Can anyone give me any pointers on how to mount a ruffed grouse in a strut position, particularly getting the black collar feathers to stand up like they should? I'm fairly new at taxidermy. This will be my fourth bird, so maybe that's too advanced for me, but I just wanted to see anyone could give me some tips.
Thanks!
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There are any number of ways so the couple I provide here are by no means the only ones. Collar feathers are specific feather groups. Using small insect pins, they can be positioned and pined to the neck material in the attitude you desire. If for some reason they do not stay "fluffed" you can use very small pieces of cotton underneath the feathers to hold them up. Remember to taxi the skin forward and not backward. When they dry they will remain in place and you can remove the pins and cotton. Good Luck
but you can go one step further and suspend your mount upside down through the drying phase and let gravity help. It's what I do. along with Clews clue
a little caulking in the neck helps too.