Care of Turkeys for the taxidermist. How to take

Quote:
do you have any other pics of a turkey on the roost ? different . i like the look of a bird on the roost but not with his feathers flat. all the birds on the roost i have seen were more puffed up as they let a cackle out. the feathers behind is head and down his back puffed out showing the size ofthat old boy.

Wildlife Taxidermy By Richard G. Santomauro
1732 Hgy # 71 Wall NJ 07719 Phone 732-449-5950
Web pages
http://www.rgswildlifetaxidermy.com

http://www.VELVET-ANTLERS.COM

E-Mail rgswildlife@yahoo.com
Life member - NRA & NJFSC: Standard Member UBNJ, NTA, GSTA, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance.

Posted: 03 Mar 2008 9:50 AM Last Edited By: JerseyJim
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TURKEY: Wildlife Taxidermy By Richard G. Santomauro 1732 Hgy # 71 Wall NJ 07719 Phone 732-449-5950 Web page http://www.rgswildlifetaxidermy.com E-Mail rgswildlife@yahoo.com Field Care of Birds SELECTING A SPECIMEN In order to get the best results possible for your bird mount, it is important to get the best possible specimen to the taxidermist. Here are a few things you can do to assure you receive the best quality mount possible: 1. Pin Feathers: Early season waterfowl typically are still growing in their winter or breeding plumage. Feathers that are not fully developed are called pinfeathers. These feathers are not set in the skin yet and will most likely fall out during the mounting process. Even if they don’t fall out, they do not lay and cover the bird, as a fully plumed bird will. Try to select late season birds for mounting if possible. This is especially true for many of the diver species. Even late December Canvasbacks for example can still have many pinfeathers in the head and neck. This may be only noticeable to the taxidermist at closer inspection, but you can inspect the bird yourself. Check the sides of the body and move feathers to see down to the skin. Also, look at the back of the bird and inspect the feathers at the shoulder area. Any feathers that still have a “sheath” on them near the skin or are very short are still growing. Having a few of these may not cause many problems, but having several just might. 2. Immature Birds: Birds of the year, those that hatched during the early summer, will not only have many pinfeathers, but even in late season, their plumage will not equal that of a mature bird, one that is in it’s second or third year or more. The more birds you are around, the more this will become obvious. Juvenile birds can lack many colors of mature birds. Tail and shoulder feathers for instance will not end in nice long points. Try to select only larger bodied mature birds with bright colors. Ask other seasoned hunters or the taxidermist if you are not sure. Decent taxidermists should advise you about a marginal bird. Remember, I would much rather have “nice” mounts in customer’s homes than bad ones. 3. Field Care: This would seem obvious, but apparently it isn’t. Taking care of the bird prior to getting it in the freezer is also an important part to assuring a quality mount. Try to keep your specimen separate from other birds taken that day. Don’t just hang it on a duck strap or throw it in with a pile of other ducks. You want to keep it cool and the feathers aligned. If you expect the bird is a “trophy” upon shooting it, don’t let “Fido” swim out and munch on it. Handle the bird by the bill or feet, or cradle the body in your hand. Don’t throw the bird in the back of your pickup or the bottom of your boat for the ride home. Remember, the better the shape I get him in, the better the mount will be!!! With a Turkey an incision can be made from the end of the breast to the vent and then remove the guts, this will allow the taxidermist to save the meat for you if it is brought in fresh. 4. Freezing: If you are not going directly to the taxidermist, then you must freeze the bird. This too must be done correctly if we want the best mount possible. Place the head over the back or under a wing. Slide him into a good plastic bag, preferably a freezer bag such as “Ziplocs”. Carefully roll the bird and bag toward the opening, forcing out as much air as possible and then seal the bag. Double bagging is even better, especially if it will be several weeks or even months before it gets to the taxidermist. Please DO NOT use paper bags or freezer wrap or any other packaging except plastic. All these items will do is allow air to enter and freezer burn to happen quicker. Label the bag and put it in the freezer. Avoid using frost-free type freezers as these also dry out specimens quicker. 5. Freezer Burn: Certainly one of the worst cases for a bad mount is a freezer burned specimen. These are dried out skins from being unprotected in the freezer. Once the facial area and wings and feet dry to a certain point, there is not much a taxidermist can do. It may be “mountable”, but remember, we are trying to get the best mount possible. Please follow the above freezing comments if you expect to keep the bird for several weeks or even months before taking it to the taxidermist. 6. Other “Problems”: Broken wings may or may not cause problems, depending on the pose desired, and/or location of the broken bones. A wing broken at the wrist for example may limit a flying pose. Most broken bones are repairable. Wing feathers damaged from shot might show in a flying pose, but may not in a standing pose. Large shot or dog chew holes may also be noticeable in the finished mount. Blood is usually not a problem and shouldn’t be worried about. Also, damage to the bills of waterfowl is not a problem, as I will use reproductions heads on all waterfowl mounts that are damaged. Hopefully you now realize by taking a few steps toward caring for your bird will result in a quality mount worthy of the time spent to acquire it. If you have any questions do not hesitate to email or call me. I’d be glad to discuss them with you. In my shop if you shoot a migratory bird I need your hunting license number, any some info for the federal paper work. If you have any questions or problems please call me at 732-449-5950 Thanks and good luck to you on your adventure. Rich Here is my photo page of Turkeys,Ducks and other birds from my web page: http://www.rgswildlifetaxidermy.com/rgs_taxidermy_BIRDS.html A gobbling Turkey on a limb. __________________ Wildlife Taxidermy By Richard G. Santomauro 1732 Hgy # 71 Wall NJ 07719 Phone 732-449-5950 Web pages http://www.rgswildlifetaxidermy.com http://www.VELVET-ANTLERS.COM E-Mail rgswildlife@yahoo.com Life member - NRA & NJFSC: Standard Member UBNJ, NTA, GSTA, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance.

Posted: 03 Mar 2008 9:51 AM Last Edited By: rgswildlife
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A flying Turkey mount. __________________ Wildlife Taxidermy By Richard G. Santomauro 1732 Hgy # 71 Wall NJ 07719 Phone 732-449-5950 Web pages http://www.rgswildlifetaxidermy.com http://www.VELVET-ANTLERS.COM E-Mail rgswildlife@yahoo.com Life member - NRA & NJFSC: Standard Member UBNJ, NTA, GSTA, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance.

Posted: 03 Mar 2008 9:51 AM Last Edited By: rgswildlife
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Another flying Turkey mount, __________________ Wildlife Taxidermy By Richard G. Santomauro 1732 Hgy # 71 Wall NJ 07719 Phone 732-449-5950 Web pages http://www.rgswildlifetaxidermy.com http://www.VELVET-ANTLERS.COM E-Mail rgswildlife@yahoo.com Life member - NRA & NJFSC: Standard Member UBNJ, NTA, GSTA, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance.

Posted: 03 Mar 2008 9:52 AM
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A standing Turkey mount. __________________ Wildlife Taxidermy By Richard G. Santomauro 1732 Hgy # 71 Wall NJ 07719 Phone 732-449-5950 Web pages http://www.rgswildlifetaxidermy.com http://www.VELVET-ANTLERS.COM E-Mail rgswildlife@yahoo.com Life member - NRA & NJFSC: Standard Member UBNJ, NTA, GSTA, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance.

Posted: 03 Mar 2008 9:54 AM
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A Turkey head, tail, and beard mount. __________________ Wildlife Taxidermy By Richard G. Santomauro 1732 Hgy # 71 Wall NJ 07719 Phone 732-449-5950 Web pages http://www.rgswildlifetaxidermy.com http://www.VELVET-ANTLERS.COM E-Mail rgswildlife@yahoo.com Life member - NRA & NJFSC: Standard Member UBNJ, NTA, GSTA, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance.

Posted: 03 Mar 2008 9:55 AM
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Another gobbling Turkey mount. __________________ Wildlife Taxidermy By Richard G. Santomauro 1732 Hgy # 71 Wall NJ 07719 Phone 732-449-5950 Web pages http://www.rgswildlifetaxidermy.com http://www.VELVET-ANTLERS.COM E-Mail rgswildlife@yahoo.com Life member - NRA & NJFSC: Standard Member UBNJ, NTA, GSTA, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance.

Posted: 03 Mar 2008 9:58 AM
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On any of our turkey mounts you can have your choice of freeze dried or latex head. Good luck to all, and if you have a question please call me at 732-449-5950 I will be glad to help you out. __________________ Wildlife Taxidermy By Richard G. Santomauro 1732 Hgy # 71 Wall NJ 07719 Phone 732-449-5950 Web pages http://www.rgswildlifetaxidermy.com http://www.VELVET-ANTLERS.COM E-Mail rgswildlife@yahoo.com Life member - NRA & NJFSC: Standard Member UBNJ, NTA, GSTA, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance.

Posted: 03 Mar 2008 10:00 AM
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Last flying Turkey mount. __________________ Wildlife Taxidermy By Richard G. Santomauro 1732 Hgy # 71 Wall NJ 07719 Phone 732-449-5950 Web pages http://www.rgswildlifetaxidermy.com http://www.VELVET-ANTLERS.COM E-Mail rgswildlife@yahoo.com Life member - NRA & NJFSC: Standard Member UBNJ, NTA, GSTA, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance.

Posted: 05 Mar 2008 1:33 PM
	Registered User	Posts: 1851 Non Typical: Join Date: Dec 2006
do you have any other pics of a turkey on the roost ? different . i like the look of a bird on the roost but not with his feathers flat. all the birds on the roost i have seen were more puffed up as they let a cackle out. the feathers behind is head and down his back puffed out showing the size ofthat old boy. let me know __________________ Braque Francais Coming To A Field Near You !

Posted: 05 Mar 2008 2:05 PM
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Quote: do you have any other pics of a turkey on the roost ? different . i like the look of a bird on the roost but not with his feathers flat. all the birds on the roost i have seen were more puffed up as they let a cackle out. the feathers behind is head and down his back puffed out showing the size ofthat old boy. I have not been asked for that pose. But when I am I will post a photo of it. __________________ Wildlife Taxidermy By Richard G. Santomauro 1732 Hgy # 71 Wall NJ 07719 Phone 732-449-5950 Web pages http://www.rgswildlifetaxidermy.com http://www.VELVET-ANTLERS.COM E-Mail rgswildlife@yahoo.com Life member - NRA & NJFSC: Standard Member UBNJ, NTA, GSTA, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance.

Posted: 05 Mar 2008 2:29 PM
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im not crazy right ? you know the pose im looking for ? __________________ Braque Francais Coming To A Field Near You !

Posted: 05 Mar 2008 3:06 PM
	Registered User	Posts: 474 Rack Buck: Join Date: Jun 2005
like this

Posted: 05 Mar 2008 3:09 PM
	Registered User	Posts: 474 Rack Buck: Join Date: Jun 2005
or this

Posted: 05 Mar 2008 3:36 PM
	Registered User	Posts: 1851 Non Typical: Join Date: Dec 2006
there it is __________________ Braque Francais Coming To A Field Near You !

Posted: 05 Mar 2008 4:11 PM
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Great Mountsand good turkey care info

Posted: 06 Mar 2008 10:33 AM
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Thanks, if you have any questions, ask away. __________________ Wildlife Taxidermy By Richard G. Santomauro 1732 Hgy # 71 Wall NJ 07719 Phone 732-449-5950 Web pages http://www.rgswildlifetaxidermy.com http://www.VELVET-ANTLERS.COM E-Mail rgswildlife@yahoo.com Life member - NRA & NJFSC: Standard Member UBNJ, NTA, GSTA, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance.

Posted: 06 Mar 2008 1:50 PM
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Rich, do you use freeze dried heads or plastic heads? Do the plastic heads have all the little hairs on them? __________________ Cub Scout 1973 "The people will suffer what is sufferable rather than to assume the burden of righting what is wrong."

Posted: 06 Mar 2008 2:03 PM Last Edited By: rgswildlife
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Quote: Rich, do you use freeze dried heads or plastic heads? Do the plastic heads have all the little hairs on them? I will use what ever the customer wants, the latex heads do not have any hairs on them, only on the freeze dried heads. __________________ Wildlife Taxidermy By Richard G. Santomauro 1732 Hgy # 71 Wall NJ 07719 Phone 732-449-5950 Web pages http://www.rgswildlifetaxidermy.com http://www.VELVET-ANTLERS.COM E-Mail rgswildlife@yahoo.com Life member - NRA & NJFSC: Standard Member UBNJ, NTA, GSTA, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance.

Posted: 15 Apr 2008 3:45 PM
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If anybody has any questions, please ask away. __________________ Wildlife Taxidermy By Richard G. Santomauro 1732 Hgy # 71 Wall NJ 07719 Phone 732-449-5950 Web pages http://www.rgswildlifetaxidermy.com http://www.VELVET-ANTLERS.COM E-Mail rgswildlife@yahoo.com Life member - NRA & NJFSC: Standard Member UBNJ, NTA, GSTA, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance.