Hi Guys and gals, A quick question.
Do the feet and legs have to be injected? Most of my mounts I run the wire down the back inside of the leg and into the middle toe. I do this for standing, walking and flying birds.
Would it be easier to run the wire if I inject something to soften the leg and foot up?
What happens ;ater to the feet and leg in I do not inject and preservative?
Thank you in advance for your input. John
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As you have read the legs and feet shrink a lot on birds.
Its easier to run the wire and then inject.
I remove the leg including (drumstick) first leg boone, run my wires, then inject clean and paint all in the same day. Been doing this now since 1999 and have no problems.
injected. I inject some but others I do not. I depends on the mount. How visible are the feet in this particular mount? What kind of bird is it to be mounted? I dont inject pheasants, and I seldome inject teal.
Wire first inject later.
If you want to do it right...You do...All birds feet shrink...even pheasants...
then inject some room temp water (treated city water is fine) into the end of the toes, enough to push the water up through the legs also (when you do this you will see the water move up the leg). When you inject, be sure to squeeze the spot where your needle enters to prevent the water from coming back out that hole. I do this also if the legs are dried, prior to skinning. It works very well and makes skinning easier on "over-frozen" birds. Once you mount the bird and run your wires, then inject with Masters Blend to fill out the legs permanently. Curve the toes and place them while it hardens. Once hard they will be secure and nicely plump. Be sure that you have no holes in the leg or foot skin and wipe any backseep of the blend that runs out. If you get some on the feather, wash immediately with lacquer thinner and then fluff dry. This way your legs will look full and alive, and not like shrivelled tooth-picks...even many years later.
You answered another one of my questions too. When I mount frozen birds I sometimes have trouble running the wire down the feet without it making a whole once in a while. I bet the injecting water trick will soften it up enough to get the wire through easier and I may try that on the wings too. Thanks for the tips dudes.
John