes. Bobcat life-size mounts are $2,000; lynx are quoted per animal.
How long does a mountain lion mount take?
12 to 14 months standard, with rush options at 180, 90, or 30 days.
Can you ship a mountain lion hide from Colorado, Utah, or Idaho?
Yes. Freeze it, pack it in a cooler, keep the state tag attached, and ship 2-day early in the week.
