So by the time duck season arrives you will have spent countless hours training your retriever, fixing up old decoys, practicing your calling skills, getting your duck boat ready and working on duck blinds. If you are like me then you probably have a hit list of ducks you would like to bag this season. Let’s assume that the season brings with it an opportunity to shoot that treasured duck that you were hoping to put on the wall where he would be a constant reminder of a great hunt.
Your lab makes a great retrieve and you now have in your hand a flawless specimen of your dream duck and he is in full plumage. What should you do to assure that you end up with a great mount? I have asked my longtime friend and taxidermist Lee Smith, of Gulf Star Taxidermy, for advice in preparing your duck for the taxidermist.
As a taxidermist, I have seen birds brought in to mount in all kinds of packaging from newspaper to frozen solid in a block of ice. No kidding. I had to let the ice melt to get to the birds. Here are a few tips on how it will make life easier on your taxidermist and provide you with a better mount.
- Make sure to wipe off any blood or mud from the feathers.
- Do not ring the birds neck if it is not dead. A knife under the breast bone or squeezing the bird to suffocate is best
- Do not hang from neck on a strap
- Get bird to taxidermist ASAP. Do not let sit in freezer for years. I have mounted a four year old bird but it was a pain in the you know what.
- Place bird in a freezer bag with wet paper towels wrapped around feet and bill to prevent freezer burn. Do not wrap in newspaper. For large birds like geese double wrap in garbage bag
- Try not to bring young birds in or birds with broken wings or shot up. Broken wings can be fixed if not too bad and feet can be substituted with feet of like species.
- Try not to mount early season birds. They are sometimes full of pin feathers and not fully colored. Late season birds make a better mount
- Expect to pay 50% down upon drop off and make sure you have your hunting license on you. Also try to have an idea of how you want bird mounted.
- Also when you get the bird home make sure to hang in a climate controlled area. I have seen many mounts get ruined from humidity from hanging in the garage, shop, or camp with no air conditioning. Also do not hang close to heat source.
- Dusting the mounted bird or blowing off with shop vac is fine. Nothing wet on the feathers.
Follow these tips and you will have a much better mount and a happier taxidermist!
By putting this sound advice to work you should be able to end up with a great mount to hopefully add to your growing collection! Shoot straight and happy hunting from your friends at Duck Dog Trainer!