Mounting Your Hooded Merganser Duck - Waterfowl Taxidermy Tips

The Majestic Hooded Merganser - A Guide to Mounting Your Prize Waterfowl

The hooded merganser is a striking bird that stands out among North America's diverse waterfowl population. With its distinctive white crest and charming personality, it's no wonder this duck is a prized target for waterfowl hunters across its range. If you're lucky enough to harvest a hooded merganser, you may want to preserve your trophy by having it professionally mounted.

About the Hooded Merganser

The hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) is a small duck that breeds primarily in forested wetlands across Canada and the northern United States. The male has a black crest that it can raise into a fan shape to attract females. This striking white patch contrasts sharply with the male's shiny green-black head and back. Females have a rusty brown crest and gray body.

These birds spend their winters along coastlines from Alaska to Mexico. They have a taste for small fish and aquatic insects and use their slender, serrated bills to grasp slippery prey. Hooded mergansers are known for being quite vocal, with courtship calls sounding like rolling, rattling croaks.

Hunting the Hooded Merganser

Hooded mergansers are a popular game bird across much of their range. Their striking plumage and reputation for being flighty, fast ducks make them a challenging target for waterfowl hunters. Hunting season for hooded mergansers runs from September through January in most areas.

These ducks are most active at dawn and dusk as they fly between roosting and feeding areas. Setting up near forested wetlands and river backwaters that provide cover and food is a good way to intercept these daily flights. Using duck calls that imitate the hooded merganser's rolling courtship croak can also help draw them into range.

Because of their wariness, decoy spreads are very important when hunting hooded mergansers. Using small groups of actively posed decoys can help put these birds at ease so they decoy in for a close shot.

Field Care for Your Harvest

If you're successful in taking a hooded merganser, proper field care is essential for preserving plumage and meat quality. As soon as the bird is harvested, remove any internal organs to aid cooling. If the weather is warm, packing the body cavity with ice can help prevent spoilage.

Avoid rough handling that can damage feathers. Use a game strap to safely carry your harvested bird from the field. Keeping the merganser cool and dry will go a long way toward ensuring it looks its best when preserved by a taxidermist.

Choosing a Taxidermist

Waterfowl taxidermy is a highly specialized craft that requires experience and artistic skill to properly mount ducks and other waterbirds. When choosing a taxidermist for your hooded merganser, look for the following:

• A professional with experience and expertise specifically in waterfowl
• A taxidermy shop with samples of high quality waterfowl mounts on display
• Advanced techniques like feather painting to recreate a life-like appearance
• A good reputation for creative poses that showcase the bird's beauty
• Reasonable pricing and service fees

View their portfolio and talk to the taxidermist to get a sense of their process, turnaround time, and costs. Many shops offer duck packages with base prices for common species. Because of its specialized plumage, mounting a hooded merganser may incur additional fees.

Mounting Positions to Consider

One of the exciting parts of having your hooded merganser preserved is deciding how you want it posed for display. While standing mounts are the simplest presentation, more complex flying or swimming poses better showcase the duck's natural beauty.

Since the hooded merganser's most distinctive feature is its crest, choosing a pose where this is visible is key. Here are some popular mounting choices for this species:

• Crest Raised: The drake with crest fanned in display best shows off this unique plumage.
• Head Turned: A quartering away pose with the head turned back accentuates the crest.
• Takeoff Pose: Low-flying pose captures the duck bursting into flight.
• Walking on Water: Dramatic swimming pose with head held high.
• Floating Mount: Relaxed floating pose lets you display on wall or shelf.

Your taxidermist can help advise on which option works best for your trophy based on its size and condition. Consider the display location and viewing angles as you select a pose.

Caring for Your Mounted Waterfowl

One of the great benefits of having your hooded merganser professionally mounted is being able to preserve and display this trophy for years to come. With proper care and maintenance, a quality waterfowl mount can last for decades or longer.

Keep the mount in a climate-controlled area away from direct sunlight, which can fade feathers over time. Use a specialty duster to gently clean dust off the feathers every few months. Check for pests like carpet beetles which can sometimes infest mounts.

Avoid handling the mount excessively or picking at feathers, as this can cause damage over time. If feathers do get ruffled, they can be carefully realigned and smoothed out. Let your taxidermist know right away if any repairs are needed.

Proudly Display Your Trophy

After all the effort securing a fine hooded merganser in the field and having it expertly mounted, you'll no doubt want to display this trophy prominently. Here are some great ways to show off your mounted waterfowl:

• Hang in the living room, office or den
• Display on a shelf, cabinet or tabletop
• Show in a curio cabinet or trophy room
• Feature in a game room, man cave or cabin
• Use as part of an outdoor waterfowl or hunting theme

With its piercing red eyes and flowing black-and-white crest, a hooded merganser mount is sure to impress as a centerpiece wherever it's placed. Let this preserved trophy commemorate a memorable hunt and serve as a lasting testament to this duck's beauty.

When you've been fortunate enough to harvest one of North America's most handsome waterfowl, taking the time to have it professionally mounted is a worthwhile investment. With proper care and display, your mounted hooded merganser will provide a lifetime of enjoyment and preserve a unique aspect of our natural heritage.

FAQs

Where can I hunt hooded mergansers?

The hooded merganser range extends across Canada and the northern U.S. Prime hunting areas include forested wetlands, beaver ponds, marshes, and river backwaters that provide adequate food sources and roosting cover.

How can I get close to hooded mergansers?

Using duck calls and decoys specially tailored to hooded mergansers can help draw in these wary birds. Set up near feeding and roosting areas at prime flight times early and late in the day for best success.

What is the best pose for a hooded merganser mount?

Poses that showcase the male’s distinctive crest, such as a crest raised or head turned mount, are ideal. A swimming or takeoff pose also accentuates the duck's natural beauty.

How much does it cost to mount a hooded merganser?

Basic duck mounts may start around $250-350, but unique species like hooded mergansers often incur extra fees. More complex flying or swimming mounts cost more. Expect to invest $400-600 for a professional hooded merganser mount.

How long will a mounted duck last?

With proper care and maintenance, a professionally mounted waterfowl can remain in excellent condition for many decades. Avoid direct sunlight, dust regularly, and address any pest or damage issues promptly.