Short answer: Keep the bird whole. Don’t gut or skin it. Carry it by the feet, gently wipe blood off the feathers and smooth them. Tuck the bird’s head under its wing, place it in one or two Ziploc bags or garbage bags, and freeze it. Then bring it to Stehling’s Taxidermy LLC in Jefferson or New Franken, or call or text our Jefferson studio before shipping it.
Protecting your bird before freezing
A waterfowl mount depends on the condition of the feathers. Blood, a broken tail or feathers dried out of place in a freezer are much harder to fix than to prevent. The steps below are what we ask our own customers to do before they drop off or ship a bird.
In the field: before the bird goes in the freezer
- Leave the bird whole. Don’t gut it, skin it or breast it out.
- Carry it by the feet, not the neck. Keep a bird you plan to mount out of the pile in the boat or the bag.
- Gently wipe blood off the feathers. Put a small wad of paper towel in the bill to catch more.
- Don’t bend the tail. Never bend or fold the tail feathers.
How to freeze a duck or goose for mounting
- Smooth the feathers into their natural lay.
- Label the bag with your name, the species and the date.
- Bag and freeze it. Tuck the bird’s head under its wing, place it in one or two Ziploc bags or garbage bags, and freeze it.
Drop off or ship?
Every waterfowl mount is built in our Jefferson studio. You can bring the frozen bird to:
- Jefferson: 913 N Parkway Street, Jefferson, WI 53549. You can also talk through poses here. Call or text (920) 650-7800.
- New Franken (Green Bay area): 3861 Algoma Road, New Franken, WI. Call (920) 650-8972 or send a text. Your bird is still mounted in Jefferson.
Check hours and directions before you come in. Always bring the appropriate tags and licenses with your bird.
Call or text our Jefferson studio before shipping your bird. See our shipping instructions for packing, paperwork and delivery arrangements.
What it costs once the bird is in
Most ducks are $575 in any pose. Eiders and scoters are $675; snow, blue, specklebelly and Ross’s geese and brant are $675; Canada geese are $800; swans are $2,000. For ducks, a simple driftwood base is $65 extra or a standard habitat scene $150 extra (one or the other), and a dead-mount panel is $150 extra; water scenes, custom displays and multi-bird displays are quoted. See what’s included in the bird price and which pose fits your space.
Common questions
Can I mount a duck that was shot up?
Whether a bird can be mounted, and which poses are suitable, depends on its condition. Contact us before shipping or bring it in so we can assess it and discuss the options.
Should I gut the duck before freezing it?
No. Leave the bird whole. Don’t gut it or skin it.
Do I need anything with the bird?
Bring the appropriate tags and licenses when you drop it off. If you ship, see our shipping instructions for the paperwork.
Start your waterfowl mount or call or text (920) 650-7800.