How should I package the bird at home?
Do not gut or breast your bird! Once you get the bird home, take paper towels and soak them in water. Wrap these wet paper towels around the head and the feet. What we are trying to do is prevent freezer burn damage. Place your bird into a zip-loc freezer bag being careful not to bend any wing or tail feathers. The head can be turned back and placed under a wing in order to fit into the zip-loc. If you do not have a zip-loc available, double bag using grocery bags or garbage bags. The method goes for all birds not just waterfowl.
How should I bring the bird to you?
You will bring us the bird frozen solid. The only time you should bring us a fresh bird is if you are leaving the field directly to us. If this is the case, please try to have the bird on ice.
I shot a bird I want mounted, but I am not done hunting. What should I do while I am still in the field?
Be very careful with your bird and do not gut or breast it out! Place the bird in the shade on your bag, on a jacket, or in a cooler if you have one. The key is to cool it off and limit further damage. Remember, you just shot this animal which means there are BB holes and dirt/debris from when it landed. We do our best to create a realistic mount for you, but in no way can we just start replacing patches of skin or pockets of missing feathers. We can sew small holes but definitely cannot replace an entire wing!
How do I package my skull at home?
As a reminder, we charge $30 to skin a head. So if you want to save yourself some money please skin it in advance. If you do not want to deal with it (trust us we get it) then we are happy to do it for you. After skinning the head, place the head in the freezer (if possible). Yes, we know most people cannot fit an elk or deer head in their freezer. If this is the case for you, contact us as soon as possible to schedule a drop off time.
I see that you do decorative pieces for birds. What about skulls?
We are happy to put together something for you. We can do stained wood plaques or provide you with a metal mount for your wall. Let us know what you are thinking so we can provide you with an estimate!
What is the turnaround on mounts?
Skulls typically take less time. We try to have your skull completed in less than two months.
Birds will vary. When you drop off your bird we will order whatever supplies we need to complete your mount. Each bird is different, and while we usually have almost everything in house, your bird may require eyes that we do not have or artificial feet to replace damaged feet. We cannot control the slow shipping times or back ordered supplies from taxidermy suppliers. Estimated bird turnaround is two to three months.
Do I need to bring anything with me when I drop off my animal?
Yes!!! You need to bring your hunting license and migratory bird stamp if you are dropping off a bird. If you are dropping off an upland bird then you do not need the State or Federal migratory stamp.
How do I package my hide for drop off?
Make sure the hide is clean by washing it with water to remove blood, dirt, and debris. Lay the hide on a clean surface with the hair side down (fleshy skin facing up). Fold the hide, skin on skin. Try not to get the hair on the skin. Then roll the hide up, place into a garbage bag, and freeze it. You will want to bring the hide to us frozen. If it is a fresh hide then we will clean the hide and freeze it for you. Just make sure the hide to kept on ice and cold.