If possible, avoid dog retrieving on any bird you are considering to have mounted. As many of us have experienced, not all dogs have that soft mouth we read about.
	Gently clean off any blood using water and your hands or a light cloth. Running the area under a slow running faucet will get most blood out even at the end of a long day. (Birds that get chest shot can typically lead to more bleeding after they have been thawed out at the taxidermist which can be a problem later on)
	Do not wrap your bird with newspaper prior to freezing. This will remove that much needed moisture to aid in prolonging freezer damage.
	Improper packing prior to freezing will also promote freezer burn. Plastic bags work the best removing as much air out as possible. Double wrap if possible with a couple of lightly placed pieces of masking tape. Wrap the tape around the bird to keep everything in place. Try to tuck in or put any feathers that look out of place back where they belong the best you can.
	Extended lengths of time in the freezer can cause freezer burn typically causing the skin around the eyes to dry up. Other areas that become exposed and damaged can also lead to "drop" causing patches of features to fall out. It is recommended waterfowl not be frozen for more than 3/4 of a year. The sooner your specimen is brought in, the better the end result will be.
	Tuck the bill of the bird under its wing if possible.
	Wrap both legs and head with a paper towel that has been soaked with water. This will help reduce the chance of the eye lids and legs from drying out and becoming leathery.
	For long tailed birds such as pin tails and old squaws, cut out two small pieces of cardboard long and wide enough to protect the tail. Make a sandwich of the tail with the cardboard and tape together.
	Do not place birds on racked shelves in the freezer. Place a piece of cardboard on the rack if it is the only type of shelving available.
	Do not lay other birds or items on top of the bird in the freezer.
	Document the color of the bill with a picture if you want it to look the same when mounted. Bills will sometimes loose distinguishing marks while in the freezer.
	Don’t worry about damaged bills or legs if you really want that special bird mounted. These can be replaced with artificial ones for minimal additional cost.

Happy hunting,