Fixing a turkey mount

[2ndAmdmt]

I just picked up my osceolla turkey from my taxidermist to find that he didn't raise any of the quills on it (full strut mount). Everything else looks great which is typical of his work. He said he would be happy to try and fix it, but couldn't guarantee anything. He said he was afraid the feathers may fall out after soaking it for very long. Does anyone have any idea if it can be repaired and how? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[Jeff Sonner]

post a pic. It will help us help you.

[bw]

Agreed.

But if you asked for a full strut mount, I can't imagine why he wouldnt have given you one.

[ElkinsTaxidermy]

Sounds like a remount to me!!  Would still like to see pics! Everything looks great , except the feathers aren't raised on a STRUT mount!!  Oxymoron for sure.

[Jeff Sonner]

"everything else looks great"-better find someone who knows how to mnt. a turkey. It'd hard to tell from that pic, but if your taxi didn't make sure the back feathers are upright-which is a given on a strut bird-I bet there are other problems as well. This is a basic-very common- pose that should not have such a "mistake" made. I doubt the skin can be sucessfully re-hydrated and repositioned without causing feather issues. The top Half of the skin will have to be soaked up from the head to the tail-and I mean half. From below where the wings join the body up. Find a taxi that knows turkeys and have it re-mounted or accept it for what it is. If you need to see what strut turkeys look like just look through any hunting mag and you should find at least one or two pics to show him what he did wrong. It's a shame to see a trophy screwed up like that-especially for such a common pose. Good luck.

[Trapperr]

Congratulations  Fur Standing Up Fur Youself !!!  So Many Say Nothing To Their Taxidermist  When There Mount Does Not Look Right. The Only Possible Way That "May' Work Is To Put The Bird In  Plastic Enclosure With High Moisture Content To Try & Soften Up The Skin Enough To Make Adjustments . I Believe A Large Box With Wet Sand Covered With Plastic Might Be Enough , It's A Long Shot , Think  A Remount By A Good Bird Taxidermist Is The Way To Go Though , Perhaps Your Taxidermist Will Give You A Partial Refund , Worth A Try   Good Luck

[ElkinsTaxidermy]

That bird has WAY too many issues to even think of a remount!! 


Trapperr...what's with all the caps?

[Trapperr]

Naturally A Remont In This Case Would Incorporate The Utilization Of A Replacement Skin , Not Likely To Salvage That Skin ..........Caps ?  Just The Way I Choose To Type , Does It Offend You

[turkeyjim]

Remount for sure, and find a good taxidermist that knows turkeys. If this is typical of his work, I think I'd check out some of the other taxi guys iand gals in your area and compare thair work to his. take your reference pics with you so you know what to look for.
JMO.
Jim

[ed150]

never saw anything like that before

[Pat Bradburn]

Its a bad turkey mount. Nothing else to say. I fixed one like that once. I wouldn't want to do it again. I took the tail and freeze dried head off, soaked the turkey in a bathtub all day, then skinned it, took out the wires, fleshed it, washed it, and remounted it. I reset the tail, repainted the head, and had it looking much better. I couldn't do anything with the wings. They were locked in, but not completely terrible compared to how the rest of the bird looked. The feet and legs were able to be reydrated enough to get them injected better and painted. I charged my normal price for a turkey. I could have charged more. If I were in your situation I would look for a replacement skin and have it mounted by a good turkey taxidermist with your beard and tail from your bird. Good luck with it. That's a bummer.

[BeckyBird]

I wonder if he could get a replacement back skin, and have a good taxidermist replace the entire back. That might not cost as much as a remount, and then you'd have the feathers raised up like they should be. I really don't think it would be wise to send the bird back to the same taxidermist who did the work though. Find a better one, even if it means the work costs more.

[strutinh]

I bet you got what you paid for   sorry for you loss

[buckyb3]

Just a piece of back skin would work. I added a toupee to one years ago. It lifted off just like a man's wig.
That's the cheapest and easiest repair to a bad mount.

[2ndAmdmt]

Thanks everyone for all of your help/input, I appreciate it.