Mount me? (pic)

[Mr Mykiss]

I just started upland hunting and I think that pheasants are the most beautiful birds out there. I want to get this one mounted. I don't know what qualifies a bird as 'mount worthy' this one is flawless... I can't tell where it was hit. I was told that old birds have long spurs, so are these long spurs? More importantly who should I take it to and what should I expect to pay if it is in fact MOUNT WORTHY??

[boneaddict]

Yes, and WCT taxidermy.  He is a sponsor on here.  Check out his pics in the taxidermy section.  Beautiful pheasant.

[washingtonmuley]

Pretty bird. It looks like a mounter.

[agchawk]

Yes, and WCT taxidermy.  He is a sponsor on here.  Check out his pics in the taxidermy section.  Beautiful pheasant.

 I would say that he's a perfect specimen to have mounted. WCT does some great bird work from what I have seen on here and that's who I'd bring him to.

[Raul Duke]

what part of WA are you located? If in the SE section look up Kuduman @ Trails End.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?action=profile;u=3829

[GoldTip]

That does look like an excellent specimen.  The question of is he "mount worthy" is only one that you can answer, if you love this bird and want to preserve it, then you and only you can make that decision.  Doesn't matter if he's a juvenile or a very old bird, the decision is based on what you like and what kind of memory you want from that particular hunt/animal.  For me more than spurs I look at length of the tail, is it a split tail (no pun intended), does he have a good solid white ring around the neck, how differing are the colors in his head/face and so forth.  Your pics I can't tell about the tail, but everything else I look for is there.  Now there is another question, are you happy with this bird?  I've killed a couple that were amazing birds that I never mounted, the hunt just didn't mean all that much to me, I've also killed a couple birds that were not great but I had an incredible hunt and I should have mounted them.  Like my Choco dogs first Rooster at age 4.5months.  I should have really mounted that bird, as he'll never get another first rooster.

OK, OK, sorry for the ramble, I had a no show here at work, sorry.  Yes that looks like a great rooster and if he's got a great tail feather group, I'd mount him up.

[400out]

Nice bird! good colors

[jbeaumont21]

I grew up in Iowa shooting tons of pheasants and I can tell you from what I see in the pics it looks like a very nice rooster.  A few things that I always looked for in a mounter was first a long tail feather, then the spurs and finally a bird with a nice white crown and big red patch around the eyes. Like GoldTip said, I think most importantly it has to be a bird you are happy with. 

[wildweeds]

UMMMMMM YEAH! I cant count the number of really great specimens I've shot over the years that would have made great mounts but........................they came down with busted wings,shot real hard,fell in the drink,dog mauled them and the list goes on,I always strive to get the one with the golden BB that the dog don't touch,I get them into a nylon right then and there(carry one in the vest for that reason).I shot a dandy last year in SD and left it with a TAXI there,he mounted it up and shipped it out...................AWFUL,and it ain't even the bird I dropped off either,Spurs is a big thing and this birds were huge at almost 3/4 of an inch with some white tips.The bird that arrived in the box has nubbings and the wingtips are so frayed and tattered that if alive.....................the thing couldn't fly out of his own way.

   I don't have very good luck with Taxidermists,I thought I had a good one but he turned out to be a DINK,He mounted a pheasant,a mountain goat,tanned some hides,did some horn mounts,and about a half dozen ducks..............excellent work.THEN I took him a pair of valley quail,and a hungarian partridge that was killed with a golden BB.He took them and then when I inquired as to their progress 5YEARS later he told me he "didn't do birds anymore" but you can come and get them out of my freezer but they are at the bottom".In my book you take something from someone on the premise your commited to doing the work...............you do it.I knew going into it the guy was SLOW,He whined that it took as much time to do a bird as a deer head workwise and I told him............"Whatever I'll pay the deer head price,or you tell me what you've got to have(his birds are AWESOME).NOPE not gonna do it.SO...........being German in heritage and stubborn as an OX............I could shoot a record anything and would rather saw the horns off and nail them to the side of the barn than take ANYTHING to him.I also don't reccomend him to anyone either.I think the guy's kind of a POS.He got into the Safari game a few years back and the really the ONLY thing he wants to mount is African game.

[C-Money]

Yeah, that looks like a perfect mounter! He dose have great spurs on him. Keep us posted on what you do!

[Birdguy]

He is a beautiful bird for sure, as for mounting that is your call. A good job will cost you some money but if done right and taken care of will last for a very long time. Find a taxidermist that does birds and will show some of their work. If the deal feels right get it done. You may never have  another bird that good.
     I raise pheasants and I had a male that would have been five this fall. I was all ready to catch him up in the dark and do him in, for a mount to be proud of . I had about three or four weeks until his feathering was prime when my son left the door unlocked  and he disappeared. Never saw him again. Have not decided if I will put that kind of time into another one just yet.

[boneaddict]

LOL, so that doesn't just happen to me. 

[Skyvalhunter]

Well atleast your boy should enjoy sleeping in the coup!!

[PNWsportsman]

From the pics I would say that bird will turn out to be a very nice mount.  A few years ago I had a bird mounted with 19 inch tail feathers and decided I wouldnt mount a bird with a shorter tail.  I paid 250 at an experienced taxidermist with only about two weeks turnaround and the bird turned out better than I could have hoped.

[PaulM]

Beautiful bird. I shot a really well feathered bird Sunday as well. I would like to mount some chukars one day. I love thier coloring.  A question for the board... Is it just me or are the late season birds more thickly feathered and impressive?