Hey everyone. I am trying to put together a Info Post on a hunting forum for a freind of mine that started the site. he wants me to make a post on waterfowl because that is mainly what the site is about. I know quite a bit about but I would like some tips from other taxidermists. Everything from the field to the taxidermist.... thanks
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on field care for waterfowl are pretty simple. I tell my customers to take some pantyhose with them (but dont get caught wearing them : )If they take a bird they want mounted, tuck the head under one of the wings and slid the bird into the hose. It will help keep the feathers from getting roughed up. I also let them know that if possible lighty rinse the bird off if there are large amounts of blood on it. Then obviously freeze asap and take to your taxidermist. Hope this helps. Mark Natures-Reflection.com
Mark,
I have never really understood the reasoning behind the pantyhose thing. In first thoughts it sounds like a good idea,but if you think about it, it can cause problems. Try putting pantyhose on your head and sleeping with it all night. If you did not get every hair in place,the next morning you will have heck getting it back in place. The same is true of birds. And think about what we do with the bird when we start working on it. Degreasing,washing,etc,makes the feathers go everywhere. So what's the point? Tell your hunters to just let the body heat escape from the bird they want to mount, then put it (with head over the back) into a plastic bag,then freeze or take to the taxidermist. Believe it or not some hunters who have heard of the pantyhose thing, don't even put the bird in plastic before going into the freezer, and you know what that causes. Let's stop this "pantyhose myth",lol.
I will probably sound like a smart ass but when you're as old as me who cares. I have been practicing the art of avian taxidermy for nearly forty five years. I am sorry to say that some of you old timers are still stuck in time. I would never tell someone to use panty hose on a waterfowl. You should be more concerned about blood and body heat. I have seen hunter stuff the duck in backwards in the panty hose. When you tell them to use panty hose they don't even use a plastic bag. I am about ready to hang up my scapel but I wish that you young taxidermist were more concerned with blood removal, body heat and anatomy. Fot those of you who use the real skulls and inject wings instead of inverting them you either need to come up to speed or get out of the business. I hope that this makes some of you mad as hell but at the same time I don't want to offend you.You just need a fire under your butt. One word of advixce that I want to offer for the new guys is to take some lessons from a professional and then not only will your confidence grow but you can charge enough to make a profit. There is a saying - I have no problem with what they charge because they know what there work is worth. Go ahead and cuss me but if the shoe fit then wear it
Do not ring the neck.Wash off any blood with a sponge or cloth.Groom the feathers so they lay natural.Put the head over the back so the taidermist can see the bill.Some taxidermist's want to see the bill and if you fold it under the wing you can't see the bill till you unthaw it.Do not put in plastic bag untill you put it in the freezer.Or take it straight to the taxidermist.