Looking for tail...

[fflutterffly]

actually who skins. But first I'm curious if there is a website that tells what skins are illegal. I am jonesing for an American Wood Duck (Male)

[narcodog]

Woodies are very legal. There are some on Ebay right now.

[Old Hat]

What feathers are you looking for from the tail? Why the whole skin?

[Norm Frechette]

But first I'm curious if there is a website that tells what skins are illegal.

migratory bird act will tell you that

http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/regul ... intro.html

[FliTrap]

If a bird is legally hunted and killed, anyone, including the hunter but especially the receiver of any gifted feathers, must maintain documentation of who did the kill, and their hunting id numbers from the state they hunted! Also needed is the date of kill and location. I keep the info on a card within the feather bag. I have some duck hunters that bring me some nice feathers... a return gifts of flies if they like!
FliTrap

[DUBBN]

Wood Duck is very rare in Western Colorado, how ever some do get shot here. I keep in touch with a couple taxidermists a few times/year. Once in a Blue Moon, the ownwer of a Wood Duck, that has delivered the bird to be mounted, decides they dont want i t done when it is time to pay the deposit. When this happens, I get a call from one of the taxidermists, and they let me know they have a bird for me. Both fly fish, and I usually pay them with 3 to 5 dozen flies. Cool thing is, they usually have other critters there to give me that hunters have decided are not worth the price of mounting

Just an idea

Oh, the taxidermist will give you his business card with all the info about the bird written on the back. Keep this info with the feathers.

[letumgo]

Great tip Wayne! Very resourceful.

[fflutterffly]

Wow I didn't think this would be such an informative question. I'll find a taxidermist here in LA and check this out. Great advice. Here is a little history: I was watching NATURE: DUCKumentory and I saw the male wood duck and it's amazing plumage. So I thought, flies!!!!

[narcodog]

It is the material of choice of Catskill style flies, both drys, especially and wets. If you have difficulty finding some you can also use mandarin which is a commercially available bird.

Look on Ebay there are feathers always listed. This is the time of year that really get prolific.

The feathers that are used the most are the flank feathers both the barred and lemon. Breast for fan wings. Also wings they make very good wet fly wings and double slip Catskill wings.

[fflutterffly]

OMG I have so much to learn!!!! Thanks guys and N-dog