Growing up my grandmother would ask us to save the "good" feathers and she'd make pillows. Back in the 80's I've also waxed them and it works well. The waxing is only feasible if you have a lot cause of the set up required. Back then we could kill 10 pintails in one limit so often had 20 ducks. We'd also have a lot of them picked for $1.00 a piece when we hunted out of Hackberry. Well, Johnson Bayou but our camp was in Hackberry right across from Terry Shaughnessy's Hackberry Rod and Gun club. Well, if I remember right his place was in a curve and we were catacorner. I have one of these. It sits on top of a 55 gal drum I cut the top off of and the feathers go into the drum. It works well but the ducks have to be dry. I was just curious what others use.
I know exactly where that is! I typically go to Hackberry twice a year for some redfish action. The red population (and slot, consequently) in TX is intollerable. Maybe we can make a blast and cast trip sometime over there. I'm due for some reds. I typically pluck the ducks by hand. 6 at a time is not too bad. However, I have heard these work great!
I'm pretty sure I've shown y'all this before. This is what we use. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLhacLDjJgo&feature=related]The Bird Hitch by Waterfowl Junkie. Unbelievable!!! - YouTube[/ame]
For mallards, yeah. I don't breast good ducks though. And I'm serious. I've been told mallard breasts wrapped in bacon are good on on pit but I like "brown gravies" and want the skin for flavor and helps to make the gravy (stickens).
