Deceased owl on my property, what to do with it

[sonofeugene]

Geez….just chuck it into your garbage can. It’s not rocket science.

 

[DJD100]

Put it in the Gumbo?

 

[PoorRichRichard]

What does grilled owl taste like?

Back in 2012 I worked at a gun shop with an old timer who hunted as a young man in the 50s and 60s. I’m not sure of the subspecies, but he told me owl meat was by far his favorite tasting bird meat.

 

[xrMike]

Geez….just chuck it into your garbage can. It’s not rocket science.

I disagree. Owls are cool birds. They deserve more respect than that. At least bury it on your property. It does not deserve to go into the landfill with tons of useless garbage.

Hopefully your children will feel the same way about you some day.

 

[eatmoredonuts]

^ I'm in this boat. Most of the responses so far feel like they fall into 2 categories - city mouse or country mouse. I'd rather see it go to a museum or a local college than just 'chuck it in the trash haw haw haw'. I'm not some bleeding heart granola hippie but I see the beauty in wildlife, and this bird is a looker for sure.

Can't just go over to Billy Bob's Taxidermy without a permit, if you can even get one - they have restrictions like it needs to be used for educational purposes, etc.

 

[sonofeugene]

I disagree. Owls are cool birds. They deserve more respect than that. At least bury it on your property. It does not deserve to go into the landfill with tons of useless garbage.

Hopefully your children will feel the same way about you some day.

I don’t have children. And once you are dead, what does it matter?

 

[echo1]

I don’t have children. And once you are dead, what does it matter?

Passion. It's about being passionate about something. If you don't give a care pitch it, doesn't make you a soulless white devil....or does it? PAX

 

[PoorRichRichard]

I disagree. Owls are cool birds. They deserve more respect than that. At least bury it on your property. It does not deserve to go into the landfill with tons of useless garbage.

Hopefully your children will feel the same way about you some day.

Absolutely not. If that birds has any kind of electronic tracker, the DFG or some other a$zbacwards government entity will crucify you- especially in CA. You can not legally take possession of even the feathers with out the proper permits. Might be sad to some, but in the interest of CYA, chuck it.

 

[QQQQQ]

There are taxidermy classes. Not sure how that applies. I know a girl that made a raccoon and one was a bird. They were done well but it’s definitely a bit on the weird side..

 

[QQQQQ]

Back in 2012 I worked at a gun shop with an old timer who hunted as a young man in the 50s and 60s. I’m not sure of the subspecies, but he told me owl meat was by far his favorite tasting bird meat.

There you go!

 

[echo1]

One decade I was the first one to the hanger. There had been a severe storm the night before and a hawk got trapped inside somehow. Called one of the WWII vet pilots and told him there's a Red-tailed hawk stuck in the barn, should I let him out. He said let it out but if I tried to catch it be careful because they're fast and dangerous with their talons. It was beat up from flying against the window all night, so I was able to get a box over it. When the crew showed up, they took one look at it, said knuckled head city slicker, this is a little Kestrel, a small Peregrine falcon, a Redtail is about a foot tall. I took it home and put in my rec room to rest. The pilot light from the gas furnace killed it, my bad. PAX

 

[HarleyLowRiderST]

If on your property I would just bury it. Trash pickup seems harsh for such a noble bird. If you feel like transporting then take it to the woods and bury it. Decide soon as you don't want to have to refrigerate it.

 

[eatmoredonuts]

Fish & Wildlife from Yountville called me back, said bury it or wrap it in plastic bags/chuck it. Local museums apparently have stacks of dead owls and have no more room. Still waiting on 2 local colleges, one a UC school which I have zero faith in them getting back to me.

My wife's macabre cat-lady friend has come out of the woodwork and is sniffing around, so back to Mother Earth I say. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

 

[QQQQQ]

So make a bonfire and throw it in? See if it smells like cooked chicken? If you bury it and not deep enough I bet it might get dug up by something depending on where you live.