No prepackaged goods here

What feathers do I need to save? Is it best to skin and dry or pluck and bag?Attachment 392816

The best feathers from the birds there would be the flank feathers from a mallard drake. Looks like you have enough of those to make quite a few jigs. I would pluck and bag them, but they also need to be washed really good before you store them.

Don't forget to pluck the CDC feathers around the oil gland
Steve-stabgnid

Thanks I skinned 3 mallards, 1 drake woodduck , 1 goose and plucked the rest of Drake mallards. I didn't get the cdc feathers on on the plucked. I will next weekend.

Thanks! What do you wash the feathers in?
Warm water and soap? If you use soap what type?

Yes Duck especially Mallard, Gadwall and a few others Flank Feathers and from the geese I am not sure how big their marabou is, but take it if it's good enough. Also if you ever want to do any flies I am sure a lot of the under stuff may be good dubbing?

Skip

Marabou on that large goose will definitely work for crappie jigs.

I use hot water and Dawn dish detergent. After rinsing really good I let them dry and then freeze them for a couple days to make sure any microscopic bugs are dead. Then I trim the fluffy portion off and I'm ready to tie or dye.

Lifetime supply for me.

I use dawn dish detergent and 20 Mule Team borax - get a big can with a lid and shake them up and let soak, shake again and let soak again then get a strainer and drain and rinse them. lay on paper towel and put more on top and squeeze out most of the water. Then toss them in a pillow case with a non-scented dryer sheet and 5 minutes of heat then air and then bag em up. I have a quarantine box and they stay there for a minimum of 45 days. I've been using this method for years and never got a bug yet. the borax seems to be a bug deterrent. I've never bought the sticking them or fur in the freezer - if bugs can survive in below 0 temps I don't believe a freezer is going to help!

Thank you everyone for the replies.