[SnoGeez]

Hoping somebody can give me an answer. I've been thinking about taking a pintail to the taxidermist, but I was wondering if/how I need to protect the sprig when I wrap it for the freezer? Can it get bent? Or do I need to put it between two pieces of cardboard for support? Thanks for the help all.

 

[Pete-pec]

Put it in a stocking, and wrap it in newspaper.

NOT!

Well, you really don't want to put a kink in the shaft of the feather, but a slight bend can be fixed with some warm water and some manipulation. I would just suggest using a larger bag, possibly a 2 gallon bag to keep the tail straight. I have taken two pieces of cardboard and placed the tail of an old squaw and pheasant between them, and then taped the rim of the cardboard, but that was to ship them from my hunting destination home, and may have been overkill? If I was just keeping it in the freezer until I saved the cash to get it to the taxidermist, I'd just put it in a larger freezer bag and keep it on a shelf by it's self, keeping the feathers straight. Don't store it under the pork chops!

Pete

 

[SnoGeez]

Thanks Pete, so basically keep it as straight as I can? I haven't found that perfect bird yet, but I still have a couple weeks in the season. Plus, hopefully, many years of waterfowling ahead of me to get the right bird.

 

[duxrus]

It can bend but......you do not need it to break. If you just put it in a BIG zip lock bag it will be fine. I just put the head end in the bottom leaving plenty of room for the sprig in the open part of the bag. Most pintails will end up with slightly bent tails while frozen but a s soon as you put their skin into water to wash, the tails straighten right back up instantly. :thumbsup: