Birds and Small Mammals
Waterfowl, and upland birds make beautiful mounts, either single or in groups,
birds will let your imagination run wild. With a little care you will not
only have a memory of the hunt, but a wonderful work of art. Big Game
Fish
Correct trophy field care is essential and directly affects the final quality of the mount. Keep all trophies clean, fresh, and protected from flies. Deliver to the taxidermist fresh if possible, otherwise frozen. If skins are salted, they must be thoroughly fleshed first.
Proper field care for birds
Feathers are fragile, treat each bird with care. After you have taken a bird
you want to mount, clean off as much blood as possible, use a soft cloth or tissue.
If you have planned ahead, you may want to bring cotton balls. These can be
placed in the mouth and nostrils to keep blood from leaking out onto the feathers.
Do not field dress the bird! Instead, fold the wings back in the natural
position and slip it gently into a paper bag. Once again, if you planned
ahead, a ladies nylon stocking works the best. It lets air flow easily over
the bird to cool it off and keeps the feathers laying nicely. At this point,
either place the bird in a cool place or freeze it until you can get it to
your taxidermist.
When selecting a bird to mount, their are a few things to remember:
Birds will offer the opportunity for you and your taxidermist to design a mount
that is personally yours. From simple standing ducks on a piece of driftwood, to
a covey of quail bursting out of a bush, to a flock of teal landing in a marsh,
birds offer a chance to create a mount to your tastes and the size of your wallet.
Select only mature specimens for mounting. Once the bird or animal is in hand, take care to avoid additional damages. Do not carry birds by the neck. Smooth and align feathers and fur to their natural direction. Wipe blood from white feathers with a dampened cloth. Place a cotton ball in the mouth, vent, and against any visible shot holes. Do not skin. Deliver fresh or freeze as quickly as possible. Before freezing, wrap bird feet in moist paper towels to prevent dehydration in the freezer. Lay the bird's head alongside the body, wrap the entire bird in newspaper, then in a plastic bag. Include a label in the bag with your name, address, phone number, hunting license number, and date and location taken. Once in the plastic bag, freeze immediately.