Question for the fly tyer's

[2 Tollers]

I have been asked by a couple of people to save bird feathers and fur from harvest's this fall. What is useful? The full pelt from a pheasant? wings? tail hair only from deer? Anything from waterfowl?


Thanks for all advice

[ShortsideK]

Originally Posted by 2 Tollers

I have been asked by a couple of people to save bird feathers and fur from harvest's this fall. What is useful? The full pelt from a pheasant? wings? tail hair only from deer? Anything from waterfowl?


Thanks for all advice

When I first started tying, part of the fun was finding alternative materials to use (natural and synthetic) so that I didn't have to buy the "official" tying stuff. Its was part of the "game".

It's still fun, but now I realize that the seemingly tiny packages of tying material that we buy (usually around $5) will tie tons of flies. They're also clean and available in the colors we want.

You should ask your friends what they want specifically.
I guarantee you that if you dump a pile of bird skins and a moose/deer/elk hide on their front step they will not be pleased.

They're not going to get dry fly hackle from you.
Other than giving them a few pheasant tail feathers I really can't see the big deal.
Just my opinion, but I'm hopeful others will educate me.

[Mr Flyguy]

Everything is useful. Once I lent my canoe to some duck hunters and they gave me enough mallard wings to last a lifetime.

Pheasant tails and rump feathers are always welcome.

A chunk of deer or moose hair goes a long way, why pay?

And goose feathers? Bring 'em on please!

[Don Andersen]

You best check with Fish and Wildlife regarding feathers. There are some strange and quite unexpected consequences occasionally.
From what I recall, you have to include a letter telling the recipient how and where the feathers come from plus a copy of your current license. But you better check with them as I am sure that some things might have changed since I did the same thing. Lots of silly stuff in the laws.
And please don't shoot the messenger. I didn't invent the regulations.

Don

[ShortsideK]

Originally Posted by Don Andersen

You best check with Fish and Wildlife regarding feathers. There are some strange and quite unexpected consequences occasionally.
From what I recall, you have to include a letter telling the recipient how and where the feathers come from plus a copy of your current license. But you better check with them as I am sure that some things might have changed since I did the same thing. Lots of silly stuff in the laws.
And please don't shoot the messenger. I didn't invent the regulations.

Don

What about feathers obtained from "road kill"?

[Don Andersen]

Like I said, I am neither an enforcement officer or lawyer just a guy who needed permission to acquire or distribute feathers or skins.
Haven't done it in years. Regulations may have changed. You best check.
I've heard that road kill is legal with a permit.


Don

[ShortsideK]

Originally Posted by Mr Flyguy

Everything is useful. Once I lent my canoe to some duck hunters and they gave me enough mallard wings to last a lifetime.

Pheasant tails and rump feathers are always welcome.

A chunk of deer or moose hair goes a long way, why pay?

And goose feathers? Bring 'em on please!

I agree somewhat (in very small doses).
I do not, however, have any desire to get a gift of some lice infested, maggot laden, mud/blood caked feathers or chunks of hides. Not even getting into the inherent smell.

If we're interested in the "why pay" aspect, why don't we do more harvesting of the road-kill we often see. Its free and we can get exactly the pieces we want.

Is it worth the effort? Yes to some. Not to me.
If the opportunity falls in my lap, I'd be interested if a few pheasant tail/rump feathers, but other than that, I'll pass, thank you.

[ShortsideK]

Originally Posted by Don Andersen

Like I said, I am neither an enforcement officer or lawyer just a guy who needed permission to acquire or distribute feathers or skins.
Haven't done it in years. Regulations may have changed. You best check.
I've heard that road kill is legal with a permit.


Don

hmmmmmm... thanks for the info. I would never imagined that a permit would be needed for road kill. Its somewhat of a moot point since I don't expect to be in that situation, but definitely worth looking into.

[Deadl1fta]

to tell u the truth. Feathers aren't really expensive. And one pheasant feather can last you a very long time. I've tied probably 30 pheasant tail nymphs with one quill.

[professori]

Entire pheasant pelts are extremely useful, as are any other game bird pelts. Deer belly hair, leg hair and longer back patches are all useful, but only if the hair fibres are straight, often individual hairs are curved and aren't worth keeping. Mall patches (no more than 8"x8") are good. Larger than that become a PITA. Moose, bear and elk all are good as well, if you harvest them.

[Bjay]

Don't forget partridge and Mallard drake duck feathers. I use the partridge on my soft hackle flies and mallard on my rolled muddlers. If you have never used a rolled muddler you are missing out on one of the best flies that was ever invented. It is my go to fly. 3x long #10,8,6 Mustad 9672 hook, or use R200's
The rolled muddler (look it up on the net) uses the long feathers from under the shoulder of the wing.
I'm in B.C. so I have a problem getting pheasant, partridge and mallards skins but you guys out there shouldn't have to much trouble getting them. I get a skin, pin it to a cardboard box, clean it and rub borax or alum into it, leave it for a week or until it is dry, shake or rub off the excess borax then put it in a ziploc bag and it is good for many years.
Bjay

[chucky]

Wings, tails and shoulders from most fowl are great. Try to get mallard wings to tie a bloody butcher from a shop... They're around but good luck getting hold of them. I look at these poor mallards in the park with strange eyes...
If you're tying wet flies or spiders these small feathers from the bird shoulders are great. The main feathers from the wings are great for the, well, wings of wets. Larger feathers are working nicely for quill body in nice natural colours.
All these feathers can be removed from the skin so you don't have to treat the skin. Put them in separate zip lock bags and make sure to avoid possible contamination with other material and you're fine.
I've always been tying on a budget and i love finding feathers, there're something really nice about the direct connection from the bird to the fly.
I'd happily exchange finished flies for some nice feathers, just need to be selected a little so you don't end up with ton of fluff you have to ramage through to get to the good feathers.

[lds]

A lot of you say tying material is cheap which I agree if you only tie a couple different flies but let's be Honest doesn't take long before you've got a handful of $5 bags of material from the fly shop and the. It's not so cheep. Also a lot of that stuf you go through every couple years so guys like me that don't have the budget to buy everything in a nice bag and brand name I go for all the free stuff I can get and only have to spend about $20 a year on materials if that. It is definitely worth getting free materials when on a budget

[2 Tollers]

I certainly will not be passing on maggot infected or smelly stuff to family or friends.

For those that provided advice on best locations for small sections and on the letter with licence -- Thanks guys.

I did do a couple of full pelts and tanned them so they will be good for the long term.

[HunterDave]

I have some whitetail tails here in Morinville if anyone can use them.

[gs100bert]

I gave 2 pheasant capes away to fly tires last year and they seemed pretty happy to get them also gave away a couple of whitaile tails a few years ago to a neighbor that ties .

[Seige]

I remember years ago, I had the great idea as here.. I thought it was brilliant, still do.. yet, after putting some goose and mallard rump feathers in some zip locks, and stored inside my tying desk... figured they'd be great for soft hackle (ie: cul de canard)
and even for dries, look how well they float! The rump feathers, heck any of the waterfowl feathers especially Canada goose feathers, omg I thought what a great buoyant feather!
I had remembered them the next time I was tying up, pulled the bag out and opened it up.. yep was pretty ripe!
I don't know but it was pretty smelly and I didn't bother.. and haven't tried it again since.
Maybe I should've dried Em out very good, before sealing them up.
Best of luck figuring a good way to utilize some feathers, for tying! As my exploration was halted due to rank circumstances

[fishstix]

It really depends on how big you want your tying pile to be. I think we all started by gathering everything you could put your hands on. Things from friends. Things from the grocery store. Little bits of fluff off your wife's best sweater. Anything. After a while you have so much stuff you start forgetting what's in your box.
I've streamlined. Most of my stuff fits in my small Plano box.

[densa44]

Ever since I moved to Alberta, my very crude flies have all gravitated to; elk hair caddis, and elk hair grasshoppers. I'm ashamed to show them on here, and they have become simpler and simpler as the years have gone by. But as Grand Dad said, it is presentation and careful wading that catches the fish.

So far he has been right!