I hunt alot and keep squirrel tails and feathers, bucktails, etc..., But I try to keep things simple feathers i'll pluck or cape out a bird or sections of feathers i want. I'll usually salt them and dry them out and they keep fine in plastic bags, helps to put mothballs in there as well. Tails i usually remove as much flesh as i can and salt the end and let it dry, with squirrels or with any animal i suppose you have to watch out for parasites, so i'll either leave them out int he cold over night or the freezer. Bucktails we'll skin out and salt and dry, alot of guys up here just let it dry no salt or other treatment.