How to Tan a Duck for Mounting

After an early morning duck hunting trip, many hunters like to commemorate an especially beautiful bird by mounting their duck. Some take their birds to a professional taxidermist, but other hunters enjoy and take pride in tanning and mounting their ducks on their own. With a solid amount of practice, vigilance and patience, you can learn to properly tan your duck to prepare it for mounting and be able to showcase your trophy and hard work.

Things You'll Need

  • Duck
  • Sharp knife
  • Razor blade
  • Wire cutters
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Instructions

    • 1
      Find the duck's breast bone before you begin tanning it.

      Lay the bird belly-up. Insert your knife about an inch down the top of the bird's breast bone. Cut all the way down to the duck's anus in one motion. Don't remove the knife while cutting, as that could cut or ruffle the feathers, which you need to preserve to mount the bird later.

    • 2
      Don't ruffle the feathers while cutting or prying, or else you will compromise the look of the finished mount.

      Use your fingers to skin or pry the skin away from either side of the breast area. Use the razor blade to gently cut through any strands of fat or tendons that you cannot tear with your fingers.

    • 3

      Use your knife and cut the fleshy section of the duck's neck all the way to the bone. If your duck was not frozen prior to tanning it, blood might begin to flow from the neck area. Take the bird to a sink to gently wash the blood from the bird.

    • 4

      Use the knife to continue tanning the duck around the tail and down the legs. Use your fingers to peel back the skin. Use wire cutters to cut the bird at the knees.

    • 5
      Be careful when tanning around the wings, as they can easily be torn.

      Skin the base of the duck's wings. Cut the wing at the shoulder. Continue to the duck's back, gently prying the skin away from the meat.

    • 6

      Skin the bird to the bill if you have a duck that can have its head turned inside out. Cut the neck bone where it meets the skull using the wire cutters.

    • 7

      Hang the bird by the legs and strip the bird of all remaining flesh, bones or fat left in the body cavity.