Source for the manufacturing/extraction of flytying material

[anacrime]

I'm doing an Environmental Assessment on fly fishing and part of the project is going to be about where organic fly tying materials come from and the associated impacts. Like, what happens to the pheasant after it is taken for its feathers? I've found bits and pieces of info, but looking for a legitimate source that I can cite in a scholarly report.

Thanks fellers

[Flyjunkie]

Nothing off the top of my head ... But I'd suggest you contact directly Nature's Spirit, Rocky Mountain Dubbing, Ewing hackle and some of the other such companies, they'd be the source for such information as they process their own birds and hides...

[Sheriff Joe]

Usually I eat it. Mushrooms and a marsala sauce-you can quote me on that!

[Wildman]

Contact Keith Barton at Singlebarbed.com. He is a wealth of information on the subject.

[anacrime]

Thanks for the help, guys. I find it really * weird that this info isn't readily available somewhere. Or maybe it is, and I'm just searching for it wrong.

[rayfound]

http://www.itinerantangler.com/podcasts ... _with.html

[anacrime]

Thanks Ray! If that's what I think it is, I listened to it some years ago. I was looking for that.

[anacrime]

Contact Keith Barton at Singlebarbed.com. He is a wealth of information on the subject.

I contacted this dude. Interesting conversation ensued....

My name is Shane Stewart and I'm a student at Cal State Long Beach. I was referred to you by a friend when I submitted an inquiry on the Fly Fishing Addicts forum. I am doing an Environmental Assessment on Fly Fishing for one of my classes at CSULB. I am interested in seeking information regarding the adverse environmental impacts of acquiring fly tying materials. Such as, what happens to the pheasant after it has been used for its feathers. I was told you have a wealth of information on the subject and was hoping you could point me in the right direction. I am going to be citing this info in a presentation.

Thanks in advanced for reading my email

Shane Stewart

On the surface I'd suggest my answers could be a bit unsettling ...

But on the pheasant question, the answer is two-fold .... after the fellow blows daylight through the SOB, and eats the meat - he'll wrench a couple of fistfuls of feather and put them in a plastic bag, or he may take the time to skin the bird and preserve as much as possible (minus the beaks and feet).

Then the lazy ones forget about the bag and their wives give it the toss, the occasional tiers leave the bag open which attracts moths until he's got a bag of feather dander and moth eggs (which the wife eventual finds and tosses), or you have guys like me that loving preserve everything, use a lot of it, then toss what's left in the trash (so we can kill more next season).

Simple .... and did I mention I love the out-of-doors and birds in particular?

Ask away friend.

But if your email address is short for animal.crime@gmail.com - then you'll not want to talk to me much at all. That's okay too, but I don't care for wheat sprout and tofu sandwiches.

[briansII]

This could get interesting!

briansII

[NorcalBob]

[anacrime]

I replied...

Hi again Keith,

I too am an avid fly fisher and fly tier. My intentions were just as I said, the information is for a class project. I'm not sure how I came off as being aggressive, but I have no intentions of insulting you.

Anyway, I was thinking more large scale, such as where do Umpqua or other major manufacturers get their materials? Again, I'm interested in the process of how they're acquired and what happens to the animal afterward. I'm sure the deer isn't thrown into a compost pile after being skinned. I'm merely seeking sources.

Thanks again,

Shane Stewart

PS. anacrime comes from Anaheim, the city where I grew up. There's a fair amount of crime there.

[NorcalBob]

I'm actually quite interested in the answer, as I have no idea where this stuff comes from, or what happens to it after it's harvested. So, please post the results. I have heard, but don't know for sure, that Tom Whiting raises his own birds, harvests them for their feathers, and then disposes of the carcass' to a rendering plant since his birds have absolutely no value as a human food source. But I sure don't remember where that story came from. And one would think that pheasants, deer, etc, that have value as a food source, come from commercial animal farms. But again, I have no idea.

[Wildman]

Shane-
I talked with Keith and he honestly wasn't quite sure how to take your request....especially with your screen name. Expect to hear from him shortly. He's one guy I believe, that knows more about dubbing and feathers then anyone I know of. I have been able to test the dubbing line he is coming out with and it is amazing stuff. Hopefully, he can give you some useful information. How the heck did you come up with the subject of your research? Like NorcalBob, I would be interested in reading your conclusions.
Jim

[Bernard]

http://www.itinerantangler.com/podcasts/2009/08/podcast_chicken_genetics_with.html

Very cool. This came to mind as well. Can we see your final paper when it is done Shane?
B

[anacrime]

Shane-
I talked with Keith and he honestly wasn't quite sure how to take your request....especially with your screen name. Expect to hear from him shortly. He's one guy I believe, that knows more about dubbing and feathers then anyone I know of. I have been able to test the dubbing line he is coming out with and it is amazing stuff. Hopefully, he can give you some useful information. How the heck did you come up with the subject of your research? Like NorcalBob, I would be interested in reading your conclusions.
Jim

If it is that big of a deal, tell him never mind. I don't know want to put this guy out of comfort zone or whatever. It's a very simple question, and was just asking him to point me in the right direction.

The assignment was to pick an aspect of your lifestyle and do an Environmental Impact Report on it. Basically, assess what adverse impacts are associated with your "project" and propose ways to mitigate them. Other people are doing things like playing hockey, driving to Starbucks, or getting tattooed. It is strictly a "for fun" project meant to give us a feel for what is involved in producing these massive EIR documents.

I am focusing on just the biggest and most obvious environmental impacts. I included a section on transportation, harm to fish, harm to habitat/ecosystem (bugs, plants and other wildlife), material composition of flies, equipment used (not so much resource extraction, but origins), and litter.