Turkey Mount

[10Key]

Does anyone know of a good taxidermist that can handle a full tom turkey mount? I am still chasing Mr. Tom, but I want to get my ducks in a row prior to the spring hunt when it comes to filed dressing, etc. in preparation for mounting.

[bucklucky]

Sending you a PM.

[klickriverchromer]

Jeff Reeves,  Tru-to-life taxidery.  509 886 3225 he did my full strut mount and it is absolutely awesome.

[LITTLEBUCK]

Lets see some pictures. I have always wanted to mount one of my toms but not sure how I would like to have it done, flying or stutting.

[klickriverchromer]

The pics are not that great, the bird is in full strut slightly crossed up.  I had a quick window to shoot through in the brush and nailed him.  Beebe's passed right through the thin brush and his neck.  I ran into the brush immediately and smothered the bird instead of letting it flop all around until dead.  He didn't loose a feather.  My father in law built me the in closed case.  It's sweet.  sealed/ but removeable top. no dust baths for this bad boy anymore.  9 3/4 in. beard 1 1/2 spurs, like daggers.  "Again the pics are not that good, but you should be able to tell by the first one how good of work he did."

[tlbradford]

That is a nice mount, I can hear him spittin' and drummin. 

[croix]

That's really cool. Nice lookin sheds too.

[BLKBEARKLR]

10Key good luck hunting here is some info for you.

Joe

BIRDS:  Do not gut the bird. Rinse off any blood on the feathers with water. If the head area is bleeding wrap the head in a paper towel. Take the bird immediately to your taxidermist or freeze it.  Put the bird into a plastic bag for freezing being careful not to damage the feathers, including the tail. On most birds the size of a goose on down use a nylon, start from the head and work the bird into the nylon this will prevent the feathers from being pulled and not laying correctly. If the bird's tail feathers do not fit in the bag do not bend them.  Let the tail stick out of the bag and tie the bag loosely.
Turkeys: Great care should be taken with any trophy you are planning to mount, but turkeys by their size and the often warm weather during the spring hunting season are often miss handled causing damage that make creating a nice mount much harder if not impossible. Quite often the over excited hunter inflicts more damage on the bird than the killing shot.
When retrieving your down bird get to it as quickly as possible if it is flopping, grab it by the legs holding it away from your body until the death convolutions have ceased. This will keep the bird from causing more damage to the wing and tail feathers. These big birds must be treated just as delicately as any smaller birds. Try to keep the feathers from becoming soiled in dirt or blood. Never grab the bird by the neck or drag it on the ground. When transporting the gobbler, place it on its belly, never on its back.

[Elkstuffer]

Here are a couple different poses for you 10Key. Let me know if you need any more info.

Something to add to BLKBEARKLR's post: If you want the meat and can't get to the taxidermist right a way I always take a frozen 1 liter bottle off water with me. You can make a small insicion from armpit to arm pit right below the brisket point and remove the inards and insert the bottle. This will cool the meat from the inside out and then your taxidermist can breast it out for you while you wait.

[C-Money]

Nice looking work on those mounts! They all look great and get me excited for 4/15!! Timber Tiger taxi in Warden dose good work.

[Pathfinder101]

All nice looking mounts

[10Key]

Good info, thanks guys