Eiders 


Eider Mounts

A drake king eider or common eider is the trophy of a sea duck hunt, and it is one of the hardest birds in North America to mount well. Eiders are heavy, oily birds. The fat under the skin has to be worked out completely and the feathers degreased properly, or the mount yellows and the down mats within a few years. Stehling’s Taxidermy has been mounting sea ducks since 1978, in-house at our Jefferson, Wisconsin studio, and the gallery above is our own work.

Eider Mount Poses

Swimming on a sculpted water or ice base is the pose that suits an eider best; it is how you saw the bird off the rocks. Standing on a rock ledge and flying low over water also work well. King eiders in particular deserve a pose that shows the orange frontal shield and the blue crown.

Species We Mount

Common eider, king eider, spectacled eider, Steller’s eider, plus surf, white-winged, and black scoters, old squaw (long-tailed duck), harlequin, and all the other sea ducks. If you hunted Alaska, Maine, or the Canadian Maritimes, we have almost certainly mounted the bird before.

Eider and Sea Duck Mount Pricing

$675 for any eider or scoter, any pose. Other divers and puddle ducks are $575. Water, ice, and rock bases are quoted with the mount. Pay in full, 50/50, three installments, or monthly through our Easy 8 Payment Plan. Standard delivery is 12 to 14 months. See the full price list.

Field Care and Shipping for Sea Ducks

  1. Get the bird dry. Sea ducks come out of salt water. Blot the feathers, do not rub them, and keep the bird out of the bilge.
  2. Rinse salt off the bill and feet with fresh water if you can, then pat dry.
  3. Wipe blood immediately and plug the bill with paper towel.
  4. Don’t gut it. Tuck the bird’s head under its wing, place it in one or two Ziploc bags or garbage bags, and freeze it.
  5. Ship frozen, 2-day, early in the week. Most of our eiders arrive by mail from Alaska and the East Coast. Instructions are on our shipping page, and you can call before you send it.

Eider Mount FAQ

How much does an eider mount cost?

$675 for any eider or scoter pose at Stehling’s Taxidermy, plus the base you choose.

Why are eiders priced higher than a mallard?

Sea ducks carry far more fat and oil in the skin, and the extra fleshing and degreasing is what keeps the mount from yellowing. The price reflects the bench time.

Can you mount a full sea duck slam?

Yes. Multi-bird sea duck displays on one base are quoted per project. Send us a photo of the wall or shelf.

More Waterfowl Taxidermy