Duck Wings

[sixfinger]

I have a buddy that went Duck hunting a couple of weeks ago, I told him to save me some feathers if he was successful. Well, he was and he did. He gave me a mallard wing and 2 teal wings. Problem though. They're a little ripe. I'm not sure what to do so I dont have my house smelling like rotting flesh. They're in the freezer right now ( much to my wife's shagrin.)

Is there a way to treat the wings so they are preserved and won't rot? I really dont want to just pluck all the feathers off, It would be easier to store if the whole wing was preserved and i can just pluck off what I need, just like a hackle cape. Any would be taxidermist have any suggestions??

[Desmond Wiles]

I've never done this, but I do believe this question has been asked. I'd suggest using the search engine on this site.

[Randy Diefert]

slice along the bone and "butterfly it open. cut away as much meat and fat as you can, leaving the bone. Go to the pharmacy and get some sodium Sulfate and sprinkle it all over the inside of the wing, hang it in a tree if you don't have a garage. Try keeping it dry. 2 weeks will do you. Brush off all remaining sulfate ( be sure that you haven't any cuts on your fingers anytime your messing with this stuff ( I wear gloves) with a brush. Then bring it in the house and put it in a tuperware container (DECANT chamber) with moth balls in it or you can use one of those urinal cakes for 1 month and you'll be bug free. I hate the smell of moth balls but, if you're going to add materials that come from the wild it's a good idea to debug! I've brought home deer tails before that I put in my lunch box at work . When I opened them at home I found ticks in the plastic baggies that I put them in. It made a believer out of me. I do all of my own roosters this way as well as Game birds.

[mr trout]

mmmmm....urinal cake....(/homer simpson off)

[Randy Diefert]

Yeah I Know , I read that on another site. I'd stick with moth balls and away from the used urinal cakes in shady bars...
Sounds sick but, supposably there is some sort of insecticide in them and the order disappears faster when you take your materials out of the "Decant Box"...:confused:

[nomlasder]

I've never done this but I know some taxidemists freeze dry road kill ( LOL ) maybe one of them would have room for a wing or two.

[sixfinger]

screw it, I'll just pluck and sort the damn things. Thanks andy for the suggestion.