For mounting a standing gallinaceous bird such as a pheasant or grouse what do you use as material for the drumstick? The forms i've purchased do NOT come with a drumstick attached so i've tried carving them out of foam but for pheasant they seem to be a bit too light...as in, the bird wobbles. What is a good way of attaching the wire in the legs up through to the form? Also, how do you attach the drumstick to the form too achieve the best stability. Simple instructions would be appreciated. I just finished a standing mount pheasant but it's not nearly as "structurally sound" as i'd like. I have a goose that a taxidermist did for me and it's rock solid! This is only my second bird and looks very nice, just not as stable on the form as i'd like. Thanks in advance for any help!
Cheers, Derek
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I'd suggest you go to the WASCO site (just click on that hyperlink) and order books on bird taxidermy. Those are basic questions you've asked and will be better served by illustrations rather than word pictures.
What size wire are you running through the legs? Most pre-made forms do not come with drumsticks. You have to tie your wire to the leg bone and then wrap cotton batting, excelsior, paper towel.. your choice of material around the bone to replecate the muscle tissue you removed. Then the wire extending is secured into the form at the Drumstick/Thigh joint.
I can usually run a 12 gu wire through pheasant feet but most of the time I have to remove the tendons to do this.
Jon