Opinions? I know the overall decision is how well I like it, but I always like to hear thoughts.
Thanks,
Luke

Very nice wood duck! If you have the disposable income, a taxidermist will preserve that trophy for a lifetime!

Chris

Darn right I'd do that besides wood ducks don't stick around here after temperatures start to drop and snow falls I've never seen one during waterfowl season here.

not a mount man but they are something i'd like done someday.

the feathers are also highly desired for fly tyers.

If you don't already have 12 mounted woodies and you have wall space and you need it. By all means get it mounted, it's not covered in pin feathers so it should look great!

I've messed with mounting a few birds. In my book, I'd mount it. Looks to be in great condition.

Think a lot about the pose before you decide. A standing mount on a piece of driftwood can be nice as well.

Good luck,

Pete

The yellow barred feathers make some of the best split wing dry fly feathers. If you don't get it mounted save those feathers for a flytier.

I would if I were you. I know a guy that has a beautiful log home that has just about every species of ducks and geese that God has made. My favorite mount of all them is the Wood Duck. That is a beautiful bird!

We are actually loaded with wood ducks here. A lot have headed south but still a fair number.

I actually sell the feathers to fly tyers so if you or anyone needs any, keep me in mind. $8.50-$10 shipped.
Actually have a lot of flanks from ten woodies taken by three guys over opener here for $40 shipped also.

Thank you! Only have a fish on the wall so thinking their colorful woodie would go perfect by my colorful brown trout.

I quit mounting birds because to me, they all look the same. Is there such as thing as a "trophy" wood duck unless the situation was special?

Thinking about a semi-side view of his cupping up like hes landing in the decoys so you can see that pretty breast and flank feathers.

Does an animal have to be a trophy to mount?

For me, YES. That is why I have never done a shoulder mount of a doe.

I used to be eaten up with waterfowl hunting and got into taxidermy just so I could mount ducks and geese. There are a lot of people that have never seen a duck other than a mallard in a park. Many of those same people were amazed at how beautiful and different the wild ducks were. If you are into waterfowl and like daydreaming about ducks and geese and a really cool looking mounted duck is something you like to look at. Get it mounted, I am sure someone visiting your house will also think it is very cool.

Every critter is a trophy!!!

I would ask you this..... Are you a regular waterfowl hunter? If not that is a great bird to have mounted. Very good color and a nice looking bird. If you are then the opportunity to get a much nicer bird are there. NOT THAT THIS IS NOT A NICE BIRD. My way of thinking over the years when it comes to waterfowl is that I would never mount a local bird. I have birds on the wall that are local birds and then a few years later taken a real nice northern bird that completely blows it out of the water. Then the question becomes what to do with what was a great bird and mount at the time when I'm hang this far superior bird next to it. A northern bird will be a bigger bird in general, have better color throughout, and what I call the mullet on a woodie will be much longer giving those white dye lines to run further down the back.

As you called it it's up to you what you do but being as you asked opinion that is my 2c

How much is the taxidermist going to pay you for that duck? Could be worth it to sell it to him.

Can you sell a migratory bird to a taxidermist, or anyone else for that matter? I'm pretty sure you can't legally sell them.once they're mounted.

Believe your right. I looked and fly tying feathers is about on of the few things you can sell them for.