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First Mount! Please review.

Discussion in 'Beginners' started by greslyel, Mar 6, 2013.

  1. Mar 6, 2013 #1
    greslyel

    greslyel Member

    30
    0
    Tennessee
    This is my first attempt at taxidermy. I have no formal training other than watching videos on youtube. So please review and give tips and pointers. I look forward to constructive criticism so I can learn how to improve my work. Thanks!
     

    Attached Files:

  3. Mar 6, 2013 #2
    greslyel

    greslyel Member

    30
    0
    Tennessee
    Here are two more pictures of the bird.

    The first is after I have extended the wings a little.
    The second is a frontal view of the bird.
     

    Attached Files:


  5. Mar 6, 2013 #3
    greslyel

    greslyel Member

    30
    0
    Tennessee
    And here is a close up of the head.
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Mar 7, 2013 #4
    jake7719

    jake7719 Well-Known Member

    1,211
    97
    Land Before Time
    Wing look to far back and they are in differant locations. You need to get the duck cleaner and groom better.
     
  7. Mar 7, 2013 #5
    greslyel

    greslyel Member

    30
    0
    Tennessee
    Thanks for the review. Every bit of critique helps!
     
  8. Mar 8, 2013 #6
    bearrug48

    bearrug48 Active Member

    1,459
    2
    Idaho
    Keep after it .Practice all you can and make each one better than the last. I agree your feathers look greasy.
     
  9. Mar 8, 2013 #7
    greslyel

    greslyel Member

    30
    0
    Tennessee
    Oh I plan to and I soaked the skin in dawn for several hours, but I put a lot of dawn in the water and I don't think I rinsed very well. Now that that has been mentioned a lot I have noticed it. Thanks again for the review! Every little bit helps!
     
  10. Mar 8, 2013 #8
    txoutdoors

    txoutdoors Active Member

    1,913
    11
    Scurry, Texas
    Soaking doesnt do much, you need to scrub it. If you put dishes in the sink with dawn and let them soak, do they come out clean? Not without some scrubbing. I usually wash 3x and rinse 3x afterwards.
     
  11. Mar 8, 2013 #9
    greslyel

    greslyel Member

    30
    0
    Tennessee
    Roger. That definitely was the problem then. I didn't scrub it because I was worried about losing feathers. Now that I know that it won't hurt it to scrub it I'll scrub the next one several times. Thanks for the help!
     
  12. Mar 8, 2013 #10
    CannonQ

    CannonQ New Member

    130
    0
    Then a little fabric softener to break down the soap residue.


    Posted using Outdoor Hub Campfire
     
  13. Mar 8, 2013 #11
    chuckglass

    chuckglass Member

    163
    0
    Sellersville PA.
    The wings are spread out a little far. The flight feathers should come back and touch the body. From your top view pic there is space so just pull the wings back a little next time. I always get good references
     
  14. Mar 8, 2013 #12
    greslyel

    greslyel Member

    30
    0
    Tennessee
    That's something I failed to do. Thanks for the help!
     
  15. Mar 10, 2013 #13
    TWinter

    TWinter Winter taxidermy

    1,001
    2
    Iowa
    next bird you wash, after fleshing, place your bird in warm water and put your dawn right on the skin. Agitate the water, use your finger to remove any blood from shot, etc.. You can't get too rough with the skin. Then rinse several times. Make sure your feathers are dry, including the down feathers and mount. :)
     
  16. Mar 10, 2013 #14
    greslyel

    greslyel Member

    30
    0
    Tennessee
    Well-needed advice. Definitely a step I thoroughly missed. Thanks for taking the time to help out a newbie! Have a great week!
     
  17. Mar 11, 2013 #15
    CannonQ

    CannonQ New Member

    130
    0
    Grit o cob in a box and shake after washing. Then use a hair dryer on COLD to blow dry and fluff the down. If the skin gets a little dry, an atomizer bottle with Lysol water will rehydrate.


    Posted using Outdoor Hub Campfire
     
  18. Mar 11, 2013 #16
    greslyel

    greslyel Member

    30
    0
    Tennessee
    I will keep this in mind! Thanks for your time and advice!
     
  19. May 2, 2013 #17
    vetanddamnproud

    vetanddamnproud Pray for our troops who are still out in harms way

    211
    0
    Simpson Creek Swamp
    Make a great looking dead mount ,hang him upside down on some old barnwood and youll have a beautifull greenwing dead mount .Do you want to sell it I need dead mount Greenwing PM ME
     
  20. May 2, 2013 #18
    Brent W

    Brent W New Member

    208
    0
    Ummm dont think he can sell it or you can buy it....Just sayin....You dont want the feds knocking on the door ;) Only pen raised waterfowl may be sold and only with the proper certificates. You can mount your own wild birds but they cant be sold. Look into the federal migratory bird regulations.
     
  21. May 2, 2013 #19
    Brent W

    Brent W New Member

    208
    0
    You can have a bird gifted to you...I should have mentioned that previously. Simply a guy can give you a bird and again he needs to give you something saying it was a gifted bird.
     
  22. May 10, 2013 #20
    vetanddamnproud

    vetanddamnproud Pray for our troops who are still out in harms way

    211
    0
    Simpson Creek Swamp
    Thanks For the heads up Mr. Brent I had forgoten about the Federal deal with waterfowl and many other animals .Again Thanks for the reminder , I sure dont want to get myself or no one else in trouble thats for sure.