i am new to bird taxidermy. i searched the forum. i skinned down to the vent. how do you get the tail free without cutting the sh*t tube? I am not understanding what these books are telling me to do. I cut through it with my first duck and nearly puked. any guidance would be appreciated.
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I just finished skinning my hooded merganser yesterday. I did not have a problem with this, I cut the tailbone off below the vent, this way you shouldnt have that problem.
I cut into but not thought the anal opening.
Skin on dowm carefully, I cut up to the end of the feather butts, and clip the pogostyle tailbone with a small pair of wire cutters.
Be sure to remove the two fatty oil glands located close to the tailbone.
Good luck.
You have to cut through what you amusing called the sh*t tube (LOL) sooner or later.
When you get to the vent just cut the vent free of the "sh*t tube" (hahahahaha I can't help myself)
with a pair of scissors right up under the vent. Then you should be able to "detach" the tailbone
from the rest of the backbone again with scissors. Hope this helps.
Almost made you sick, eh? Well wait until youi get a elkhead in thats two weeks dead, maggots crawling out the nose, skins turned green. Or that fish thats been on ice for two weeks while they drove back from somewhere in the north country.
The coyote thats a bit ripe.
Word to the wise, shove a paper towel in the anal opening, keeps fluids of the skin and smell away from you. I cut right on through the paper towel. Leaving the anal opening plugged and the rectum plugged on mammals and birds
Maybe it's time to JUST SAY NO! LOL! }:-P
Lately, you're getting TOO much bang for your bucks, bites & ETTC's!
In regard to the paper towel pluggings...
Sometimes, it's just better to "leave well enough alone"
Kind of a judgment call (if yaz all's knows watts I'z meanzis)
well, i dont do anyone elses work since i am new...but i dont think i would do a maggot infested carcass....i get what you mean though....i just have this thing with birds...bad expierience from the past. i learned a great deal in college over mammal anatomy and physiology, but not birds...and even though i understand the general anatomy, i guess i never studied the vent area and the bay really puts a good odor to them. i screwed up somewhere and now i am going to give the mallard a try. i hope this goes right...thanks for all your info and guidance.