Hi Everyone!
Been browsing on this site for a few weeks now preparing for a school project! I am a second year Fish and Wildlife student at Sir Sandford Fleming College in Lindsay, Ontario and have to do a case study for a final project! Here it goes! I have had this male wood duck in the freezer since hunting season and was planning on doing my project on it! I am getting a body, eyes,etc from a local taxidermist in town here! I pulled the duck out of the freezer to get started on it this weekend only to find once it thawed that there was a nice size gash out of the birds neck! AM I screwed or are there specific postures or techniques I can use to hide this hole! I'm a beginner here and wondering whether I should be throughing this bird in the frying pan rather than trying to mount the thing! ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED! Thanks
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Well there are a few things. A woodie is one of the hardest birds, very thin skinned. The gash may not be an issue, it may sew or you can maybe pin it or you can hide it. Is the bird being graded for it's anatomical accuracy or as visual reference? I think if I were in your shoes, I'd try see about maybe buying one. If you haven't ever mounted anything before, you may be asking for more than you bargained for. Just my opinion.
What about the possibility of doing the duck as a dead mount. then you could hide the neck problem very easily. Don't know if you can do it that way for the class. Just an idea.
well! it sounds like a cool project! the hole won't be a problem! all you'll need to do is sew it! maybe just ask the taxidermist for a few pointers and take your time! it might be a good idea to offer him some monetary compensation too! in fact, just ask if you can mount it in his shop and have him coach you along! then jsut pay his fee! think you'll get your best results that way! good luck!