01 / 04
Last Season's Favorite
Still my favorite piece from last year. The feathers on this bird were about perfect, and you can see it from across the room.
Want one like this?
Premium Feather Art · Benson, NC
More than a Mount, a Memory for life.
Built around the bird and the story behind it. Framed feather art made from your own duck, turkey, pheasant or upland bird, laid out by hand in Benson, North Carolina, and made to stay on the wall for good.
Why Feather Art
Try something
new.
A full-body mount needs a corner, a shelf and a lot of luck with the dust. A feather piece hangs flat on the wall and shows what you actually remember about the bird: the spread of the wings, the color in the speculum, the way the cape catches the light.
That's why there are no full-body mounts here. Feather mounts are all I do: turkeys, ducks, pheasants and other upland birds, built one at a time from the bird you bring in.
“Don't want any more full bodies? Try something new.”Carson, Southern Prairie
- 01
Your bird. Only yours.
Every feather on the board came off your bird. No store-bought fill, no dyes, nothing fake.
- 02
Built by hand in Benson
Layout, feather work and frame, all done in the shop, one piece at a time.
- 03
Made to be handed down
Flat to the wall, easy to move and built to outlast the season it came from.
Built to Order
The
Pieces
Every piece is built from your bird, so no two come out the same. Price depends on species, style and the shape the bird is in. I quote each one personally.
- 50%deposit secures your spot
- 90–120days on average
Ducks
- 01SignatureRequest a quote
Open Wing Duck
Both wings spread wide with the cape and breast in the middle. The one that shows off every color.
- 02CustomRequest a quote
Duck Collage
Two or more birds in one build. A limit, a father-and-son hunt, a season worth keeping.
- 03Let's talkRequest a quote
Custom Waterfowl
Banded bird, first duck, something rare? Tell me the story and we'll design around it.
Turkeys
- 01ClassicRequest a quote
Diamond Turkey
The fan set in a frame that hangs on its point. Clean, classic and the first thing you see in the room.
- 02StatementRequest a quote
Double Wing Turkey
Both wings out with the fan and body feathers between them in a long frame. The whole bird, flat on the wall.
- 03Let's talkRequest a quote
Custom Turkey
A slam, a tough bird you chased for three seasons, or something nobody's built yet. Let's talk it through.
Pheasant & Upland
- 01SignatureRequest a quote
Pheasant Open Wing
Both wings spread with the rooster's cape and long tail feathers laid out between them. All that copper and green, framed for good.
- 02ClassicRequest a quote
Pheasant Tail & Cape
The long tail feathers fanned out with the cape on a smaller board. A clean way to keep a good rooster.
- 03Let's talkRequest a quote
Upland Bird Piece
Quail, grouse, chukar and other upland birds, laid out to show off what makes each one different.
Small Pieces
- 01SmallRequest a quote
Fan & Beard Board
The fan and beard on a smaller board. Simple, honest and easy to find a spot for.
- 02SmallRequest a quote
Small Duck Piece
A smaller frame for a single wing set or speculum when you want the memory without the full build.
- 03GiftRequest a quote
Gift a Piece
Know a hunter with a bird in the freezer? Ask about giving a piece as a gift. [TBD with Carson: gift cards?]
Price · Quote No prices posted on purpose. Every bird is different, so call, text or DM for a straight answer. A 50% deposit secures your spot. [TBD with Carson: keep quote-only or publish "starting at" prices?]
Recent Pieces
The
Work
02 / 04
Green-Winged Teal
A small bird with a lot of color. In the sun, the green in that speculum about jumps off the board.
Want one like this?
03 / 04
The Pintail
Long tail, clean grey back, sharp lines. Fresh off the bench and headed for the client's wall.
Want one like this?
04 / 04
Eastern Fan, Up Close
Every feather gets set by hand, one at a time, until the fan lines up just right. This is where the hours go.
Want one like this?
How It Works
Three ways
in.
Bring it by, ship it in, or catch us at an event. However your bird gets here, it gets the same care once it does.
-
01
Drop it off
Local to Johnston County? Bring your bird to the shop in Benson. Text ahead so I'm there to meet you.
[TBD with Carson: drop-off hours / by appointment only?]
-
02
Ship it in
Frozen hard, double-bagged and packed in a cooler. Ship overnight early in the week and I'll text you when it lands.
[TBD with Carson: where to ship (address sent after booking?)]
-
03
Find us at an event
We set up at waterfowl events around Eastern NC, like Cut Em Down in Wilson. Bring a bird or just come see the work in person.
Upcoming events posted on Instagram.
After You Drop It Off
- Step 01
Check-in
We look the bird over together and talk through the layout and frame.
- Step 02
50% deposit
Half of the piece cost secures your spot in the build line.
- Step 03
The build · 90–120 days
That's the average from drop-off to done. I'll send progress photos along the way.
- Step 04
Balance & pickup
The remaining balance is due when your piece is finished. Pick it up in Benson, or have it shipped home. Return shipping is paid by the customer.
Before It Gets Here
Field
Care
The best piece starts the minute the bird hits the ground. A little care in the field makes a big difference on the wall.
Turkeys: call or text before you prep. It depends on the piece you want. [TBD with Carson: turkey prep steps]
- 01
Cool it fast
Get the bird cold quickly. Lay birds out side by side instead of piling them warm in a bag or bucket.
- 02
Blot, don't wash
Dab blood off the feathers with a cold, damp cloth. Don't gut or field-dress it. I'll handle that.
- 03
Tuck & smooth
Fold the head under a wing and smooth the feathers back the way they naturally lay.
- 04
Double-bag & freeze
Two freezer bags, air pressed out, then straight into the freezer. Add a note with your name and number.
Do
- Freeze the whole bird
- Label it with your name & phone
- Text before you ship
- Ship overnight, Monday or Tuesday, so it never sits over a weekend
Don't
- Gut, skin or field-dress
- Hose it off or soak it
- Pack it with loose ice
- Let it thaw and refreeze
About
Built in
Benson.
Southern Prairie Taxidermy is Carson's shop in Benson, North Carolina. Turkeys, ducks, pheasants and upland birds come in. One-of-a-kind feather mounts go out.
Every bird gets the same care, whether it's a first teal or a long-beard you chased for three seasons. It's your bird and your story. My job is to do it justice.
Carson
[TBD with Carson: his story in his own words + a photo of him at the bench]
Where we've been
Cut Em Down Waterfowl · Wilson, NC with The Deep South Co.
From the Field
Voices from
the Field
“I didn't want another duck on a stick. Now my first greenhead hangs over the fireplace, and everybody who walks in asks about it.”
“He sent me pictures the whole way through. When I picked it up, it looked better than I remembered the bird.”
“Got my dad's turkey done for Christmas. He didn't say a word for a full minute. Then he asked where to hang it.”
Sample testimonials. Replace with real client reviews before launch.
How much does a piece cost?
It depends on the species, the style and the shape your bird is in. Call, text or DM a photo and I'll give you a straight quote.
Is there a deposit?
Yes. A 50% deposit on the piece cost secures your spot. The remaining balance is due when your piece is finished.
How long does it take?
90 to 120 days on average. Every piece is built to order, one at a time, and I'll send progress photos along the way.
Can I ship my bird in?
Yes. Text me before you send it so I know it's coming, and follow the field care steps above. Return shipping for your finished piece is paid by the customer. [TBD with Carson: shipping address]
Do you do pheasants and upland birds?
Yes. Pheasants, quail, grouse, chukar and other upland game birds, right alongside ducks and turkeys. See the Pheasant & Upland tab above.
Do you do full-body mounts?
No, and that's on purpose. Feather mounts are all I do, for turkeys, ducks, pheasants and other upland birds. Putting all the time into one craft is what makes each piece worth hanging.
What if my bird is shot up?
Send a photo first. Some damage can be worked around, and I'll tell you honestly what's possible before you commit.
Sold Out
Merch
Sold OutWear the
brand.
Charcoal tee with the oak-and-frame art on the back and the line that says it best: More than a Mount, a Memory for life.
$29.99Sizes XS–3XL
XSSMLXL2XL3XL
Request a Quote
Start Your
Piece
Tell me about the bird. A photo helps, so attach one below or text it over. I'll get back to you personally.