My 2011 Waterfowl Season....so far

[grizzly5028]

Well this is only my second year waterfowl hunting, but I am very happy with what I have got. Shot mainly wood ducks and geese, but did get one hooded merganser (Which is going to be going to be stuffed) so i figured Id share some pictures

 

[genesis273]

Mounting a hooded merganser is about the only thing you can do with those things! Nice woodies too!

 

[choc dogs]

Welcome to the addiction. I've only shot one hoodie, it was a first hunt with a young dog. I think they're one of the prettiest birds out there, and wish I'd been able to get it mounted.

 

[grizzly5028]

I agree they are one of the prettiest birds you can shoot. Its almost in perfect shape, 1 pellet between the eyes and a little blood on one the wings so it should turn out really nice.... now I just got to figure out how to get it done

 

[genesis273]

I agree they are one of the prettiest birds you can shoot. Its almost in perfect shape, 1 pellet between the eyes and a little blood on one the wings so it should turn out really nice.... now I just got to figure out how to get it done

You sound like you shoot as well as I do...almost missed! But it makes for a beautiful mount. Taxi`s love me!

As for figuring out how to get it done. You talking financially or physical steps to getting the bird mounted?

 

[mdunc8]

How much do most guys charge for a duck mount?

 

[grizzly5028]

More or less just picking out how I want to mount it, my taxidermist should be finishing a wood duck i shot last year so i figured i drop this one off when i pick the other up. im just not 100% sure how i would like it done. Ive looked at some pictures online and like some of them, but im still up in the air on what i like the most.

 

[grizzly5028]

How much do most guys charge for a duck mount?

Ive seen them range from 125-300 depending on who does it. Id say a fair price is around 200 for a quality mount, but you should always look at work the guy has done previously. some taxidermists can't mount birds. Ive seen some really bad ones that some of my friends had done and they look like pretty rough.

 

[wingman1]

Looks like a kick azz season! Congrats

 

[xrayts]

I didn't put the photo's on here, because I'm not sure of the copyright issues.
If your taxidermist can do water, I would choose something like this...
http://westernviews.us/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/hooded_merganser.jpg
Hooded Mergansers use tree cavities for nesting. I couldn't find a picture of a male, but this should give you the idea. I think it would be pretty cool.
http://visualsunlimited.photoshelter.com/image/I0000ygDMwKFPQNA

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

I think Hoodie's are really a fine looking waterfowl. My mount is flying,wings extended, breast kinda toward the wall but turned so you can see it a little and hood fully extended.
Use taxidermist who know what they are doing on bird mounts of any kind-----some excellent mammal taxidermist absolutely suck on birds----they, birds, are a pain in the azz compared to mammals.The taxidermist must love doing birds to do a good job that looks natural. Many don't!

 

[grizzly5028]

thanks for the suggestion guys, im pretty excited about getting it done, just got to get my wood duck back first before i can take this one in.

 

[DHaffner]

Mounting a hooded merganser is about the only thing you can do with those things! Nice woodies too!

Lol sooo true... I try to avoid eating meat eaters...

 

[nube]

I wish we had a lot of woodies here in Alberta. Only seen and killed 2 in the last 10 years of guiding and that was with over 110+ shoots in a year. Nice pics!

 

[grizzly5028]

I wish we had a lot of woodies here in Alberta. Only seen and killed 2 in the last 10 years of guiding and that was with over 110+ shoots in a year. Nice pics!

Wood ducks are all it seemed like I could kill this year lol, didn't really see too many other species had a really quick freeze and they didn't stick around too long this year.