Featherworks Waterfowl Taxidermy has provided the following tips for keeping your trophy in the best condition possible prior to mounting.

• Try to retrieve your bird yourself
  
  

• Never carry a trophy bird by the neck. They come stock with three handles: two feet and a bill. Please use them.
  
  

• Upon retrieval of your bird, if it is not dead, lay it on it's chest and apply pressure to it's back with your knee.  This will expire the bird in a short time without any damage.
  
  

• Keep your trophy as dry and clean as possible and keep it out of direct sunlight.
  
  

• Put your bird in the freezer ASAP. Fold the head under a wing or over it's back and place in a plastic bag. Ziploc freezer bags work great! Squeeze out as much air as possible. Never use newspaper, for this will dry the bird out too quickly.
  
  

• The quicker you get it to me, the quicker I'll get it back to you !