Stuffing birds [ taxidermy]

[cjcj]

If I get out next week [turkey] just wondering what do you guys do?.... should I leave everything whole [minus guts] or what....freeze? thinking of getting a turk mounted..whats a fair price?. thanks in advance.

 

[Moosie]

I've never mounted a bird (Turkey that is). But if you do want it mounted, and don't know much about it, I would bring it in whole.

If you gut and breast it, which isn';t that hard. Just be carefull and don't cut too many Jiggidy line in it. Make one straight cut in the breast about 10" max probably and turn the bird almost inside out. Thats my sugestion because I've done that a million times on ducks and geese. Good luck and hopefully somene else chimes in

Good luck hunting buddy !!!

 

[cjcj]

Thanks, I would at least like to breast it....seems like a waste not to.

 

[TLC]

cjcj, cut the breast like Moosie said. then turn the bird inside out. keep your cut as straight as possible. also depends on how you want to mount the bird. also, keep the feathers as flat as possible to keep them from pulling out. taxidermists complain about that more than anything else. leave the head and wings alone. tricky stuff to skin them if you have never done it before. lay it as flat as possible inside a large plastic garbage bag and freeze til you can get it to the taxidermist.

 

[Thumper]

As a suggestion, when you do mount it as specifically for a freeze dried head. In my opinion, they look far better than the painted foam heads.
i am getting a freeze dried head put on mine because the foam head looks unnatural.

 

[schmalts]

If you want it mounted dont do anything, take it in guts and all. If you go hacking it up your taxi may not be happy because he cannot get accurate measurements for ordering a form. Throw it in a freezer and take it in to him ASAP and he may skin it for you and get the breast meat for you right away.
Actually, instead of asking us I would ask your Taxidermist this question