Birds you wished you had sent to the Taxidermist, Part II

Carl

Carl

Well-known member
Staff member
Posted a thread like this a while back, had some great replies.
Here is my second bird that should have went immediately to the taxidermist:
The only full plumage drake bluewing I have ever shot (or even seen in Coastal AL).
One morning back in January 2005, a mixed flock of around 15 teal buzzed passed us, then swung into the marsh behind us and disspeared up a tidal creek. Never got off a shot and we thought they were gone.
Then 30 seconds later they come rocketing back in from the other side, swing over the spread and do a classic upward teal explosion over the decoys.
Out of 3 guns emptied, I was the only one to drop a bird.
He went in the freezer, with intentions to go to the taxidermist sooner or later. But rotted durng the post-Hurricane Ivan power outage, along with the stud mottled duck drake I posted about last time.

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That is a shame Carl... Just an FYI.. If you are going to kee your birds in the freezer for an extended period of time before taking it to the taxidermist (as most of us do).... freeze it in a block of ice. The bird will keep for ever. Literally. If you know how to skin the bird as, and the measurements that your taxidermist wanted.. Skin it and freeze it in water. It will take up less room. Also, it would keep longer if a freezer does go out.
 
Last week Limit's first Redhead.

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The only duck I ever really thought about having mounted was a Hooded Merganser. Not that it was a trophy quest of mine or anything but it was probably the most perfect duck I have ever shot. When it passed by I noticed only a slight twitch at the shot. He slowly angled toward the water for about 75 yards and curled towards shore at the end hitting some ice. There was a dribble of blood in his wing pit and that was the only hole I found.
I ended up deciding to just save flank feathers for tying some flies. After I ate him I wished I had just stuck him in the freezer whole. :)

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I think it would take a perfect greenwing or a pintail with a long tail to get me thinking more serious about a mount.

Tim
 
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This has to be the most beautiful duck I have ever taken. Called-----should have done it but didn't.
Al
 
Carl,
that is why they made decoy carvers. No need for a freezer and if one has a power outage and looses a bird a very nice decoy can be made. Best part is the hunts that follow. Always a reminder of the day right out front of the blind. Back home the decoy can spend the off season in a place of pride at work or home to again remind you of the hunt.
Lastly, when you are gone, the block will have aged and will bring more value, use for your kids.
 
I am with Bob. I would rather have a couple of nice decoys on display. I have never thought about getting a bird mounted. It just doesn't appeal to me. I would probably look at it a few times and forget about it.

I do have a bear rug that I got done. It isn't anything special other than the way it was taken. It is a great conversation piece. I like to keep it under my vegetarian wife's piano. LOL She is very tolerant.

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Shot in Indiana, banded in Alberta. He was PERFECT! A huge, regal black duck but his wing on one side was absolutely decimated and his neck had a big nasty spot where the skin tore. In retrospect he would made a nice standing mount and I'm sure the neck would've been fine half tucked. Money, money, money, money......
 
Over the years, i have gathered some good specimens for use when painting-for reference-They are kept in a freezer-feet removed, posed , bagged and taged, so i can find them easily---some are light as feathers, due to freeze drying, but,FOR ME, this is the way to go--Has some birds mounted ages ago, but over the years, dust, and even an attack of weevils destroyed their aesthetic presence--If you mount a super bird, try to put in a UV resistant case--The bird will last a lot longer.
That is one handsome cinnamon, by the way--Shot them in Argentina.
 
how did you get the bear under the piano before you dropped it on him? nice shot though probably would have been a pain to hoist it back up for the follow up shot.

eddie
 
Bob,

I actually came to that decision after the Post-Ivan losses: it would be better to by a nice cork/wood decoy than keep getting birds mounted. Mounted birds are nice, but a decoy will last forever with little care. And the price is about the same.
I was intending to start buying 3-4 nice decoys a year of all the species I had taken, but then getting re-married and having kids happened! Got other priorities now, so the wife tells me! :)
 
I should have had my first duck mounted. It was a nice big, late season, drake black duck. I shot it in the head and busted it's bill. It was also the first bird I had ever called in on my own. Shot over 4 of my dad's 1960's victor mallard decoys repainted as blacks with a vintage Ranger 16 gauge SxS. I still have the gun and the decoys.

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