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1.
Upland species:
Whenever
possible try and retrieve the bird yourself. Even a soft-mouthed dog
can unintentionally pull out a lot of feathers or otherwise damage the
bird. If the bird is still alive when you get to it, do your best to
quickly pin it to the ground with both hands. Larger birds can quickly
be suffocated by applying pressure with both hands or a knee. Smaller
birds like Quail and Partridge can be squeezed in the hand. At all times
make sure you've got the wings firmly pinned down. This same technique
applies to finishing off waterfowl. Once the bird is dead, hold it by
the legs to carry it or place it carefully in a game vest separate from
other birds. It's important to keep the bird cool and get it to the
taxidermist or freeze it as soon as possible.
2.
Picking a bird:
It's generally
a very good idea to bring in as many birds as possible to the Taxidermist
and allow him or her to help you pick the best specimen. Broken wings
and legs are generally not a concern as they can be easily repaired
in most cases.
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Blood and dirt can all be cleaned away so don't discount a bird just
because it looks messy, but always keep them as clean as possible. In
most cases, what makes a bird difficult to mount is missing feathers.
Choose birds that appear to have suffered minimal feather loss and again,
whenever possible, take several birds to the taxidermist and let them
help you choose the best bird. If you can't get to your taxidermist
the same day you harvested the birds, freeze them whole in plastic ziploc
or trash bags.
3.
The Following is a List of Don'ts:
Don't
wring the birds neck. Don't field dress the bird. Bring it to us whole.
Don't put birds in a plastic bag, or cooler until they've had a chance
to cool.
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