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You’ll Learn Taxidermy, Filleting Fish, Field Dressing, Fleshing, Skinning, Butchering, Hide Preparation, Flint Knapping Arrowheads, Primitive Arrows, Off-The-Grid, Survivalist Skills, Prepper Needs, Self-Sufficiency and Much More. This is a Work-In-Progress, so Check Back for Additions.
hi this is brandon, i would like to learn how to mount a duck. do you have any videos that would help with that? from start to finish. i have a blue bill and a pintail that i would like to get done.
Hi Brandon: I have some duck videos that just need to be edited and downloaded onto my site. It's just trying to get the time to do it. I should probably have them on in the next couple of weeks. But, if you want help earlier, I'd be happy to help. Just email me anytime. - Rick
Are there follow-up videos to the "Pheasant Taxidermy video 5 of 5"? I'd like to see the actual mounting process. I mounted a pheasant 20 years ago as a 4-H project and am now helping some 4-H youth to do the same. Memory is a little rusty though. BTW great, through video. Thanks!
Tony: Thanks for going to my Google site. It's easier for me to respond to questions through here. I think I have some follow up videos on pheasants/ducks/geese. It's just a matter of finding them and publishing. Been too busy with my business lately. Will try to get to it soon. - Rick
Hi, I have a couple questions about a pheasant my dad wants mounted. First, he got the pheasant about 5-6 years ago and it's been wrapped up in the freezer since. A local taxidermist didn't even want to look at the bird if it had been froze that long, and my dad was really disappointed. I've worked at a museum for the last three years and dabbled in specimen preservation, so I wanted to try to mount it for him. I've already watched your videos on skinning out the bird, and they sounded very helpful. After the bird is skinned you said you wash it, dry it and tumble it. Do you wash both the inside and outside? Also I don't have a tumbler, what could I use instead to fluff the bird skin? I was planning on using Calorax to preserve the skin. I believe it's Borax with something else mixed in. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you. Dana
Dana: The bird being in the freezer this long could pose a problem for you. Take the bird from the freezer and thaw out. Take the entire bird and submerge it in cold water for about ten minutes. This is to throughly soak the feathers. Remove. Squeeze as much water as you can from the feathers. Place the bird in a plastic bag. Seal. Put it in the refrigerator for one to two days. This is called "sweating". Hopefully this will soften any skin that may be freezer burned. It probably will be burned around the head, neck, wings, and legs. We're trying to re-hydrate this. It may or may not work. But, it is your best chance to save the bird. Try skinning the bird in a day or two. Yes, wash both the inside and outside in warm tepid soapy water for five to 10 minutes. That'll cut the grease and oils. Rinse in cool water to get soap out. Wrap in dry towel. Let sit for about an hour to absorb moisture. Instead of tumbling, use a blow dryer. It will take awhile, but, you can get the feathers nice and fluffy. I use the High Setting, but, don't get too close and burn the feathers. Blow against the feathers. Make sure the feathers are dry prior to mounting. Otherwise, Borax will stick to the feathers. Regarding the Calorex, as long as it's primarily Borax, it should be fine. I hope this works out for you. It is exactly what I would do if I was trying to save the bird. Email me with any questions. Let me know if this works out for you. - Rick
hi this is brandon, i would like to learn how to mount a duck. do you have any videos that would help with that? from start to finish. i have a blue bill and a pintail that i would like to get done.
ReplyDeleteHi Brandon:
ReplyDeleteI have some duck videos that just need to be edited and downloaded onto my site. It's just trying to get the time to do it. I should probably have them on in the next couple of weeks. But, if you want help earlier, I'd be happy to help. Just email me anytime. - Rick
Are there follow-up videos to the "Pheasant Taxidermy video 5 of 5"? I'd like to see the actual mounting process. I mounted a pheasant 20 years ago as a 4-H project and am now helping some 4-H youth to do the same. Memory is a little rusty though. BTW great, through video. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteTony:
ReplyDeleteThanks for going to my Google site. It's easier for me to respond to questions through here. I think I have some follow up videos on pheasants/ducks/geese. It's just a matter of finding them and publishing. Been too busy with my business lately. Will try to get to it soon. - Rick
Tony:
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention. If you have any questions in the meantime about the pheasant mounting process, etc. Email me. - Rick
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI have a couple questions about a pheasant my dad wants mounted. First, he got the pheasant about 5-6 years ago and it's been wrapped up in the freezer since. A local taxidermist didn't even want to look at the bird if it had been froze that long, and my dad was really disappointed. I've worked at a museum for the last three years and dabbled in specimen preservation, so I wanted to try to mount it for him.
I've already watched your videos on skinning out the bird, and they sounded very helpful. After the bird is skinned you said you wash it, dry it and tumble it. Do you wash both the inside and outside? Also I don't have a tumbler, what could I use instead to fluff the bird skin? I was planning on using Calorax to preserve the skin. I believe it's Borax with something else mixed in.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Dana
Dana:
ReplyDeleteThe bird being in the freezer this long could pose a problem for you. Take the bird from the freezer and thaw out. Take the entire bird and submerge it in cold water for about ten minutes. This is to throughly soak the feathers. Remove. Squeeze as much water as you can from the feathers. Place the bird in a plastic bag. Seal. Put it in the refrigerator for one to two days. This is called "sweating". Hopefully this will soften any skin that may be freezer burned. It probably will be burned around the head, neck, wings, and legs. We're trying to re-hydrate this. It may or may not work. But, it is your best chance to save the bird.
Try skinning the bird in a day or two.
Yes, wash both the inside and outside in warm tepid soapy water for five to 10 minutes. That'll cut the grease and oils. Rinse in cool water to get soap out. Wrap in dry towel. Let sit for about an hour to absorb moisture. Instead of tumbling, use a blow dryer. It will take awhile, but, you can get the feathers nice and fluffy. I use the High Setting, but, don't get too close and burn the feathers. Blow against the feathers. Make sure the feathers are dry prior to mounting. Otherwise, Borax will stick to the feathers.
Regarding the Calorex, as long as it's primarily Borax, it should be fine.
I hope this works out for you. It is exactly what I would do if I was trying to save the bird.
Email me with any questions. Let me know if this works out for you. - Rick