Ask ten waterfowl hunters which duck they most want on the wall and most of them will say a drake wood duck. Crested head, red eye, burgundy chest, and that white-lined black-and-iridescent plumage: no other North American duck packs as much color into a bird that small. At Stehling’s Taxidermy we have been building wood duck mounts since 1978, and every bird is still mounted in our Jefferson, Wisconsin studio under Aaron and Austin Stehling.
Wood ducks are also one of the harder ducks to mount well. The feathers are short and fine, the head crest has to be set just right, and the eye color has to be matched exactly or the whole bird looks off. It is a species where experience shows, and we have mounted thousands of them.
We ship nationwide. Learn how to ship your duck to us, or drop it off at our Jefferson studio or New Franken (Green Bay area) showroom.
Start Your Wood Duck Mount | See Pricing
Or call/text us directly: (920) 650-7800
Wood Duck Mount Ideas & Poses
Because a wood duck is small, you have more display options than with a goose or a big-game piece. These are the wood duck mount ideas our customers ask for most.
Flying Wood Duck Mount
Wings cupped, feet down, landing into timber. A flying wood duck shows the full wing speculum and belly color, mounts on a wall bracket, and fits almost anywhere. It is our most requested wood duck pose. See more on our flying duck mounts page.
Standing / Perched Wood Duck
Wood ducks perch, which most ducks do not. A drake standing on a piece of driftwood or an oak limb is one of the most natural-looking and popular displays we build. Add a hen for a pair and you have a complete scene. See our standing duck mounts.
Swimming Wood Duck
A swimming pose on a clear-resin water base, sometimes with a reflection, is a showpiece for a mantel or a desk. We do custom water sculpture and scenes for single birds and pairs.
Wood Duck Pair Mounts
A drake and hen together, perched, swimming, or one flying and one standing. Wood duck pair mounts are a favorite for hunters who took both birds on the same hunt, and the hen’s soft grays make the drake’s colors pop even more.
Wood Duck Dead Mount
A traditional hanging dead mount, bird hung by the feet with wings relaxed, is a classic sporting-art look that works well in a cabin, office, or next to an old shotgun. See our dead mount ducks page.
Multi-Bird Scenes
Three or four wood ducks landing into a flooded-timber scene, or mixed with a mallard or teal. Bigger scenes are custom quoted; send us a photo of the wall or corner you have in mind.
Wood Duck Mount Pricing
$575 for any wood duck pose. Driftwood, habitat, and water bases are additional, and we will help you design the display. Flexible payment plans: pay in full, 50/50, three installments, or monthly through our Easy 8 Payment Plan. No banks, no credit checks.
Standard delivery is 12 to 14 months. Rush options start at 180 days (+25%), 90 days (+50%), or 30 days (+100%) for select orders. See all pricing and payment details.
Why Hunters Choose Stehling’s for Wood Duck Taxidermy
- Waterfowl taxidermy since 1978. Two generations, thousands of ducks, and a showroom full of examples you can see in person.
- Feather work that holds up. Wood duck feathers are tiny and easy to over-groom. We degrease every bird properly so the plumage stays tight and the colors stay true for decades.
- Correct eyes and crest. We use species-specific glass eyes and set the crest to the pose, whether relaxed or raised.
- Accurate anatomy. Every bird is measured and the form built to it, so the wing set, neck length, and foot position match a live wood duck, not a generic duck.
- Work led by Aaron and Austin Stehling in our Jefferson studio. Final quality control by Aaron and Austin on every mount.
- Two Wisconsin locations plus nationwide shipping. Visit Jefferson or New Franken near Green Bay, or ship from anywhere in the U.S.
Field Care for a Wood Duck Mount
Wood ducks are small and their feathers are delicate, so field care matters more than with most ducks:
- Pick the bird up by the feet or bill, never the neck. Don’t wring it.
- Keep the dog off it if you can. A soft-mouthed retriever is fine; a hard mouth or a shake can cost you the mount.
- Wipe blood immediately with a damp cloth and put a paper towel in the bill and over any shot holes.
- Don’t gut it, and don’t let it sit in a pile of birds. Set it aside on its back with the head tucked.
- Slide it head-first into a nylon stocking or plastic bag, smooth the feathers, squeeze out the air, and freeze. A frozen wood duck keeps for a year or more.
- Full-plumage drakes come late. Early-season wood ducks are often still in eclipse or pin feathers. If you want a wall bird, be picky and take a fully colored drake from October on.
Wood Duck Mount FAQ
How much does a wood duck mount cost?
Any wood duck pose is $575 at Stehling’s. Bases, driftwood, and water scenes are extra. Interest-free payment plans are available.
How long does wood duck taxidermy take?
Standard turnaround is 12 to 14 months, with rush service available at 180, 90, or 30 days.
Can you mount an early-season wood duck with pin feathers?
We can, but pin feathers do not finish well and the head color will be dull. If you have a choice, wait for a full-plumage drake later in the season.
Can you fix shot damage to the head?
Often, yes. Crest and head repairs are common on wood ducks. Send us a photo and we will tell you what to expect.
What base works best for a wood duck?
Driftwood and oak limbs are the classic choice because wood ducks perch. For a swimming bird, a clear water base with a cattail or two looks great on a mantel.
Do you mount other ducks?
Yes. Mallards, teal, pintails, buffleheads, goldeneyes, canvasbacks, redheads, gadwalls, wigeon, mergansers, and divers are all $575; eiders and scoters are $675. See our waterfowl taxidermy page.
Continue Exploring Waterfowl Taxidermy
- ➤ Mallard Mounts
- ➤ Flying Duck Mounts
- ➤ Standing Duck Mounts
- ➤ Dead Mount Ducks
- ➤ Taxidermy Pricing
- ➤ Shipping Your Duck to Us
Ready to Get Started?
Tell us about your wood duck and where you want it to hang. We’ll help you pick the pose and base personally.
