An interesting thing happened just the other day. I have or had a banded teal that I mounted way back when I started this stuff, (stuff?)no pun intended. This bird was hanging in the living room until just a few months ago. I have always been proud of this mount considering it was one of my first it really was a class act, or at least it looked that way on the outside. Well I just recently hung it in my studio and it ended up hanging within close proximately to a heat duct. Well i found out how not fleshing a bird good enough will eventually come back to haunt you. What I really should say is that the outcome reinforced what we all know to be true. This bird has been in the living room for years without any problems, and now its got grease dripping off one foot, the breast is soaked, and it stinks. This bird was done long before I had a wire wheel and I just did my work with a scissors, and obviously not good enough. I have since refined my tactics, but this just goes to show you that just because it doesn't leak, stink or just look like crap doesn't mean that some day your lack of quality is not going to show through. So if your just starting out make sure you get all the fat off and get those wings fleshed to the hand or you'll be sorry. By the way, the bird I have always been proud of ended up in the trash just the other day. It was really kind of funny but Im a little sorry to see it go.
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Thanks for the story larson.
Cool tip that was taught by Mike P @ the N.D. Show...Right before you sew up your bird...take a piece of paper towel and fold it over the body...Then Sew up your bird...If you have minor excess fat that was missed, it should get absorbed by the paper towel...Obviously, it may not have helped in your case...Sorry about that Larson!
I had a duck like yours (but much worse!) I mounted my first duck when I was 12, and needless to say, the thing was not degreased AT ALL! I don't even think I washed it. Well, it came out alright for a first duck, but eventually it ended up in the attic for about 4 years. After that, the thing was totally ruined. The whole duck was solid grease, and I just ended up throwing it away. Goes to show how important a wire wheel can be--and also, store mounts in room temperature, away from heat!
Becky