Turkey Wings.....now what?

[Stickbow]

Do I need to preserve these? I know someone would want them for fletching, do I need to skin the wing? Just pull the feathers?

[59Alaskan]

Contact Magnus here on TG.  Just send him a PM

[Mike Vines]

First off, congrats on the turkey.  Now what you need to do is carfully cut the feathers off at the base just infront of where the feather starts, then just pack them nicely and mail them off to me.  I promise to put them to good use.

[wooddamon1]

Good one, Mike. I was gonna ask the same thing, my buddy popped one opening day and gave me the wings. I'm gonna do up some sweet arrows with 'em...some for him (he elk hunts with a recurve) some for me...

[jimmerc]

Those wing bones make great calls also!!!!!

[Orion]

You won't be able to pull them out without ruining the feathers.  Can use a tin-snips or other cutter to cut them off at the base, or as Mike suggests, cut along the quills into the wing to loosen them so you can pull them out.

Most folks only use the primaries (outermost 8-9 feathers) for fletching.  Some use the secondaries as well, particularly for flu-flu arrows.

To keep the wings from decomposing, throw them in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer.  That's a good thing to do with the feathers after you have them off as well.  A day in the freezer will kill any feather mites that might be present.  After that, can store them in plastic bags anywhere.

[Stickbow]

Happy Birthday Mike!

I cant seem to log onto the PBS site......very frustrating.

PM me your address and I will send you some feathers for your B-day

[Doc Nock]

From what Magnus told me there are Grade A and Grade B among the primaries.  I think my old brain remembers that statement correctly.

He also suggested a simple dusting of borax in the bag (20 mule team works)to keep bugs and mites from gnawing on your feathers.

Send him both wings' feathers and he'll grind and return your chosen wing's feathers, keep the other one for his inventory!

[Lechwe]

Magnus likes you to put them in the freezer for a few days to kill any bugs that might be on them. If you can't do that he suggests using moth balls or cedar chips.

Good luck

[Craig]

I keep all of my turkey feathers in the freezer all the time until I'm ready to use them. If you don't have time to cut them just put the whole wing in there.