tennswamper Posted April 9, 2006 Report Share Posted April 9, 2006 I'm headed to Nebraska in a few weeks. Getting a bird to my taxidermist at home is no problem. However, I'm concerned about my Nebraska bird if I kill one and want to mount it. We'll be hunting a Wed-Sunday and may not be arriving home until Monday, depending on success of course. So, for example, I kill a real good bird on Thursday. WHat would be the best way to keep him until I arrive home on Monday possibly? I'm not sure about access to a freezer out there. probably not. WOuld a big cooler and ice be alright for a few days? I don't plan on touching him either. I'm scared to death of messing with anything I'm having mounted. I won't even skin deer I'm gonna mount. lol Don't ask why, I don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 Re: Getting a bird to my taxidermist Gut em out and stuff ice into the gutted out area and keep ice packed into it at all times. Drain any water out from the melted ice periodicly. Keep it out of the sun and away from insects. Also lay it in cooler inside plastic bag and pack ice around bird. If you can keep the bird cold, it will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tennswamper Posted April 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 Re: Getting a bird to my taxidermist Thanks RTF. My next question may sound stupid but here goes. How do I gut one when wanting to mount it? I never gut them in the field. THe only one I'm having mounted was this year's first bird and he went to my taxidermist's place whole. (I think he was glad too) Even when I skin a turkey, I only cut them open and fillet the breasts out, the bone stays in tack. Therefore, I'm nowhere near experienced in gutting (only gutting) them. Any suggestions on how, where to cut, ect? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisticwhitetails Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 Re: Getting a bird to my taxidermist If I were you, I would do as RTF said except skip the gutting part. As long as you keep it cold it should be fine guts and all. Or, call whoever will be doing the mount and ask how he or she wants it. I dont do birds, but when somebody brings me a critter to mount and the pose they want works best dorsal cut, I get a little steamed if it's already been cut from it's arse to it's chin. It's best to let the taxi man do the cutting if possible. Just my opinion. AW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Michelles_Taxidermy Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 Re: Getting a bird to my taxidermist First off lets start with field care. I can not stress enough that field care is the most important step in producing a quality mount of any species. Field care for Waterfowl is easy. Once the bird is in hand make sure all the feathers are laying along the body and their are not any sticking out or bent. Lay the wings alnog side the body as well. The head should be placed under the birds wing to keep the head from becoming freezer burnt. Now, get it in the freezer ASAP. If a freezer is not an option than get the bird on some ice as long as you can get the bird to a Taxidermist or in the freezer with in 24 hours, no longer. If the bird is going on ice put it in a ladies panty hose and than in plastic bag and leave it open for a few hours so body heat can escape. If it's going in the freezer leave the bag open til it is frozen. Befor you put the bird on ice try and get all the excess water off the bird as best you can without damaging feathers. Roll it up in a towel and let the towel draw out the moisture. When putting a bird on ice or in the freezer make sure the bird does not get wet. I am under the impression that when someone goes on an out of state hunt for Waterfowl they are going either with freinds from the state they are hunting or with a guide servise and staying at the lodge. I am sure the freinds you are hunting with out of state will have a freezer at their house and the lodge should have one... I would be shocked if the lodge didn't. Even if you are staying at a motel I am sure your freinds would be more than happy to put your bird in their freezer. I DO NOT recomend gutting the bird! If you stil have questions than call the taxidermist you are planning on using and ask him his preferance on field care! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tennswamper Posted April 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 Re: Getting a bird to my taxidermist Well, I'm not hunting with friends or an outfitter. Well, the guy I'm hunting on I consider a friend but I know his freezer was full of meat during deer season and I hate to ask him. I'm thinking of finding a taxidermist nearby and see if he will go ahead and skin him out like he would if he was going to mount him and pay him accordingly. Then, it will be much easier to keep him in the freezer if there is any room. I may also try to find a butcher near by that will house any early taken birds that may want to be mounted. So, let me get this straight also. If I can't find any of the above, it won't be good to just keep him on ice for a few days? I plan on wrapping him up real good to keep water off but I don't want him ruining either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisticwhitetails Posted April 11, 2006 Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 Re: Getting a bird to my taxidermist Great post Michelle! That should be pinned in place in the waterfowl or turkey fourm if there is one. Heck, you need to write one up on deer too. tennswamper, I assume you will be hunting turkeys or upland game birds unless there is a waterfowl season that Im unaware of. Michelle's post works with all birds. I wholesale my turkeys out and Ive received many over the years that were bagged and iced down a few days before reaching my door. I just freeze them solid before sending them on to my wholesaler, whose never had a problem with them that I know of. If a freezer is not possible, keep it cold, keep it DRY, it should be o.k. for a day or two. Good luck on that hunt, AW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tennswamper Posted April 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2006 Re: Getting a bird to my taxidermist Sorry guys, it will be turkeys! I know keeping it dry is very, very important. Dry and cool, dry and cool, dry and cool. I need to plant that deep in my mind. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted April 16, 2006 Report Share Posted April 16, 2006 Re: Getting a bird to my taxidermist [ QUOTE ] Sorry guys, it will be turkeys! [/ QUOTE ] I knew that. Like I said before. Do not be afriad to gut the bird just above the vent. If someone with you knows how to do it, then it will not be a problem. Any qaulified taxidermist who does turkeys like myself will have no problem with the gut hole what so ever. The bird will cool down a lot faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tennswamper Posted April 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2006 Re: Getting a bird to my taxidermist RTF, considering I've never once "gutted" a turkey, is there a good website to show where the cuts are to be made. Like I said, every single turkey I've ever killed, we have simply filleted the breast out so there was no need for gutting. With the exception of the one this year that is to be mounted from here. He went whole to the Taxi, the next day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted April 19, 2006 Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 Re: Getting a bird to my taxidermist [ QUOTE ] RTF, considering I've never once "gutted" a turkey, is there a good website to show where the cuts are to be made. [/ QUOTE ] I believe this topic has been covered in our turkey room, here at RT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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