I killed my first ever mallard drake and was thinking about getting it mounted, but I have seen where people say that a bird killed in early season the birds will not look as good as a late season bird. Is it worth getting mounted due to being my first or should I wait for a late season bird. It is my first season duck hunting so I hope I can get a late season bird. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Well just depends what's his colors like right now?

Every hunter has to answer what the bird means to them. Sometimes the memories can be more important. While it is true late season birds are normally nicer I have a beautiful mallard killed early season. It really depends on the bird. Then there is always the chance it has a lot of pin feathers depending how cold it's been where your hunting. First decide how important the bird is to you then let a good bird taxidermist evaluate for you.

Wildfowl Taxidermy
William Mathes
832 860 9887

www.wildfowltaxidermy.net

I shot my first wood duck and want to get it mounted also, but I just put it in freezer that way if I don't shoot another one later in the season I can still take him. If I do shoot another one later I can take both and let taxi tell me which would be better to mount. Just an idea

It just depends on what you want on your wall. Do you want to mount the memory of your first green head? Or do you want to have a great species representative on the wall? I'll just tell you that I mounted my first ever red head that I killed years ago and I ended up throwing it away just a few years agodue to a combination of a few things, 1. The bird was a juvenile and almost looked like a hen. 2. Not knowing any better I took it to a whitetail taxi and the mount was terrible. And 3. After getting a few years under my belt and killing better red heads and finding a reliable bird taxi, I couldn't stand to walk past it in my house and was embarrassed to let people see it. So I tossed it but still have the memory the mount was just making it a bad memory.

do this^

Decide how much the experience means to quality. I had my first duck which was a late season woodie done that I wanted it back fast so I paid the price $150 and got a POS back. Now it sits in the garage. If you can live with a pic for the memory then hold out. Look for a late season bird and the number of curls. After having 7 mounted I now know what to look for and would rather hold out for a nice bird rather just getting one mounted. You can triple bag them and they are good for a couple years. Either way just hold out to after season to send in. Never know what else you may shot.

Thanks guys for advice, decided I am gonna wait for a late season bird!

Another question, my buddy said to tuck head under wing and wrap with Saran Wrap and stick in freezer. Dies that sound right or stick it in freezer bag. Thanks guys

Tuck the head under the wing and triple bag it pushing all the air out you can. Nothing else. No wrapping. If you have a freezer that is NOT frost free even better it keeps the moisture in rather that pulling it out like a frost free does.

Great idea!