Taking care of a turkey during long road trips

[wonder]

I have a question for some of you veteran Turkey Hunters.  Looking for any tips you all might have for transporting a turkey across the state.  Will be coming from Marysville and will be hunting over near Spokane (close to 6 hour drive).  How well does a bird hold up if let's say you wanted to get it mounted?

I was hoping to keep the moisture off of it (if we get one) by wrapping it in a large garbage bag and concentrate on keeping the meat cold.  I will obviously gut it first.

Is it possible to still save it for a mount for that long?  Rookie questions I know, but just curious.  Thanks

[Mfowl]

I've gutted them, then packed them in a garbage bag whole and kept them in a large cooler on ice for several days while continuing to hunt. The feathers got matted down quite a bit, they didn't really seem taxi worthy at the end. If you head home the same day you shoot your bird you might have better luck. However most of my birds aren't taxy worthy by the time I get back to camp. You should look for resources here (via search) or consult your taxy for proper handling prior to delivery.     

[Honey Badger]

This is a great question, something I have not thought of...thanks for the info Mfowl and thanks for asking Wonder!

[stickbuck]

The best way to handle a bird you want to mount and this drives my wife nuts that I think like this, but find a taxidermist in Spokane if hunting in that area is something you're planning for years to come. Shoot your bird and take to taxi same day or next day and then pick it up this deer season or next turkey season. Plus, it would be another great excuse to go over for the fall turkey hunt and pick it up then. Good luck!!

[DeerThug]

go to the store and buy XXL pantyhose.  be sure to leave them lay out where your wife will see them   then cut one of the legs off and cut it  off near the ankle.  then go shoot your bird and from the leg end slip the pantyhose over the bird and snug up tight tying a knot in both ends of the pantyhose legs.  This will protect the feathers for the way out of the woods and the trip home.  for your cooler take one dedicated to this and freeze some ice in milk jugs.  This will keep the cooler mostly dry except for a little condensation. 
 As for gutting in the old days they did not gut the birds but you can ask the taxid guy about that...

[Gobble Doc]

I have only put them in a garbage bag after field dressing and then on ice.  They last fine for eating but I don't know about taxi.  Someday maybe I'll save up to have one stuffed. 

[Karl Blanchard]

Gut the bird then pantyhose in the field to keep the feathers in place, then place a frozen water bottle in the body cavity and get it to a taxi.

[Limhangerslayer]

Gut the bird then pantyhose in the field to keep the feathers in place, then place a frozen water bottle in the body cavity and get it to a taxi.

How do you hunt the rest of the day after you take your pantyhose off and put then on the bird?  Must be a Selah thing 
 Remind me not to go bear hunting with you this year!

[101521]

My two cents...don't ever put a bird in pantyhose but ill let a taxi advise further. That's old school thought. Gut it, garbage bag and ice that bird will be fine. No need to find a taxi "close" as don sacrifice quality. It won be an issue.

[turkeydancer]

Read Michelle Nelsons post on the subject which is 2nd from top in pink or by using this link   http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,25139.msg290014.html#msg290014  ... I'ld follow the advice of this taxidermist .... 

[The Gobble-stopper]

Panty hose is the best idea for keeping the feathers flat. Than wrap with layers of newspaper to absorb the moisture away from the bird. Then in the plastic bag. But only loosly wrap it with plastic, needs to breath. Than the ice I use a good cooler than I use the solid ice rather than the chuncks. Less chance of melting and causing problems.

[bronczilla]

My wife and I plan to do a similar drive (Marysville to Colville). If its a mountable bird I would drop it off at Willow Creek Taxidermy in Colville

[Karl Blanchard]

Gut the bird then pantyhose in the field to keep the feathers in place, then place a frozen water bottle in the body cavity and get it to a taxi.

How do you hunt the rest of the day after you take your pantyhose off and put then on the bird?  Must be a Selah thing 
 Remind me not to go bear hunting with you this year!

   Hey my legs get cold leave me alone about it!

[Seatown5]

There is a great taxi in colville. We took one there and picked it up the following year. Worked out great. I think tc taxidermy

[BOWHUNTER45]

Here is my  if you are going to mount it do not gut it ....just like Michelle states in her (how to care for birds to be mounted) I will wrap the head in paper towels before placing the bird in a huge garabe bag ...this will prevent blood from getting all over the feathers ...This is why you do not want to gut the bird ,because it will get soaked in blood while you have it in the cooler ...Place the bird in the bag whole and make sure you squeeze all the air from the bag before you place it in your cooler... I always have at least 100 gal cooler with us just for this reason ...Also you may want to carry a roll of electrical tape with you so when you squeeze all the air from the bag you can swist the bag shut and tape it to keep a tight seal to keep the water out while in the cooler on ice ...Pack ice all around it and your good to go for many days !! Good luck you guys ...Gobble gobble !