How to keep a bird if you want a full body mount ?

[Bobby5]

  Ive have a lot of experience with deer but none with taking a turkey to a taxidermist?  After you shoot it what is the best way to keep it for the taxidermist if you want a full body mount? What are some tips  for the best looking mount? I assume you freeze it if you cant take it to the taxidermist right away?  I can use all the tips because i have no experience with turkey mounts or at least full body and i figured this is the best place to get some info.
Thanks

[bigriverbum]

I was told by a taxidermist yesterday to fold the wings in tight to the body, fold the fan closed and put loose tie around it and wrap the whole bird in a sheet. Then put in a garbage bag and freeze or bring in right away.

I was able to talk my nephew out of one as I don't know where he'd put it.

[Shoreguy]

There are some videos on this website for turkey preservation and how to skin a turkey. He makes some good helpful videos. http://www.upperbaytaxidermy.com/PREPERATION.html

[KYHeadhunter02]

I run over and grab him after the shot then pickup all the feathers on the ground. Take him home and start pulling feathers by the handfuls and bag them up. Cut the wings and feet off and bag those seperate. Drop em off at the taxidermist. This is mine from last year. Turned out awesome.

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[Southerngobbler]

You really need to pick a taxidermist and see how he wants it. Iv'e had some tell me depending on the pose your looking for that I could cut out the breast meat to eat and save room in the freezer. He would show you where to make the incision and how long. Of course you would have to have some experience skinning birds to pull that off. Most taxidermist would not want you cutting on it.

[Greg Massey]

After the kill shoot , it's best to keep him from flopping as much as possible. So it does the least amount of damage to the feathers .

[dejake]

KYHeadhunter02, why would you post something like that?  The guy's looking for some serious advice.

[ILHUNTER]

First of all try to keep the bird from flopping as much as you can so he doesn't loose, break or ruffle up to many feathers.  Wrap the head in paper towels or something to keep it from getting blood on the feathers and put a Ziploc bag over it. Some taxidermist want them skinned out differently if you are capable of doing it yourself.  I skin my own out the way my taxidermist wants it, then fold the head down towards the chest, wrap the wings in over the head and body then you can also fold the closed tail fan down over the rest of the body.  Then put it in a big plastic bag.  Put it in a fridge or freezer then depending on how long it will be until you can get it to the taxidermy.

[Jstocks]

Talk to your taxidermist and use his recommendation.

Panty hose head first. Don't soak oh I'm in an ice chest full of water. Only if you know you won't tear the cut should an untrained person ready the turkey out.

[WorkingBirds]

Consult with the taxidermist your going to use. Also, ask if he can have the head freeze dried and use it, they look better than the fake heads.