Anything up with supplies? I notice Orvis no longer sells it.
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Anything up with supplies? I notice Orvis no longer sells it.
nature doth provide. you need some? PM me your address
No. That's very kind of you. I got some from another shop in town. Chicago is lucky enough to have two.
I stopped by the Orvis shop a couple of weeks ago and was told they no longer carry it (they do sell big bags of wood duck-dyed mallard).
Guy didn't know why.
Anyway, I've been meaning to ask if anybody knew if anything was up, and I finally remembered.
Feather Craft often has bulk bags that make it much more economical if you do not hunt and use a lot of it. Those little bags of matched feather are just too darn expensive.
Thanks whatfly.
But nobody's heard of a shortage or anything? Steven Tyler putting woodie in his hair?
There always seemed to be a limited supply to me. I have purchased the 1 oz. bags from Feather Craft before. They are mixed and about 2/3 barred feathers. Still probably a better deal than the small packs.
Always get mine from Blue Ribbon in West. Never noticed a shortage there,
Last year I scored some good lemon wood duck on Ebay. This year it was slim pickins. I use a lot of it and I'm always looking for it. I don't think there is any shortage but not many selling.
Looking at some other DNR sites I saw a large number of woodies posted but no one was willing to give it up. I think many folks think it is illegal to dispose of it.
BANG!!
Wood duck!
As one who has (off and on) collected "woodie" feathers for fly tyers more than 30 years, please let me explain a few gut-wrenching facts to ya'...
Wood ducks are not rare. Wood ducks fly south with the teal...and the teal season in southern states is in September... long before the "regular" duck season starts in most states. Oh and ya' can't kill "woodies" in teal season!
Actually, there are large numbers of hunters who pursue them each year and they kill huge numbers of wood ducks in east Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia during the regular duck season each year.
The problem occurs as not only does that each drake have a very small patch of flank feathers under each wing but that wood duck hunters are only very, very, very, rarely cognizant of the desires of fly tyers for those feathers, and these hunters dispose of the feathers so coveted by our ilk. Understand that fly tying is not a prominent hobby in these states, especially in the countryside where these activities occur...
However, if on the opening day of duck season, you can get to a major "take out" where large number of "woodie" hunters launch, upon returning from their hunts, most will give all the flanks that you could every use... The problem is there are very few such "major takeouts"... but there are some at a number of large state run wildlife preserves (flooded timber reserves) that are managed for duck hunting.
However, I no longer live near such preserves, and I too could use a few "woodie" feathers.
Bowfin47
And they are definitely out of season
I use dog flea collar pieces inside plastic storage boxes. If you suspect a skin of being buggy (and you have a spare microwave or don't tell the family) give it three or four 30-60 second bursts. Bugs are dead and eggs are too.
I just wish we had them here! Though I don't shoot any more, I know enough people who do. You wouldn't like the price we have to pay for it. Usually there are only two feathers in a pack, and its about $6. I've managed to acquire some Egyptian goose that is a very good sub. Most people can't tell the difference when it is on a fly.
Cheers,
A.
It is illegal to sell bird parts from CA. State law prevents it. That is why I give it away when I have extra. Who cares? It's extra, and a Baggie here or there will help out another tyer.
Not that it really matters, but unless you can find something to the contrary, this is what is in the California Game Laws:
"?509. Concurrence with Federal Regulations.You will not find anything in that Chapter that contradicts or where the state is more restrictive then the federal regulations concerning the sale of duck parts (meaning feathers) specifically for fly tying.
- (a) The regulations adopted by the United States through its Secretary of Interior under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as amended annually in Part 10, subparts A and B, and Part 20, Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, are hereby adopted and made a part of this Title 14 except where said federal regulations are less restrictive than the provisions of Chapter 7 of this Title 14 (sections 500-509), the provisions of Chapter 7 prevail."
Allan
Huh........................
I like a little Wood Duck with my sparkle duns sometimes.
http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3690089e.jpg
You can believe what you want... I won't sell it
California Fish and Game code
3039. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section and Sections
3087 and 4303, or any other provision of this code, or regulations
adopted pursuant thereto, it is unlawful to sell or purchase any
species of bird or mammal or part thereof found in the wild in
California.
3504. Subject to the provisions of this code permitting the sale of
domestically raised game birds, it is unlawful to sell or purchase
any game bird or nongame bird or part thereof.
I Will, however, give it away....
Some years ago I set out to write a detailed article about processing and selling game bird skins. After a tremendous amouont of research, phone calls, emails, letters, official requests for information, and so on, I gave up. The conflicting laws, details, opinions, goofball States's Attorneys, idiot Federal Prosecutors, even more idiotic Federal Special Agents, and so on were simply too much.
All I can say is there are multiple felonies documentable on ebay every day...
I long for the days when I was in college and selling mallard skins by the hundreds to help me make it through until the next summer's job. It was such hard work! ;)
Now certain Feds say the law only covers feathers and you cannot sell the skin with the bird... Complicating a whole lot of things for no practical advantage...
Not sure I get the "gist" of this thread.....
I just ordered some packs of lemon wood duck flank feathers. I don't know the source of these feathers, but certainly assume the transaction is legal.
Craig Matthews of Blue Ribbon Flies is a very dedicated conservationist. He donates a great deal of time and large amount of funds to protecting the environment.
Is someone saying that his selling these feathers is illegal?
Thanks for any clarification.
in CA, IDK about other states, birds raised by licensed "Bird Dealers" ;) can be sold for their feathers. I would guess that is where yours came from...
Only odd ones for ornamental duck ponds. Perhaps the odd escapee from collections. No natives to speak off. Even teal is getting very rare around here. Though I did get treated to seeing an osprey run a golden eagle off yesterday. They don't like each other at all. Strange that the biggest bird here always gives in when other birds have a go. Shame I didn't have a lens that could get anywhere near it.
Here's and example tied with the Egyptian Goose. Would you spot it? They are protected, but I get mine from a bird sanctuary, the cash goes back into running the sanctuary. Supply is irregular, just the odd feathers they loose when they are handled. I'd rather pay for these than be ripped off for wood duck.
Attachment 12926
Cheers,
A.
Beautiful fly Alan. Looks just like wood duck.
Originally asked if the availability of woodie is shrinking(my word) and then it was mentioned that the CA prohibits the sale of bird(woodie) parts. I think the poster was talking about woodie killed in CA. AlanB mentioned Egyptian Goose, which was/is a substitute and Mandarin, also a substitute. Both were available and used a lot in the 60s when woodie was extremely hard to find or illegal. I have several Herter's catalogs that have them listed.
AlanB
I think I actually prefer your feathers to the wood duck I just purchased. I think I prefer the color of the feather you used.
This is one I just tied using my latest shipment from BRF.
http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/...ps91eafa3a.jpg
Just as a general comment: I have gotten a lot of woodie feathers from hunters here(NY) down through the flyway to Louisiana. The ones from LA were best because by the time the ducks got there(the season starts a few months later), they were more mature. That meant the flank feathers were larger, their coloring deeper, and the black bands were more pronounced and distinct. In short, the feathers off ducks legally shot in LA made the feathers of NY ducks look anemic.
Allan
Nice one Byron. Sorry I don't have a good supply of Egyptian Goose. I get it as and when. Fortunately for me I don't get asked for many Catskill style flies. Shame as I enjoy tying them.
Cheers,
A.
Like I said earlier, wood ducks are not rare... Actually, the limits are much larger than they used to be. Also, green wing teal are harvested in large numbers in Louisiana, and the feathers can be sold. The problem is that very, very few duck hunters in Louisiana (or similar areas) tie flies or even care about saving (selling) feathers or otherwise putting them into commerce.
It isn't the only example of feathers being discarded that have a value to us. There's one bird, that is considered a pest, not on any endangered list, yet not too long ago a patch of skin, about the size of your thumb nail, with 72 feathers sold for well over $1000. If the locals knew...
Cheers,
A.
Well? Enlighten us about he magic birdie?
As far as woodies go they are part of the general limit here! no reduction
Red Ruffed Fruit Crow. Known as Indian Crow to the classic salmon fly tiers.
Cheers,
A.
kinda difficult to access, no?