Grouse hunting requires effort: dog training , scouting hunting spots , and practicing your shooting . Killing birds is just one part of the experience, but when you finally connect with a beautiful grouse over your dog, it feels like the culmination.
These moments sear themselves into memory, but it is natural to want to preserve some memento as well. Professional taxidermy is a great option, but good work demands a fair price, and a full-body bird mount can exceed the budgets of many hunters. Hunters also take pride in bringing wholesome meat to the table, and a full-body mount means you likely won’t be eating your hard-earned prize.
Saving tail fans can be a great compromise as this approach gives you both your trophy and your dinner, with minimal expense. While the process might seem simple, practice has taught me a few important considerations. If you want to preserve a trophy grouse fan—or any other kind of upland bird, such as turkeys —consider these steps.
5 Steps to Mounting a Grouse Fan
Not all grouse fans need to be mounted, but the best ones should be. (Photo courtesy of Josh Tatman) Step 1: Shoot a Memorable Bird Unfortunately, not every grouse fan is worth saving. Avoid birds that have been shot a little too close, chewed by an overzealous puppy, or otherwise show obvious damage. It is very difficult to make a damaged fan look good. Late season birds are far superior to young-of-the-year in early fall. Even mature grouse are often recovering from the molt in September and October and often have half-grown tail feathers.
Handle your grouse with care to avoid damaging feathers in the tail fan. (Photo courtesy of Josh Tatman) Step 2: Handle Grouse with Care You will know it when you hold a truly special bird. When you do, be sure to treat it with care. Ideally, carry the bird out of the field in your hands. If you must use your game vest, place the bird flat on top of your other gear where feathers are less likely to be bent or ruffled.
When you return to your vehicle, place the grouse in a protected spot where the bird can lay flat on its back. If you need to use a cooler due to warm conditions, consider removing the tail fan in the field before driving home.
A sharp knife is best for removing a grouse's tail fan. (Photo courtesy of Josh Tatman) Step 3: Remove the Grouse’s Tail Fan To remove a grouse’s tail fan, flip the bird on its back. Using a sharp knife or shears, make a single cut perpendicular to the tail feathers, directly behind the anus. You will end up with a handful of loose feathers. Discard these but try to leave all other feathers in place. You can remove some of the smaller feathers later, but you can’t add them back in.
Once the fan is pinned, place something heavy on it to press it while it dries. (Photo courtesy of Josh Tatman) Step 4: Press and Preserve the Grouse Fan Soon after removing the tail fan, and certainly before the flesh begins to dry, you need to lay out your fan. Use a clean flat of cardboard as a base. Long tacks or sewing pins serve to spread the feathers and hold them in place. Start with the outside feathers, spreading them to an angle that you like, then adjust the spacing of all the other feathers. Place a tack or pin at least every other feather, close to the base of the grouse fan.
It is necessary to cure the small bit of flesh at the base of the fan to avoid spoilage. A healthy spoonful of borax does the trick, but even table salt can work fine in drier climates. Place a heavy object on the base of your tail fan and let it lie flat in a cool place for several weeks.
A shadow box is a great way to display a grouse fan. (Photo courtesy of Josh Tatman) Step 5: Frame Your Grouse Fan Once your grouse fan has completely dried, gently brush off any borax or salt. Now it is time to primp your tail. Pluck feathers from the back of the fan that create unnecessary bulk. Carefully pluck a few ‘wild hair’ feathers from the base of the front, working to achieve a symmetrical appearance. Some folks like to pluck almost all of these, showing the quill bases of the tail feathers, while others like to leave them covered by smaller feathers.
Once your tail fan is styled to your liking, it is time to show it off. Some hunters have containers of tail fans saved in the garage, but if you are really proud of your prize, get a shadowbox. Pre-made frames can work well, or if you are handy at the workbench, it’s a relatively easy project to mount a piece of glass in a trim board frame.
Line the back of the frame with felt or craft foamboard, then firmly pin your fan to the backing. After you mount the fan, jot down a few particulars about the hunt on the back of the frame. Every time you look at your tail fan, you will remember the joy of the hunt, and the dog you shared it with.
