saving a duck for mount???

[inthecattails]

I've never had the situation arise but if it did I was always curious what steps should be taken to save a duck for a mount? Get it in the freezer as soon as possible? Any tips for keeping it in the freezer? Also what kind of shape does it have to be in as far as the shot goes? I think I remember hearing the wing needs to be intact. Thanks, like I said someday I might need this info...not for 9 months atleast!!

[smg04]

tuck the head under a wing, put whole duck in a piece of ladys pantyhose making sure to go with the feathers not against them, double wrap with plastic bags and put into freezer and u should be good for awhile, i've got a really nice drake mallard in the freezer right now just waiting on the word from the taxidermist

[dukhnt]

Wrap the bill and the feet in a wet paper towel. This will help prevent freezer burn.

[hanson]

I guess the only really important part is to not wrap your bird in newspaper, or have newspaper anywhere in the packaging of the bird. The newspaper will suck the moisture right out of the bird and dry it out. Not good.

What my uncle Jack recommends, is to put the duck in a bread bag, and carefully wrap masking tape around it in a few places to keep things tight. (This would have the same affect as pantyhose). After wrapping the duck in the bread bag, put it in another bread bag and tape it up once again.

If the bird is really bloodied up, I wouldn't be afraid to wash it with some cold water and then dry it with a fan or hair dryer (no HEAT!) before wrapping it up in the bread bags.

Your taxidermist is going to fully wash the bird anyway when he starts working on it.

I can't say that I've ever heard of a problem with duck bills & feet getting freezer burnt. I've had many birds mounted and I haven't done anything to protect the feet and bill. Most of them have been in a freezer for a year and a half they come out fine.

[inthecattails]

Thanks fellas!!

[schr0563]

How much does a typical duck mount cost? $100?? $300??

[hanson]

Quote:

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How much does a typical duck mount cost? $100?? $300??

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Yes.

I would say an average price on a duck is going to be around $200 from your better taxidermists. Driftwood typically costs extra if your bird is standing on driftwood or flying secured to driftwood. With taxidermy, you really get what you pay for and should thoroughly check out the quality of work of different taxidermists before spending your hard earned cash.

I was just quoted $235 from my uncle on a flying pintail with driftwood and tax. The "family" discount really cuts that price down however. Gotta love having relatives that do this type of thing.

[Muthagoose]

Dont bother wrapping the feet and bill in wet paper towls..Any quality taxidermist is going to replace the head and inject the feet.Wrapping it in saran wrap or double bag it in plastic with the head tucked under a wing. IF you use a nylon is fine to you will still need to use a plastic bag .It will not ruin the feathers.

Like Hanson said you get what you pay for...

Ive been doing taxidermy for a while 1966

[Nova]

I just want to add my $.02 on the quality taxidermist. For a lot of guys spending that kind of money on a bird is a very rare occurance. Shooting a trophy mountable duck is almost as rare. There are a thousand taxidermists out there. Some of them are great with fish, some great with critters and some great with birds, but very very few that are good at them all. The guy we use(Hanson's uncle) took a long time and lots of research to find. We had several ducks mounted by different guys and after we got the first one done by Jack we wanted to throw the others away. If your going to get a bird mounted find a guy who is great with birds, look at his other work(birds he has done before). Make darn sure to pick the right taxidermist.

[Muthagoose]

I forgot to add one thing about paper its not dehydration thats a issue not at all its the soy bean ink impregnating the feathers leaveing residue on feather IE a target add on the chest of a goldeneye wouldnt look to good..

Dehydrateing is only a matter of injection and is only a little hassle to the taxidermist and cost to the client. I have done several birds that were lost under the pot roast for years turn out just fine..

Like nova said LOOK at the mounts and yes it is rare to find anyone good in all the relms.

Another point to bring up is to BRING a referrence photo or magazine picture with you when you go to the taxidermist.As a custom shop owner I love seeing people cup thier arms in a descriptive jesture and ask "Do ya know what I mean?"

We are digitally connected and confirm all our mounts position as damage and desire dictate prior to start with every client..Interpritations are how bad taxidermy starts..