I've done a search and only found two matches (which I know the question has been asked more than that). I hear of folks removing the spirgs to keep them safe until mounting.
My question is do you cut the tail off the bird before you freeze it or just pull out the sprig feathers and replace them later?
thanks
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I suppose you would cut the entire tail, and treat it like some of the upland birds ie. Pheasants and Turkeys, and pinning or bonding it in after the body is sewn up. I've never needed to do it, and have had no problems with feather dammage on either the Old Squaw or the Pintail. Yes, I have tumbled them as well, with no feather dammage. I will say that I mounted a Pintail 4 days ago without tumbling it, and the bird's Rachis look much perfect. No corn-cob grit in the primaries. I think I'm back to the "Old School" way from now on. (At least on my duck size birds.)
Outlaw, as Pete-pec stated you don't need to go thru the toruble of removing the tail! I have done dozens of pintails and never had a problem. I TOTALLY agree with you Pete-pec on not tumbling. I'm sold on the "old school" way also. You have a little more time blow drying, but the end result is well worth it! I do all my birds that way, from quail to turkeys. John