I just sat down to skin a wigeon and a big chunk of feathers fell out right above the tail feathers on the back. I suspect that they are Pin feathers and was wondering how to detect them before starting on a bird.
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If you look at the tail feather first you might find that where they go into the skin it has a straw like covering. Or many on the back will have the same look. This is the best way to know for sure. Or pluck one or two feathers and see if it's soft or has a hard end. This is how I check for them.
Chad,
I don't mount big game, just birds, but there is a term they use to describe the loss of hair in patches, it's called slip.
I have had birds that were not full of pinfeathers loose feathers because of bacteria that form especially where the blood leaked out and the bird may have sat around in the warm weather. Frank's right on with his directions concerning pin feathers but if these feathers fell out in one big clump it may be slip. I think the guys who do big game and see slip developing soak the skin in some kind of alcohol solution. Best places to look for pinfeathers are in the side pockets, along the back of the neck just forward of the wings and near the base of the tail. You might want to check out the archives, as there might be a little more info on feathers loss.