Taxidermy Insurance
Learn more about when and why you might need taxidermy insurance.
Written by
Christine Lacagnina has written thousands of insurance-based articles for TrustedChoice.com by authoring consumable, understandable content.
Reviewed by
Jeff Green has held a variety of sales and management roles at life insurance companies, Wall street firms, and distribution organizations over his 40-year career. He was previously Finra 7,24,66 registered and held life insurance licenses in multiple states. He is a graduate of Stony Brook University.
Taxidermy can be a highly rewarding hobby for many folks, but without the proper coverage, your stuffed and mounted animals are vulnerable to all kinds of losses. Some folks also mistakenly believe that their homeowners insurance pays for all losses related to taxidermy animals when this isn't typically the case. However, having separate taxidermy insurance can help you be sure you can recover the monetary value of your stuffed and mounted animals if an accident happens.
An independent insurance agent can help you get set up with all the taxidermy insurance you may need. They'll help ensure you walk away with the proper blend of coverage and cost. But up first, here's a breakdown of taxidermy insurance and when and why you might need it.
Why Would I Need Taxidermy Insurance?
If taxidermy is a regular hobby, practice, or even business for you, special separate coverage might be required. Your stuffed or mounted taxidermy animals can be valuable, and repairing or replacing them out of pocket following a disaster like a fire could be expensive.
You might consider getting taxidermy insurance if:
- You've invested a significant amount of money into taxidermy work.
- You have multiple taxidermy animals, appraised at a sizeable value.
- Your homeowners coverage is not sufficient to cover the value of your taxidermy animals.
If you're still unsure whether you need extra taxidermy insurance or your home insurance is sufficient, work with an independent insurance agent. They'll be able to evaluate your needs after just one conversation.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Taxidermy?
Unfortunately, many hunters mistakenly believe their homeowners insurance policy will cover the loss of their mounted or stuffed animals. While most homeowners policies provide coverage for fire, theft, and damage of personal property under contents insurance, taxidermy can sometimes be listed as an exclusion. So it’s essential to know your coverage type, its limits, and what it protects against.
Additionally, most homeowners policies don’t protect against shipping damage to taxidermy animals or damage due to flooding. Taxidermy insurance pays for repairs to damaged taxidermy animals and replacement costs if they get stolen. Some taxidermy insurance policies will even pay for the costs of a replacement hunt if you’re willing to pay a larger premium.
Know the Value of Your Taxidermy Animals
Have your collection of taxidermy animals appraised to ensure you can get the appropriate amount of insurance. Be sure to keep an updated inventory of everything in case you need to claim a loss. Appraisal documents, photographs, and videos can help an appraiser and your insurance company determine the value of your collection, the amount of insurance necessary, and your settlement amount if you make a claim.
Insurance policies vary in how they define value for any given item. If you have an actual cash value policy, you will receive the fair market value of your trophies minus depreciation. If you have replacement cost value, you will receive much more in a claim settlement. In taxidermy policies, replacement cost is typically defined as the cost to purchase the item new in the current market.
Certain carriers offer taxidermy insurance policies that provide comprehensive coverage for an agreed value. Trophy replacement insurance policies cover the risks that your homeowners policy may not. Just be aware that most policies require you to pay a deductible before a claim is paid.
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The Benefits of Working with an Independent Insurance Agent
Independent insurance agents have access to multiple insurance companies, ultimately finding you the best taxidermy insurance coverage, accessibility, and competitive pricing while working for you. They can help ensure you walk away with enough insurance to meet your needs at the best possible blend of coverage and cost.