I found the easiest way to acquire a lot of material to get one started in fly tying is to find a friendly taxidermist(most are)

I think Field and Stream should start a program with Ducks Unlimited and Trout Unlimited to create a bridge so to speak between hunters and fisherman. I'd be happy to donate extra feathers to people who need them. Especially people teaching others how to tie.

I am not a waterfoul hunter so I do not know the laws/ rules for it. U say that it is against the law to sell the feathers but is it against the law to give them away for some one to use for fly tying? To me that is a bad law to have to waste a valuable resource that can be used. I understand the no hunting for sale but not using what you get is a waste. Like using antlers for knife handles or other tools.

Don't neglect fresh relatively undamaged roadkill. I have a fox tail, 3 mink skins, 1 otter skin, various birds etc. for free. All I had to do was skin em, salt and borax dry the skins. I keep them in a tight plastic box with some moth balls. I can tie a lot of good flys with thisand or trade with others . Also another neglected source of materials are sewing and craft stores-- check em out and use your imagination--you'll find a lot of very usefull stuff there and for not too much money. Good luck.

don't forget the tail feathers on turkeys...the black and brown mottled look is amazing to use when making stone flies...imitates the wing casing very well

I have tied flies for a long, long time, and am older than dirt. Just remember when you stop and pick up a road kill, or retain your own wild game materials....you can get a hatch come off in you house!!! Protecting yourself against bug infestation is not easy, and a topic in itself. I have had this happen, and it is no fun. Just one of a number of experiences. I stored some "processed" pheasant skins and put them in a box. Several years later I opened the box, and nothing but bones. Then it hit me. Bugs had eaten all of the feathers. These then can get into some expensive dry fly necks you may have. It is definitely fun to acquire materials you've collected, and knowing you have used much of the game you have killed, BUT..........there are some things I have just quit collecting, and buy in the fly shops now that have been treated properly, and packaged in the quantities that I want...just a thought.

I use that tip for any animal i shoot