Sea Duck Taxidermy
Kodiak, Alaska
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The key to a good trophy starts before heading out into the field. With a little pre-hunt preparation and by following a few simple steps in the field, you will greatly improve the quality of your trophy. If you are unsure of your bird’s condition, I will be happy to take a look at it. I will give you an honest evaluation, make recommendations, and we can discuss options.
1. The first step is to put together a very small and simple field care kit with the following contents:
- A few plastic shopping bags
- Handful of cotton balls
- A couple papertowels
2. Once the bird is down, retrieve it yourself, if possible. Even the best retrievers (like mine) can cause bird damage and the less damage that needs to be repaired, the better your trophy will be.
3. Carry your bird by its feet and if he has not expired DO NOT WRING ITS NECK. Place him on the ground, breast down, and carefully apply pressure to its back with your knee. This will quickly suffocate him and if you’re careful, will minimize feather loss.
4. Clean the bird off as much as possible. If he is bleeding badly, place a SMALL piece of cotton in the damaged area, inside the bill, or the vent to stop the bleeding. Be careful not to make any holes worse or damage the bird any more than it already is. I can remove most blood stains but if it can be prevented that’s best.
5. Carefully place your bird in a plastic bag making sure the wings and tail are not bent (only one bird per bag). Leave the bag open so your bird can cool off. Put it in an area where the dog will not eat it, clumsy hunting partners will not sit or step on it, and keep it out of the sun! Many hunters like to use nylon stockings thinking it will prevent feather damage. (I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS.) Dried blood will cause the feathers to stick to the nylons and if not removed properly, many feathers can be lost or damaged. If your bird has already been placed in nylons, leave it alone and I will remove it here at the shop.
6. If you cannot bring your trophy directly to me, please freeze it. Wrap a damp paper towel around its feet and another around its head/bill; this will help prevent freezer burn. Then carefully wrap it in a plastic bag, removing as much air as possible, and tape shut. Place the wrapped bird in a second plastic bag and do the same thing. Label it with your name, the species, date, location harvested and your hunting license number.
7. Do not worry about broken bones or cracked bills, I can repair most damage or we can choose a pose that will minimize any defects.
8. Bring the bird to me as soon as possible, this will help prevent freezer burn and the sooner I can start work on it the sooner you will get your trophy back.
9. If you need to ship your trophy to me that’s fine. Call or e-mail me first and I will provide you with shipping instructions.
Good luck and I hope to see you soon.
- Name
- Address
- Phone Number
- Hunting License Number
- Species
- Date Collected
- Location Collected
- Signature