I am carving/burning and painting a ruffed grouse and I can't seem to get enough detail from photos. Does anyone have a source for ruffed grouse study skins?

You'll have to make friends with some hunters. Since it is a legal game bird you should be able to keep a dead one in the freezer in a tight plastic bag and take it out when you want to study it.

Try a State Park or refuge. or a national wildlife refuge or forest ranger stsation. I have borrowed skins from a State Recreational Area near my home in WI. Another source would be a college or university. The 'hunter friend' method is good as well, but then you need to prepare the skin so it doesn't get too hard or start stinkin'! I once saw the procedure on a taxidermy web page somewhere...

Good Luck,

Try finding the book 'Grouse of the North Shore' Author Gordon Gullion,
Photos by Tom Martinson
ISBN # 0-932558-20-8

If I remember right, I got my copy from Walden Books. I would think you hsould be able to order it from any reputable store. I've had mine for about 15 years and have found the photos extremely detailed.

Bob sd :

Try eBay -- I got a pheasant skin for $7.00 two years ago. If they don't have what you want, perhaps you can check with someone listing something else and they can accomodate. Pam