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General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: busta biggun on June 06, 2013, 10:17:12 AM

Title: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: busta biggun on June 06, 2013, 10:17:12 AM
I love this thing. Can't get any work done because I just keep staring at it, remembering the hunt. This was a bird I spent 3 solid days chasing in Kansas. The beard sticking out may look a little strange, but that is what he was doing as he came in. On his head I asked them to tone down the brightness of the red, and the amount of red as sometimes taxidermists overdo it a bit.

(http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x72/chiefsfreak/Stuffer1_zpsf187a945.jpg)

(http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x72/chiefsfreak/_MG_4296_zps8bf661ab.jpg)

(http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x72/chiefsfreak/_MG_4291_zpsdcba458a.jpg)

(http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x72/chiefsfreak/_MG_4290_zps387af0c0.jpg)
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: BenW on June 06, 2013, 10:18:04 AM
That is amazing!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: TRKYHTR on June 06, 2013, 10:18:18 AM
Looks great.

TRKYHTR
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: seb5315 on June 06, 2013, 10:22:47 AM
Very Nice!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: FANMAN on June 06, 2013, 10:23:58 AM
Awesome mount Ray,Looks great.
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: bigbird on June 06, 2013, 10:33:05 AM
 :drool:good lookin bird ya got there
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: mikejd on June 06, 2013, 10:39:18 AM
That is awesome.
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: stinkpickle on June 06, 2013, 10:45:57 AM
Awesome!!!  There's a reason those Morris fellers get so much business.
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: headbanger on June 06, 2013, 11:05:23 AM
The mount looks fantastic :happy0064: The beard does not look strange at all...I see that regularly on strutting birds. Beautiful!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: nsselle on June 06, 2013, 11:09:05 AM
Very cool!!!!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: eddie234 on June 06, 2013, 11:19:26 AM
Very nice. Im still waiting to get a bird worthy enough to get mounted.

Sent from my ZTE-Z990G using Tapatalk 2

Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: Spring Creek Calls on June 06, 2013, 11:36:48 AM
Quote from: stinkpickle on June 06, 2013, 10:45:57 AM
Awesome!!!  There's a reason those Morris fellers get so much business.

IMO, they are the best. Personally, I like Rick and Drake. Great job on the head!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: Gold Spur on June 06, 2013, 11:58:00 AM
That is a awesome looking mount. I think it's one of the best I've ever seen...... :icon_thumright:
Title: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: Rokhal07 on June 06, 2013, 11:59:56 AM
Great looking mount!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: busta biggun on June 06, 2013, 12:01:42 PM
Quote from: Spring Creek Calls on June 06, 2013, 11:36:48 AM
Quote from: stinkpickle on June 06, 2013, 10:45:57 AM
Awesome!!!  There's a reason those Morris fellers get so much business.

IMO, they are the best. Personally, I like Rick and Drake. Great job on the head!

Hey Spring Creek. I agree with you about liking the guys at the Turkey Roost. My buddy and I went there to get his two turkeys done and I went to Hazel Creek. Rick and Drake will take as much time as you want to talk them. They will let you look around as long as you like to try to decide how you want it mounted. Hazel Creek is more down to business. That being said, I think the work at Hazel Creek is better overall. Better consistency. They ALWAYS look perfect to me. Also if you notice the breast of mine is "tiled" and is "puffier" than all of the mounts I saw at TR. Not saying they can't do it, I just didn't see any and HC had lots of tiled birds. They are much harder to do than a smooth breast. My buddy liked his two birds from TR a lot. But when he saw mine he agreed he liked mine a lot more. But my bird probably cost twice as much as his. I am probably way too picky.
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: DirtNap647 on June 06, 2013, 12:09:23 PM
very  nice mount
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: ILHUNTER on June 06, 2013, 12:14:53 PM
That mount looks awesome, The tiled feathers on the breast do make it stand out, congrats on an awesome mount
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: fallsflight on June 06, 2013, 12:56:08 PM
The full strut mounts are not usually my favorite positions, but that is one awesome job they did.  No wonder you keep staring at it.  Congrats on the bird and the quality taxidermy!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: trkycaller on June 06, 2013, 12:56:59 PM
very nice!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: Nolehoe on June 06, 2013, 01:15:47 PM
SWEET!

Sent from my SCH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: guesswho on June 06, 2013, 01:55:58 PM
Looks real enough to shoot again. :icon_thumright:
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: Illini Tom on June 06, 2013, 02:20:10 PM
that looks fantastic  :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:
congrats on the great bird and mount
i gotta get a full mount done some day  :turkey:
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: WildTigerTrout on June 06, 2013, 02:32:55 PM
That is a great mount. One of the best I have seen. I can see why you keep staring at it. 8)
Title: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: alloutdoors on June 06, 2013, 04:04:24 PM
Awesome mount! Hazel Creek does some of the best bodies in the business but I usually can't stand their heads (the blue is usually way too dark IMO). Yours looks fantastic though.
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: TJK68 on June 06, 2013, 04:09:49 PM
Beautiful mount, Congrats!!!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: Swamprunner on June 06, 2013, 05:02:16 PM
I have 4 done by Callie, and they are all incredible.  Best in the business, no question.
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: kansas hooks on June 06, 2013, 05:10:15 PM
What a great looking mount!  Love the pedestal mount.
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: beagler on June 06, 2013, 06:13:05 PM
Very Nice!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: El Pavo Grande on June 06, 2013, 06:31:06 PM
That looks incredible!!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: stone road turkey calls on June 06, 2013, 06:33:49 PM
nice bird, congrats
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: Green Trumpeter on June 06, 2013, 07:24:37 PM
Awesome mount, congrats on the bird!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: coyote1 on June 06, 2013, 08:06:56 PM
Awesome looking mount. The taxi did a great job on it. :icon_thumright:
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: Brian811 on June 06, 2013, 10:12:17 PM
Nice mount. I hope to get a bird worthy of a mount but am nervous about how the head will look.
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: captin_hook on June 06, 2013, 10:54:40 PM
That's a awesome mount!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: tomstopper on June 07, 2013, 06:32:30 AM
Beautiful mount. Very nice......
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: bbcustomboxcalls on June 07, 2013, 09:53:08 AM
One of the best full strut mounts I've seen!

Bill
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: Crappiepro on June 07, 2013, 10:02:25 AM
Boy that sure is a beautiful mount!! Congrats!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: TRKYHTR on June 07, 2013, 10:24:43 AM
I've known Cally since 1992 when I met him in the Grand National gobbling contest that year. He has done 4 turkeys for me. He was the first to take turkey taxidermy to the highest level. He has taught many taxidermist to do turkeys the right way. You got a good one there. Congrats,

TRKYHTR
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: J. Adams on June 07, 2013, 10:49:15 AM
awesome mount!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: TrackeySauresRex on June 07, 2013, 10:52:41 AM
Sweet! great mount.  :icon_thumright:
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: captin_hook on June 07, 2013, 03:28:37 PM
Yepper. Cally is the best in the biz. I'm fortunate enough to have one of his apprentices close to home. Just waiting for the right bird to take there. Any PA guys out there looking for a top notch taxi, check out Razza in Derry pa. He was trained by Cally.
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: WW on June 07, 2013, 03:32:54 PM
That is a heck of a good mount! I would have that bad boy in a glass case to keep the dust off of all that money, I mean turkey.
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: steveo on June 07, 2013, 04:33:40 PM
WOW ! looks great.........keep that thing inside looks so real it could get shot :fud: if you put it outside !LOL.
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: albrubacker on June 07, 2013, 05:20:00 PM
Very nice!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: renegade19 on June 07, 2013, 06:35:13 PM
Best looking mount I've ever seen!  WOW!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: RutnNStrutn on June 08, 2013, 11:36:14 PM
Quote from: stinkpickle on June 06, 2013, 10:45:57 AM
Awesome!!!  There's a reason those Morris fellers get so much business.
x2 :agreed: :icon_thumright:
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: Tail Feathers on June 09, 2013, 10:11:42 PM
Great bird, beautiful mount!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: sixbird on June 10, 2013, 06:13:56 PM
Gorgeous!!! I've shot quite a few that were worthy of mounting but just haven't pulled the trigger so to speak...I keep saying the first 12 incher, but they're hard to come by...
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: busta biggun on June 10, 2013, 08:22:19 PM
Quote from: sixbird on June 10, 2013, 06:13:56 PM
Gorgeous!!! I've shot quite a few that were worthy of mounting but just haven't pulled the trigger so to speak...I keep saying the first 12 incher, but they're hard to come by...

You know I have shot a lot of birds over the years that had a 12 inch beard, but the spurs were only 1/2 inch so I passed. Then i shot a couple birds with 1 1/2 hooks with 10 inch beards. I finally decided to get this one done because of the memories of the hunt. I went after him for three solid days and finally figured out how to outsmart that guy. His beard is around 11 inches, which is nice, but i have shot many birds with longer beards. His spurs were all worn off so no biggie there. But I just love looking at that guy. Just a smart old bird that gave me fits. I think guys sometimes wait for that "bird of a lifetime" to get mounted and the truth is, any well preserved bird is an awesome trophy to look at.
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: Fatbeard on June 11, 2013, 10:48:18 PM
Very nice! They do wonderful mounts
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: ShotGunSniper on June 11, 2013, 11:10:07 PM
Now that is the pose I want for when I finally get one mounted. Im speachless about how well it look's. It is amazing.
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: Cove on June 11, 2013, 11:15:41 PM
Absolutely amazing! I've got one at the taxidermist now. I've waited this long to get one mounted solely due to wanting a perfect mount which in my opinion exists only in the hands of Cally and maybe one other. After drooling over Cally's work at Grand Nationals every year his work is what I judged everyone else's against- its been impossible to find anything comparable. I hope when I get my bird back in a few months I wont be too disappointed but i'm afraid I will be. . . . if so, i'll sent the next to Cally and just be broke. Get what you pay for.
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: busta biggun on June 12, 2013, 10:10:52 PM
Amen Cove. Cally is NOT cheap, probably double what most guys charge. Even his brothers. But I figure you are looking at this thing almost every day for the rest of your life so why not go ahead and do it right?!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: ncturkey on June 16, 2013, 07:07:42 PM
Cally and the boys at Hazel Creek do a awesome job. It looks perfect.
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: WiLL B on June 16, 2013, 11:18:19 PM
He looks alive!!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: sixbird on September 26, 2013, 10:56:17 PM
Quote from: busta biggun on June 10, 2013, 08:22:19 PM
Quote from: sixbird on June 10, 2013, 06:13:56 PM
Gorgeous!!! I've shot quite a few that were worthy of mounting but just haven't pulled the trigger so to speak...I keep saying the first 12 incher, but they're hard to come by...

You know I have shot a lot of birds over the years that had a 12 inch beard, but the spurs were only 1/2 inch so I passed. Then i shot a couple birds with 1 1/2 hooks with 10 inch beards. I finally decided to get this one done because of the memories of the hunt. I went after him for three solid days and finally figured out how to outsmart that guy. His beard is around 11 inches, which is nice, but i have shot many birds with longer beards. His spurs were all worn off so no biggie there. But I just love looking at that guy. Just a smart old bird that gave me fits. I think guys sometimes wait for that "bird of a lifetime" to get mounted and the truth is, any well preserved bird is an awesome trophy to look at.

I'm beginning to think the same way...The first bird I shot was a twelve and a little more. He had three beards. I was young and couldn't justify the cost (that and I didn't know what I had)...Since then, I've killed a ton of 10 inchers with good spurs (one inch plus) but that twelve has eluded me. They're RARE here...
I'm thinking I should lower my expectations a notch or so and maybe make the criteria a challenging hunt like you did...
Man, I want to hunt where you do! :^)
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: flintlock on September 27, 2013, 09:06:56 AM
A fine job!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: Muzzy61 on September 27, 2013, 08:29:08 PM
Beautiful !
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: TrackeySauresRex on September 28, 2013, 09:20:11 PM
Sweet! Great Tom!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: savduck on September 29, 2013, 06:53:33 PM
Looks great. Toning down the red really brings it to life. I agree many put to much red on the head
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: stone road turkey calls on October 01, 2013, 06:53:43 AM
very nice :icon_thumright:
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: Old Gobbler on October 01, 2013, 11:17:48 PM
That's about the best looking strutter mount I haver seen
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: ncturkey on October 02, 2013, 10:07:08 PM
Awesome mount.
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: kevin2 on October 05, 2013, 07:51:24 PM
SHARP!

Got a Taxi that took classes from Hazel, so I'm hoping for some similar work.

Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: jblackburn on October 31, 2013, 01:32:24 PM
I could not have that in my house!   I'd end up waking up in the middle of the night shooting at it!

Looks great!!!
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: Beard Collecter on October 31, 2013, 10:31:12 PM
Looks Great. If you don't mind me asking, what is Cally getting to do a mount like that.
Title: Re: Got my turkey back from Hazel Creek Taxidermy!
Post by: busta biggun on November 04, 2013, 12:28:36 PM
No offense beard collector, but I was rather not post the cost. The main reason is that I will hear and endless litany of people telling me they had their bird done for half that price and it looks better, blah blah,... I will say it was pretty danged expensive. Plus I paid extra for the walnut base, the "tiled" feathers, etc. Feel free to call Cally if you would like a quote on a bird. They are more expensive than the other guys but I obviously feel like it's worth it.