Couple of questions about processing turkey feathers for fletching

[duck'n]

Until I recently read the article in TBM, I completely forgot about a couple of turkey wings in my freezer from last April/May.  Will these still be good to use?  Also, I have heard that it is a good idea to treat the feathers with some sort of pesticide due to mites that can eat away at the feathers.  I searched on the Powow and How-To but can't find any info on this...does anyone know if that is true and if so, what should I use?  Other than that, I am ready to make some flectching...hopefully it will go well and my guide buddy can supply me with alot more this coming season!  

[macbow]

duck'n  If stored in the freezer should be good to go.
Once stored in normal inviroment I like to put a little seven dust on them. Those little mites etc. will eat holes in them sooner or later.
Ron

[duck'n]

Thanks macbow, that is the info I was looking for!

[Orion]

Freezing kills the mites.  Though mites can get into the feathers once the feathers are taken out of the freezer, I've never had a problem with them doing that on my arrows.  I do treat my feathers with a waterproofer.  Maybe that repels them.  I believe there are a few tutorials on this and other sites that explain how to process them.  Good luck.

[john fletch]

They sure can.  I left both Turkey wings that had been once frozen and dried in a plastic bag in the shop and forgot that I had them for about two years.  The little critters ate them to dust and I cannot figure out how they got in, let alone thrived in that tied off plastic bag.

Now my feathers bags have mothballs in them!