Believe it or not, after handling thousands of mounts, curios, awards and trophy-room décor, after trying every concept known to man, the auction method is truly the only way to sell a collection in any kind of acceptable time frame.
The auction process will work for you
Realistically, as hunters, you don’t want my trophies and I don’t want yours. However, there is a market of decorators, designers, collectors, replacement buyers, restaurants, resellers, lodge builders, ranchers and just interested folks that will assemble, bid and buy in a specified time frame.
Can I donate my collection instead?
There is always the question: “Can I donate these and get an advantage?” The IRS is very specific. You can only take the taxidermy cost, no other associated expenses such as travel, trophy fee or shipping, and it must be to an entity that can accept such a gift.
From IRS Publication 526, Charitable Contributions: if you donate taxidermy property to a qualified organization, your deduction is limited to your basis in the property or its fair market value, whichever is less. Your basis includes only the cost of preparing, stuffing and mounting the property; it does not include transportation or travel costs, the direct or indirect costs of hunting or killing the animal, or the value of your time.
This may sound trivial, but the rules around receiving, receipting and accounting for non-cash contributions can be complicated. Always consult a tax professional if you are considering activity of this kind.
Disposition options for your collection
- We will buy outright, or guarantee a minimum recovery plus you share in additional sales proceeds.
- We will auction on your behalf, at our facility or as an online event at your location. The latter is a serious consideration for complying with state and federal law and for avoiding the cost of shipping and handling.
- We will help you with a self-produced auction where you take pictures, do the write-up and supervise the buyers picking up their purchases.
Maybe hard to accept: your collection will be sold at auction, by you or by the next owner. It truly is the only way to get it done. Contact us and discover how profitable it can be.