How do you make Tom's body feathers (while struting),and neck feathers (while fighting) flare out in a natural manner?
Thanks...
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I hang em upside down from a wire run through the body and out the behind. You've gotta pull and preen them the way you want them to dry every day. For standing you can pin, card, prop with cotton balls etc...but you still have to watch them and adjust accordingly every day...
Don't use an oversized body or you'll have a devil of a time trying to get them to stand up..
I have heard that you can put saw dust, or rather corn cob grit into the bases of the feathers to help out as well. you can then use a air compressor to blow it out.
Steve
Jack, To get turkey feathers to stand on the mount you can use a layer of holofil stapled to the form in those areas that you want to stand. This is the same padding that quilters use in quilts. Beware---you can over-do this but the idea is you mount the bird and each day you "train" the feathers to stand as you want them to. As the bird dries over a few days the feathers learn their position and you have a full strut turkey. Always use good reference photos paying attention that you properly locate the various feather groups in their proper place. Enjoy, Aaron H.
Cyclone, Roadkill, and Mr. Honeycutt:
Thank you for taking the time to respond.
I appreciate your suggestions.
Jack