Acquiring natural tying materials

[Solitariolupo]

Just started getting into this - harvested some CDC and flank feathers from my last hunt of duck season last week that are currently going through a freeze/thaw cycle to kill any unwanted guests. I also have a buddy who keeps mallards and pheasants and planted a bug in his ear, so I should have access to as many feathers as I could possibly want.

Need to figure out how to dye some of them next...

Rit dye.

 

[Bamboozle]

Any body have any of the elusive "urine-stained underbelly from a vixen red fox...?" 😉

 

[Bamboozle]

Rit dye.

Ditto on Rit and also Veniard dyes are very good and blended specifically for dying feathers & furs.

 

[salmo]

Any body have any of the elusive "urine-stained underbelly from a vixen red fox...?" 😉

You stole that from one of my posts a way back. "I know a good joke when I steal one." Milton Berle

 

[Bamboozle]

Back when I took everything Art Flick said as gospel, if I couldn't find any urine-stained underbelly from a vixen red fox...

I'd make my own. 😉

 

[salmo]

BTW is have some Urine stained lint from a pair of Jockey Shorts.🤪

 

[Bamboozle]

VIXEN Jockey Shorts...

 

[dc410]

Picked up some patches of Ringneck feathers earlier this week. I never pass on some pheasant feathers that are available. Nice rusty feathers on the rump patch just above the tail on this one.

 

[salmo]

Picked up some patches of Ringneck feathers earlier this week. I never pass on some pheasant feathers that are available. Nice rusty feathers on the rump patch just above the tail on this one.

View attachment 1641240117

Nice!!!

 

[salmo]

I just acquired so muskrat patches, a full fox and several possum pelts. Gonna need a bigger coffee grinder!

 

[moorestowngreg]

Here is cdc from wild ducks, which is all I use anymore. I think they trap more air. You basically get a few shades of gray(dun). You'll get different shades from different ducks. A mature hen mallard will have dark brown. I tie a lot of flies using just this to float it, for an 18 or 20 you don't really need anything else. Blot it when it gets wet and you're back in business. The last picture is a black duck and shows you where to find it, a mature bird will have more than a juvenile one. These aren't really long like the domesticated duck feathers that are sold in various colors, maybe 3/4 to 1-1/2"s.

 

[Tups]

Thanks for the photos. Your last pic looks like a green winged teal, a very useful bird.

 

[moorestowngreg]

Thanks for the photos. Your last pic looks like a green winged teal, a very useful bird.

The middle picture of just the cdc feathers is green winged teal and is the lightest in shade. They are small but it doesn't really matter. I also really like using GWT flank feathers for wings on flies like a coffin fly or a dark hendrickson, and also as legs on nymphs and pupa.

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

All skinned out, fleshed, washed and is starting to cure.

What's your cure? 20 Mule Team Borax + salt + powdered alum?
A family member tried to preserve (tame) rabbit hides and forgot to scrape off all the fat. It was a greasy, rancid mess before he shaved the hides and packed the bunny fur into Ziploc bags.

 

[dc410]

What's your cure? 20 Mule Team Borax + salt + powdered alum?
A family member tried to preserve (tame) rabbit hides and forgot to scrape off all the fat. It was a greasy, rancid mess before he shaved the hides and packed the bunny fur into Ziploc bags.

Yes. 20 Mule Team Borax + Salt. I really feel that the Borax is the most effective in curing bird skins.

 

[salmo]

That’s what I heard. Never tried it myself and won’t take up tanning at my age.

 

[BradFromPotter]

Any body have any of the elusive "urine-stained underbelly from a vixen red fox...?" 😉

Sure do....I acquired a piece from a trapper friend.

 

[salmo]

Close enough?

 

[Bamboozle]

Sure do....I acquired a piece from a trapper friend.

I have a nice piece too from a fly tying buddy of mine although I still prefer synthetic dubbing.

Coincidentally, there was just a big red fox in my backyard.

 

[rancid waders]

That fox has an very good amount of black tips, perfect Foxee Clousers