Would someone explain how to split pheasant wattles? Is it necessary?Tahnks
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But here goes.
They arent split in the sense tha you split a deers lips. When you look at the inverted head, you can clearly see the wattle area. At the edges, especially at the bottom, is the area that needs to be opened up. I put my finger in the mouth, and up against the outer side of the wattle. The wattle is then stretched over your finger, inside out. I use my scalpel to work along that edge and open up that thick edge. You WILL cut holes, especially at first. They can be sewn or glued. The result is a larger, more accurate wattle that wont shrink or deform. That the best way I can explain. Just keep pressure on the wattle as you stretch it and open it.
When I mount, I fill the cheek area with latex calk and build up the correct shapr of the wattle.
Try using your scapel backwarda or upside down. I avoid alot of hole doing this.