Question about mounting a duck

[SHANE704]

I killed a redhead this weekend that I want to get mounted. I want a 6 bird limit of ducks on a dead mount. This is the first duck that I have and plan to get the others over the next year or two. I put him in pantyhose and froze him in a plastic bag...is this ok? anything else I need to do to it? also should I go ahead and get this duck mounted and get the others added as I kill them or should I keep them and get it all done at once? Thanks for the help, this is the first duck I have ever gotten mounted and just not sure what to do...dont wanna mess him up!

Also, I have talked to a few other hunters that say they have been seeing an increased amount of reheads killed this year...anyone else noticing this?

[gobama123]

If you plan on killing all the ducks of the 6 duck mount, THIS season, then you should wait and take them all at once.
However, if (as I am guessing) it will be several years before you can fillout the 6, then take it NOW.

Shouldn't keep the bird frozen more than a few momths before taking to taxidermist.

Of course, you know that a 6 bird mount will be over $1000 at a decent taxidermist. Maybe twice that, a GOOD taxidermist.

God Bless you

[gobama123]

Also, I have talked to a few other hunters that say they have been seeing an increased amount of reheads killed this year...anyone else noticing this?

YES!
Have seen more photos of RedHeads being killed in MS, AL, TN than I can remember seeing in years.

Don't know why.
Just be glad you got a mountable drake.

God Bless you

[duckter]

Double-wrap in plastic to avoid the freezer burn.

[GET-N-RITE]

Never put ducks in pantyhose, it can and will mess up the feathers....

[SHANE704]

ok...ill take them off this afternoon

[4dawgma]

step 1. pull down waders
step 2. hold duck like a punter, head facing away
step 3. make sure none of your buddies are watching
step 4. well....you get the picture

[Bonecollecter1111]

dang dawg, i just spit on my computer

and yes you f'd up putting it in panty hose, those are for women, not ducks, when removing make sure to pull out head first

[Beldenreb]

send pm to waterfowler, he may answer but I would let him design a mount for you.

[tobydawg]

Also, I have talked to a few other hunters that say they have been seeing an increased amount of reheads killed this year...anyone else noticing this?
[/img]

Yeah I've heard of more this year too. And finally saw a few big flocks of yesterday morning. My buddy I was huntin with got one of em.

[Double R 2]

send pm to waterfowler, he may answer but I would let him design a mount for you.

Pat won't be checking here for awhile, at least until Christmas. It's duck season and he's at Camp. Call or text me at 601-214-9737, and I'll give you his cell number or take the bird for you. I'll be up there this upcoming weekend, probably, and again weekend of January 13th probably.

I like those dead mounts best, an the Waterfowler does a great job. I suggest this - If your going to add over a period of years, tell him so and what you'll be adding and he'll accommodate. He's doing likewise for a project I have ongoing. In the meantime, be stashing some nice artifacts you find along the way - photographs, licenses, calls, sunken decoys, empty hulls, fossils, bouys, antlers - anything that reminds you of something or someone special involved during the hunts. Pat will incorporate them, or you can add to a shelf he'll include in teh display.

Here's something we put together for guests a few years ago that might be helpful Click Here: Field Care of Trophy Waterfowl & Birds (PDF) Let the bird thaw and carefull remove the pantyhose and wrap as described in this document, then toss back in freezer.

For those who've not yet seen it, we've got him a blog going at GetDucks.com: Click Here: TheWaterfowlerJournal.com It'll be after duck season before we get it up and going good, but we're updating the photo galleries and content. It's going to be a great one!

Redheads and canvasbacks been taking it on the chin this season, they make beautiful mounts.

[Double R 2]

BTW, that redhead looks like a very nice one. Divers usually don't get "right" until much later in the season, but both redheads I have mounted were killed early too.

[eyeinthesky]

just my .02 worth but i had killed a banded mallard in 2000 that i wanted to get mounted. I put him in a plastic bread bag with his head under his wing and inserted him head first. then put that bag in a brown grocery bag and into freezer. well as time went by and moved houses, had kids, etc I totally forgot to get him mounted. Bout 3 years ago I killed a pintail drake i wanted mounted and gave it to one of our members to drop off at a taxidermist he uses regularly. Got a phone call bout 6 months later and said my pintail was ready. So i go to pick up the pintail and talked to the guy and told him bout the greenhead and that it had been frozen for nearly 7 years and did he think it was freezer burnt and not mountable. He said to bring it to him that there are certain chemicals and such we can use. he said that it isn't uncommon to have birds that have been frozen for several years that folks bring in. So I dropped it off with him the next week and this one took bout a year and a half to get back but the guys dad got real sick and they didn't work very much for bout a 5 month period and i just thought well the bird was freezer burnt until i found that out. We had a work weekend at camp and asked the other member bout it and he said he would call him and check and bout 2 months later i get the call he is done and ready to be picked up. mount turned out great and he looks just as fresh and bright as the day i harvested him. So as far as having to do something now with the bird you should have some time but I would talk to whatever taxidermist you plan to use and ask them how is the best way to store/preserve the bird.

[DUCKAHOLIC]

I had one in the freezer for about that long....its one of the best birds that I have mounted

[ScottyLee]

had a crappie that i left in the freezer, wrapped in newspaper for 2 years before i took him to the taxidermist. looks great, and it's not a replica. actual fish skinned out, as i got to help in the mounting process. good taxidermist can make it work in most all conditions..