What makes a Mallard/Pintail/Wood duck/ etc. worthy of mounting to you?

I plan on starting to get some ducks mounted this year and thought I would get some good opinions.

Thanks Everybody,
Guy

I'd like to hear some thoughts too as I'm looking to get one mounted. I was just gonna try to pick the best looking least shot up greenhead, but I don't want to keep sticking one in the freezer everytime i think its better than another one i kept.

1. sentimental value
2. no pin feathers
3. full plum
4. larger bird

Full plummage and minimal shot damage along with what is high on the list of specimens for any particular waterfowler, but a first duck by a young son or daughter or the last retrieve for a special waterdog can also make a certain bird a "mounter".

Here's my take - Hope you don't mind me using your thread to post it. - Matt

What is a trophy Bird?

I suppose some folks would argue that a mature wood duck, pintail, hooded merganser, canvasback, redhead or widgeon would be considered "trophy" birds.

I think that any bird that was taken that holds a memory of a special outing with your daughter, your lab or a good friend are the true trophy birds.

Early on in my taxidermy career, I always looked for the most mature drakes of all the species with emphasis on feather quality, color and little shot damage. I became very critical of what birds I considered true "trophy" quality.

That is until, one day a father brought his son in with an immature, pin-feathered gadwall hen that had been shot hard. When I first looked at the bird, I thought to myself, "Why in the world would any one want to mount that thing!"

When the little boy finally stepped from behind his father, it took me about 2 minutes of talking to them to see that the boy had cancer and that his dad wanted to have his son's bird mounted for reasons that I hoped he would never have to realize. I still remember the worried stare I got from the boy's father that said, "Please don't say anything bad about my son's bird."

That boy may have been sick, but his face sure didn't show it and I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone, before or since, more proud of a duck.

It was hard mounting that bird, but it came out pretty dang nice...and I will tell you that when it was ready later that year, only the father came to pick it up. I wanted to know, but I just couldn't make the words come out to ask about the boy. He didn't say much before leaving with the mount, but I knew how important that bird was to the man as he proudly carried it out to his truck and drove off.

That was the day my idea of a "Trophy" bird changed...and I'm glad for it.

Good words, Matt. I was hoping to bring you a wood duck this year, but it is not looking too promising for me.

The 1st half always seems to be slower than the second...with this great weather as of late, the 2nd half should rock! Keep shootin'!

Thank yall very much.

My mind is made up and know where my first mount is coming from. Its going to be one based on sentimental value thats for sure.

Guy

That's where I stand. I wish I had gotten my first greenhead mounted, but I didn't. I wish I had gotten my first wood duck mounted but I didn't. I wish I had gotten my first GWT, Wigeon, Gadwall, etc. mounted, but I didn't.

The only first I have left in puddlers is a nice Sprig (one that actually has a sprig). I will get that one mounted when I get it.

I will probably get a mallard drake mounted this year, but I will make the decision based on the hunt and the shot more than the quality of the bird.

I agree with the sentimental value theory as well. I have the very first duck (mallard drake) that I ever shot mounted. I have taken bigger and prettier birds since then but it is always cool to say that was my first. I have a bird in the freezer that my wife's nephew shot earlier this year. He is a bit busted up but it was his first duck hunt and first duck ever. We are hoping to get it mounted for him sometime soon.

You will know it when you see it. By that I mean that bird ought to be "The One" that is so darn perty you want it hangin on the wall.

I had my first Pintail in the freezer a few years ago that I was gonna mount. It was a big beauitul drake, by far the biggerst duck i've killed yet. Freezer I had him in lost power and he got ruined. I was kinda heartbroken.