Fixing a turkey mount

[alan webfoot]

I "fixed " a gobbler 2 years back it was shot in the side NOT the head. All the saddle feathers were trashed . I had extra feathers ,,went ahead with mount AFTER pulling out broken feathers. Then using extras I got bags of them I replaced them ,,One by one by piercing the skin down into the foam using glue each saddle feather was stuck on .With your mount it would be a matter of plucking the feathers out that are already there then gluing them BACK in in the upright "strut position. Be glad to do it.

[Jeff Sonner]

I was going to suggest re-placing the back skin only, but Way too many other problems to be worth the effort. Scaps would also need replaced with the back skin so they lay right. It can be done, but this bird has issues. Wings, breast positioning, neck length and placement-it would be better to get a new skin and re-mount. As for replacing individual feathers-if it is just a few it is really no big deal, but the entire feather group can be replaced a lot cheaper and would look a lot nicer.

[HOLMES]

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

What did the mount cost you?

[lookn4awhitetail]

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

What did the mount cost you?

thats what i was wondering

[ElkinsTaxidermy]

The hackle feathers are the LEAST of the problems on that mount!!

[2ndAmdmt]

I pesonally know my tax. as he went to school with my uncle. Believe it or not, he is capable of stellar work and has awards all over his studio to prove it. This includes turkeys (he mounted an award winning merriam for one of my good friends). For me he has mounted elk, moose, caribou, mtn. lion, and a javelina on a pedestal that is unbelievable. He initially quoted me $450 but gave me $100 off as a wedding gift (I just got married). The $100 off was also because he knew this looks like trash. What really bothers me is he didn't even mention this when we talked about it. He claims he started doing this because past customers have said full strut turkeys are hard to clean as they accumulate dust. I asked him if other clients actually like the looks of their mount and he said they do. This is NOT a full strut mount. I just have a hard time getting mad at him because he has always been good to me. He also wants to get out of the business soon (retire). I don't know if he is just tired of it, doesn't care, or is losing vision/dexterity or what, but if you charge for a service, you should provide that service. He also was supposed to put artificial ferns and palmettos on the base. The palmettos are impossible to find (I've looked as have others on this site) and I haven't had any luck preserving natural ones either. I told him I can complete the base (as I do woodwork) which isn't a big deal, even though his initial quote included all of this. I don't care about the base, but osceollas are hard to come by. Hopefully I can find somewhere to get another this fall. This was my 1st one and I shot it with a bow so it was a little bit important to me! Not much I can do now, but he did say he would be willing to try and fix it. I know after this most people wouldn't return, but I don't want to (or have the money to) pay two taxidermists for the same mount. He messed it up, and he needs to fix it. I printed all of the responses I have gotten to show him that other taxidermists agree that this is not a full strut (even though he knows).

[Jeff Sonner]

Thats even less than what I charge other taxidermists when Ido wholesale work for them. You got what you paid for. He should fix it,but for what you were charged I wouldn't expect much. Good luck.

[2ndAmdmt]

He has since raised his prices, and I've heard it's around $650 now. I gave him this bird a year and a half ago, and told him I was in no hurry as I live in Fl. and he is in Co.

[alan webfoot]

What a shame

[lookn4awhitetail]

Hes up to 650 on a  bird like that.  You must be right hes wanting to get out of it.