As all of you know, early season ducks and geese up here in the north are full of pin feathers. We rarely see birds during our open season that are at full plume. What sort of problems do you run in to with pin feathers and what do you do about them. I am told that many taxidermists will not even touch a bird that has allot of pin feathers. With the upcoming season getting nearer and many new taxidermists ready to get started including myself, what should they (we) be aware of? The early goose season starts here in Minnesota in 2 weeks. Personally I would never have one of these birds mounted until later, but im sure I will see some at my shop. I have mounted countless ducks and geese, but all of them have been prime specimens taken later in the season by either myself, my family, or my hunting partners. Now that I have hung out my shingle I know that many birds will not be so easy. Give us some advice on pin feathers.
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Pin feathers will fall out after you skin the bird. If they dont fall out they are shorter than the other and the mount doesnt look right.If you take birds with pin feather you will are wasting time which is money. Be honest with your customers and tell them it is not a good bird to mount. If they want it mounted still put in down on the ticket bird has pin feathers and they may fall out and have them sign the ticket. so they cant say you didnt tell them when they come to pick up a bird that is short on feather.
Jon
September geese are worthless when it comes to producing a quality mount! Been there done that! Like mentioned above, be sure to note and have customer initial this to cover your butt! Better yet...just don't take in any waterfowl from early seasons!
Folks just don't always understand mother natures creatures!
Hi Mike, Jon is right, Pin feathers are difficult to deal with. I will not mount a bird with pin feathers any more, because it is a waste of time and the mount will not come out right no matter how you do it. What I did was experiment with pin feathered birds. I mounted an early season pheasant, duck and goose that had pin feathers. I keep them in my shop to show customers who want pin feathered birds mounted, what the bird with pin feathers will look like after they are mounted. They seem to understand better if you take the time and show them the bird while you try and explain pin feathers to them.
Every customer elected to wait until they harvest a bird later in the season for me to mount for them, and when they pick the mounted bird up, and compare the mount with the pin feathered mount they can't thank me enough. I hope that helps. Don't be afraid to experimnet with pin feathered birds if you have the time and don't throw them away, put them on a piece of wood and show people the difference.
John