Birds are very easy to care for in the field.  First, you must determine if the bird is a good quality mount.  Many birds brought in each year, particularly waterfowl, are not fully feathered enough to make a good mount.   
Check pin feathers by gently lifting backwards and looking for feathers that are not fully grown.  The back of the neck, the top of the head, the rump and the side feathers are the areas where pin or blood feathers are the most common.  Look also at the size of the bird compared to other birds of the same species.  Older, more mature birds are generally larger.  
Check to see how badly hit your bird was.  If it has large holes, wing feathers shot or broken off or more than just a few pellets in the head area, it is probable in too poor of a condition to mount.  If you are in doubt, bring the bird in to your taxidermist so that he/she can check it for themselves.  
Assuming that you have a well feathered bird that you did not shoot up:

1. Rinse or wipe as much blood off the feathers as you can.  Take care not to damage the feathers.
2. Place a piece of toilet paper or other absorbent material in the bird’s mouth to help absorb fluids.  Keep the bird cool and dry.
3. Wrap the bird in a plastic bag.  Freeze and transport the animal to the taxidermist as soon as possible.  

When preparing deer for taxidermy, you must consider what type of mount you desire (antler, head, head with shoulder or rug) which will determine how the deer must be cleaned.  If you are not sure, please call us before you begin.

Keep 12 inches behind the front leg when field dressing. Click here to view detail instructions.
Keep the animal cool and dry.
Transport the animal to the taxidermist or meat processor as soon as possible for caping of the hide.

Keep the animal cool and dry.  
Wrap the animal in plastic bags - not paper.
Freeze solid and deliver to the taxidermist.
If unable to freeze, transport the animal to the taxidermist as soon as possible.

Do not place fish in a wire basket or on a stringer.
To prepare fresh caught fish for taxidermy, wrap fish in a wet towel or old t-shirt if these are not available saran wrap can be used.  Wrap in a plastic bag.   Make sure the fins are flat against the fish to avoid breakage.  Place fish in freezer until ready for processing.
Freeze solid and deliver to the taxidermist (fins become fragile when frozen).