[NewFowler]

Does anyone have a good method for preserving duck wings for training? Thanks!

 

[SteveInTN]

freezer

 

[98ramtough]

Yep, freeze them solid, then when you are done with them, throw them back in the freezer..

 

[Cupped-n-Committed]

I have left them dry out in the basement. I have a wing from last year that is dry, except for the dog slobber it just got on it a few minutes ago.

Any problem with doin it that way?

Rob

 

[98ramtough]

no problem with that. I actually freeze a few whole ducks for training.

 

[Cupped-n-Committed]

The first day I used the wings he liked the smell and would not bring them back. Maybe the feather felt funny or something. Day 2 he retrieves the wing perfect and gets even more excited. So much he will ignore a dead fowl rubber trainer becuase the wing is out. I hope that is good since he knows it the real deal?

 

[98ramtough]

rob,

Thats awesome your dog is into the birds. Keep him birdy, make it fun for him. Shoot a duck and freeze the whole thing and get him used to fetching that. When you are done with the bird, put it back in the freezer.

Some will say it is wasting a bird, in my experience sacrificing one duck for training will save MANY cripples throughout the year. I like listening to guys tell me how bad it is to waste a duck on training, then watch them lose a few cripples each day.

Mike

 

[benNELY]

Glad to hear ther are other duck addicts who freeze wings and whole birds for training . Makes me feel less freakish.
I'm gunna try dehydrating some this year.
Over the summer I zip tied wings to a fetch dummie for water retrieves.
Excellent practice.

 

[Cupped-n-Committed]

Maybe I could still eat the duck. Maybe get some wood wool or something hard like that. Skin the duck and sew his skin up and stuff it like the taxiderist?

 

[SteveInTN]

Naw. Just set aside a medium sized duck and freeze it. It isn't wasting it.

 

[98ramtough]

I agree Steve.

Using one real dead bird to help get your dog ready for the season will in return make you lose less birds.