Post by: WCTaxidermy on October 26, 2009, 10:30:57 PM
Post by: addicted on October 26, 2009, 10:42:24 PM
Post by: bucklucky on October 27, 2009, 01:53:07 AM
Post by: Little Dave on October 27, 2009, 01:56:45 AM
Post by: rasbo on October 27, 2009, 03:34:52 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on October 27, 2009, 04:45:05 AM
Post by: Gobble on October 27, 2009, 05:27:40 AM
Post by: WCTaxidermy on October 28, 2009, 06:42:26 PM
Post by: yelp on October 28, 2009, 06:54:40 PM
Post by: huntnphool on October 28, 2009, 07:04:17 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on October 28, 2009, 07:54:58 PM
.....I noticed on that mount the wing feathers were frazzled is that preventable..I know the tail feathers can get screwed up. :)
On my one and only turkey, the wing tips were destroyed from drumming? Isn't that sort of normal? No turkey pro here...thought that most toms drug them around from time to time... I would love a mount like that of my next bird....
Post by: NWTFhunter on October 28, 2009, 08:08:31 PM
Iceman, you are correct toms drag their wings when strutting for a hen which wears off the tips.
Post by: yelp on October 28, 2009, 09:09:53 PM
.....I noticed on that mount the wing feathers were frazzled is that preventable..I know the tail feathers can get screwed up. :)
On my one and only turkey, the wing tips were destroyed from drumming? Isn't that sort of normal? No turkey pro here...thought that most toms drug them around from time to time... I would love a mount like that of my next bird....
I have killed 35+ toms and in my experience the wings are usually worn with squared up tips, during the strutting. I wasn't being critical..I was making a point that at the shot birds flop and flip, lose feather, etc... but after the bird is dead many turkey hunters jump on, drag, spread, stretch for pics, grab..and shove in turkey vests and then expect a taxidermist to mount them and create a piece of art. I would assume that there must be some tips that the taxidermist has that may help him make a great mount..The shove a bird in the nylon stocking isn't going to work..unless you get them from the big gal isle (no offense)..LOL :chuckle: ...I guess you would start by not doing what I mentioned above.. :chuckle: :chuckle: Turkey mounts are tough to get right and to do exceptionally well. Especially mounts that expose all of the feathers like a flying mount..serious hours. Like I said I will bring you my next mounter..great job.
Post by: WCTaxidermy on October 28, 2009, 10:27:53 PM
There was a lot of feather damage/loss to this particular bird especially on the wrist area of the wing and the middle coverts that were probably lost right after the shot when the bird was doing just as Yelp explained.
There are some important things you can do to prevent feather damage especially for Turkeys. Yelp is right on when he said that the birds flop and flip around after the shot and loose a heck of a lot of feathers. The best thing you can do to avoid this for a bird you want to have mounted, is to get to the bird as fast as you can after the shot and pick it up BY THE LEGS BELOW THE FEATHER LINE so the breast is facing you. Hold the bird up high enough so when the Tom is flapping it's wings he is flapping them into the outside of your legs. Hold him there until he gives up life.
Try not to use your hands to "comb" the feathers in place before the picture taking, because when the bird is warm like that, the feathers will pull right out in your hands especially if your hands are wet or the plumage is wet from rain, blood, etc. Instead just pick up the bird by the legs, (again below the feather line) and gently shake it, and the feathers will fall right in place for that perfect picture.
After you exchange congrats and pictures are taken, try to transport the bird by picking it up by the feet and carrying it that way until you get to your vehicle. If you drape it over your shoulder to carry it, you will loose feathers for sure.
When you transport it, try not to wrap the bird in a bag, if possible just lay it on one so air can get to the bird and cool it off as much as possible. Do not gut the bird or take the breast meat out of it, otherwise it probably won't be mountable, or will cost you a lot for the repairs if it can be mountable.
I usually tell my clients that if they are going to bring me a bird to mount and they get it to me fresh, I will go ahead and skin it right away, or freeze it right away, and then bag the meat up for them to take home. I hate wasting meat on a bird! ;)
If you follow those tip's you should have a great specimen for your Taxidermist to provide you with a quality mount. Thanks Yelp for asking that question ;). Hope this helps. Like always, if any of you have any questions at all feel free to call or e-mail me. Talk with you all soon. John
Post by: ICEMAN on October 29, 2009, 05:47:46 AM
Post by: yelp on October 29, 2009, 06:38:49 AM
Post by: WCTaxidermy on November 06, 2009, 09:30:08 PM
Post by: bow4elk on November 06, 2009, 09:33:33 PM