I've seen several offerings on artificial turkey heads on the web (Hinton, Eddy, Newmyer, Noonkester, Ferebee, etc.), but I really can't tell much about them. I don't want to start another quarrel, but could some of you share your personal opinions as the which you prefer. (I expect many of you do your own, but I probably need to get a little further down the road before attempting that.) Thanks once again...
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I've used both artificial and freezedried and I like Noonkesters freezedried best.
My preference when using artificial turkey heads would by the ones made by Cary Cochran (sp)of Buckeye Mannikins, they can now be purchased through McKenzie Supply.
I must begin by saying I am not a seasoned veteran. But I am a seasoned vet when it comes to wild turkeys and I will argue to my death that there is simply not an artificial head made that looks like a real head. So freeze-dried, for my mounting and the mounts I pay for, is the only option.
And really there's not many reasons not to use a freezed head. Price is not one of them either. A good repro. head is $50-$60. You can get your turkey head dried AND painted from Angler's Taxidermy for $45. They look great. For about $20-30 more you can get one from Hazel Creek's gang and you'll have a comp. quality head. Now, if you can't use the head off the bird (too shot up, etc.) you can still sometimes get a spare from one of the guys who freeze-dry heads.
Think seriously about freeze-dried. They're no more difficult to mount, you don't necessarily have to paint your own and I've never had an issue with bugs. If you keep a fairly clean home, that will never be an issue.
Hope this helps and, as several wise men from here have told me often, have fun with this art. That's what it's all about.
You suggested Angler's Taxidermy and Hazel Creeks gang for frozen turkey heads. I have been unable to find either on the web. Do you know if they have a site?
Thanks