"riverman" wrote in message
...

"Jim S" wrote in message
...
Complete set up and lots of stuff.
(snip)

Riverman wrote:
I see from the photo that Jim here has a similar problem as I do. How do
you
guys store pheasant tails in your tying kit without ruining them?
(snip)
--riverman

Heh . . . heh . . .I store my pheasant tails and skins in a couple 70 quart
tubs. I suspect your "kit" probably doesn't have that much room.
Just do like Frank said. Cut them. Pull back the fibers down from the
"stem", and make a clean cut so you aren't cutting off the fibers, just the
stem. And don't think just in half. Do them in thirds or even quarters. A
little plastic baggie will hold a lot of material. . .and sometimes keeps a
lot of other little critters away, that like to eat associated stuff to do
with feathers.

Do other things, like putting in the freezer for a few days, and then a
slight microwave time, sans baggie. (some baggies tend to get a bit squishy
in a microwave)

I don't trust anything I buy as far as natural skins or feathers go. ( I
even have a grouse skeleton skin somewhere that was stored for several
years, that magically lost all the feathers.) Process everything.

I pretty amazed that you can travel around, as it appears you do alot,
without out declaring any such bird kinda things, especially if you are
taking some various types of bird parts and the like. . .some animal parts
as well. (customs and the wildlife folks sorta get interested in this
stuff )
DaveMohnsen
Denver
(so . . .I babbled a bit . . .just cut the feathers. . . .put 'em in a
plastic bag)