Turkey tail fan mount?

[bgram]

Anyone have any suggestions for making a tan fail mount?  I got the fan off, clipping the ligament that held it on, but what do I do now to get it cleaned up and ready for mounting?  It's got a little meat and some small feathers around the bottom of it.  Thanks,  Bobby

[varmint]

I've used them to hang after coating with Borax for a few weeks.Just pin the fan open on a piece of cardboard and put lots of borax(boraxo)on the fleshy end.After it dries for awhile the fan will stay open.........never really did anything else to them and some of mine are at leat 10 years old and still fine.

 

 

 

[bgram]

Nice birds and pics!  Thanks, I'll stop by the store and try to find me some borax after work today.  I really appreciate it.

[BobW]

Two things:

1.  really get the meat out of there - tweezers and a razor knife - play surgeon - and really get it out og there.  Borax (or black pepper) is great for drying and chasing the bugs.

2.  Setting the tail in Bondo (automotive body compound) makes an excellent and firm mold as well as a place to attach a mounting hook.

I have attached them to the back of picture frames (staple gun) and have been quite happy.

[MikeC]

I scrape ALL the meat and fat off of them so all that is left is the membrane between the feathers of the fan.  I then cover with borax, but I open and close the fan daily for a couple of weeks so it's actually pliable not stiff or frozen in a fanned position.

Mount as you wish.

[2-BIG]

This is my wifes turkey from last year. I like the wings and spurs added to the basic fan tail type of mount.
 

[bgram]

2-Big, that's a beautiful mount!  Thanks guys, I'll have to pick some borax up tomorrow to start the mount.  If the wife won't let me hang it my "room", my stepson would love to have it in his room.  Thanks again guys,  Bobby

[BigHink66]

2-Big

How do you preserve the wings?  Do they need to be cut open on the back?

Please explain the process.

Varmint,

Could you explain how you do the cape?

I am thinking a combination of the 2 mounts with a plaque displaying spurs and beard.  Tail pointed down, wings left and right, and a nice cherry plaque about 10" circle behind and a 3 or 4" circle on top to secure the beard.

[varmint]

A cape is really pretty quick and easy to do.

I start the cut right where the feathers start on the neck.Begin cut at that point and cut around the neck about 2/3 of the way.Continue the cut along each side of the back,close to where the wings connect to the body.After doing it a few times,you can almost make out a line showing you where to cut.The tricky part is that the cape like to try and roll up on itself when you start going down the body.I really haven't found a way to stop this from happening,unless you had another person stretch the cape tight while you continued the cutting.When you get to the tail fan,you basically cut the same as if you were just removing the fan.Try to get as much flesh/fat off as possible,which will help quicken the drying time.Lastly,I use a big piece of cardboard,and lay down a thick layer of borax.Lay the cape out on the borax,feather side up,pinning as you go,to get the desired shape.You're basically just stretching it out to dry.Make sure to pin the tail fan open so when it dries it will stay open.I let it dry in the borax for a few weeks,changing or adding more borax if necessary,then just dust off good and hang it up.The one in the picture was done about 1994 and it looks like it was done last year.

[2-BIG]

BigHink66, a taxidermist did the mount so I am not sure of how to preserve them.

[DarkeGreen]

That full mount is almost too cool! I seen one mounted in a guys shop that looked like it was flying. I would be neat to have one of each.

[varmint]

The one I want next is Gobbling on the roost......very cool mount.The gobbler is in half strut with his neck stretched out like he's gobbling.

[JOKER]

here is the one I did about 15yrs ago.
 

[JOKER]

Here is a desplay I did with some beards.
 

[TimBow2]

ttt

[BigHink66]

Joker,

How did you prepare your wings?

[JOKER]

I skined the cape from the neck to the tail cutting the tail off leaving it on the cape. The wings are then cut off. I cut the skin on the inside of the wings and tail and get out as much of the meat as I can. I then rub cape, tail, and wings down good with borax. Then you open all three up (2wings and tail/cape) and pin on cardboard to dry. Be sure that you don't let the flys get to it unill it dries.
To display I cut out a 1/2" piece of plywood so it can suport everything and not be seen from the front. I screwed several 6" to 8" pieces if 2x4 edgeways on the back so it stands of the wall and alows the wings to curve without hitting the wall. The cape/tail and wings were then stapled to the plywood frame. The wings were stuck against/under the cape and they look like they are atached. Hope this helps.  
Steve

[JOKER]

P.s. The plywood is cut in the shape of a snow angle. If that helps?