Skinning a turkey?

[11th hour]

Whats the best method to skin a turkey.  I thought I would mount a flying turkey for my first bird.  I have a video but it doesn't show the skinning part.  I'm just not sure the best place to start and stop the incision.  I've got it after that.  Any tips would greatly be appreciated.

[Bobbym1232]

The way I do it is make a cut from the breast bone all the way down to the anus.  Then work around until you can free the legs from the hip joint.  Free the tail feathers then from there on, you just peel it down.  Cut the wings off at the joint and keep skinning down to the head.  The breast area is FUN!  You will see what I mean when you get there.  It also work better if you can hang it upside down while skinning, but you can't really do this until you get the legs cut off.

[cattrax]

I used to use the belly incision but now use the incision between the legs, ankle to ankle. I free the skin entirely from the legs and reattach later. I feel that the feathers fair better through the whole washing tumbling and mounting process.

[lostpines]

i take legs completely of and go from leg to leg.

[Wayne R]

I hang the bird by one leg, and cut the length of the leg down the inside of one and across to the other leg and up the inside of the other one. I remove the tail with just enough feather in front and behind the tail. The ball joint that attaches the wings to the body is cut and the meat removed from the wings later. The bird is then skinned all the way down to where I can cut the neck behind the skull. The head and the legs (the part with out feathers) are then removed. This leaves me with a skin that I think is easier to handle while fleahing, washing and mounting. The tail can now be mounted separately and with wires epoxied to the base of the tail, can be added later. The legs can also be wired and added to the manikin and injected and position. I know you mentioned a flying pose but on a strutting bird this helps me get every thing balance before I put the the rest of the bird on the form. The head I attach after the skin is on. Your video may have a different way of mounting, but I just want to explain why I prefer to use this way to skin the bird.

[full fan]

I do the same as Wayne R. I have 5-6 birds going at one time. Buy setting them up this way it is easy to paint the feet before it is mounted.

[Cole]

I use the leg to leg as well, and leave my legs attached.

[Pat-M]

Skin leg to leg like they say is the best way.

BTW, once skinned your work is just beginning.  Now you have a lot of work getting all the fat and crop off the inside of the hide.  I found that to be a lot of work. 

Good luck

pat

[11th hour]

Thanks for the replies.  Yes I know how much work is involved with the fleshing and degreasing etc.  Thats why I have been sticking with game heads and varmints.  It may be my first and last.  Thanks again.