I just took in a black duck I never mounted one before just wondering if thers any pointers i need to know. Also im having a hard time finding reference to these ducks any help would be greatly appreceiated. Thanks alot
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in a past Taxidermy Today that delt with a flying black duck. If I'm not mistaken they are a sub species of the mallard. In fact I think they are becoming more and more rare through inbreeding with mallards. The back issue I think had a black bear on the cover. Hope it helps.
When I got to Delaware in 1970, the USFWS added a note to our F&G book. Delaware seemed to have a huge concentration of them and the USFWS noted that "the last black duck will probably be killed on Little Creek Wildlife Area before the year 2000. Well, here it is almost 2006 and black ducks make up a HUGE number of our marsh estuary ducks. There is some interbreeding, but certainly not to the extent to endanger our local crop. Limits are still the same as they were in 1970 and they tell us that they are more "threatened" every year. But you try picking a black duck out of a brace of mallards coming into decoys out of a sunrise. The best way to tell them is that they always seem to flare off before locking up.
As always I went with what I have heard. But I do appreciate the info. By the way George, recently read an article that you wrote some time ago about mounting a bald eagle, good article. How come you don't write any more articles? It would seem that one of our trade magazines would be hounding you to write.
They're probably afraid of him.(LOL). What's the deal George? Are you holding out on us?
The grow up to be "George's"
The reason I don't write more is that I don't have the credentials of the guys that you need to be listening to. I'm the guy who can teach cause he can't "do". Taxidermy really isn't much from the mechanical and philosophical standpoints. It's the artistry that makes it so intriguing and though I think I have an eye to judge it, my hands just don't perform it as well. In other words, I talk a much better product than I produce and that's as honest as you can get. Trust me.
I do write occasionally. The last issue of Outlook, the NTA magazine, has an article on turkey tail fans and wings. I stick to the beginner/novice levels in my writings as those are the people I enjoy working with most. Breakthrough just gave me a golden opportunity on that eagle and I'm indebted to Larry for entrusting it to me. I don't expect to be a "regular" anywhere, however.