First, I hope I don't offend George, I looked through the archives, and didn't see the answer I was looking for. I am getting ready to skin a turkey in the morning. I was planning on using the original head for the mount, but I am having doubts. I have watched all 3 of Pete Gierke's tapes from Van Dykes, and he uses the real heads for his mounts. They look good, but it also looks like alot of trouble to get the head back to the exact shape it should be. I have to skin this bird in the morning, because it will be thawed just right for skinning. If I don't use the original head, what do I need to do when I skin it? Also, if I use an artificial head when should I start mounting the bird? If anyone has seen his videos, it looks easy to use the original head. I only use the real head on My pheasants, and they turn out really nice. All help is GREATLY APPRECIATED! Thanks, Eric
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I would go with a artificial or freezed dried head. Yes, you can use the real head. Your going to have to flesh out the head real good. And after it turns black, and shrivels up. Then you're going to have to rebuild everything back with some sort of two part epoxy, like Apoxie Sculpt. It's more problems than it's worth, in my books.
Coyote
Why not send the head off to be freeze dried? Go ahead and skin your bird in the morning. You can remove the head and put it in the freezer. You can go ahead and remove the tail, run the skin on the wheel, wash it, rinse it well and refreeze everything. Send the frozen head in to one of the companies with instructions for pose. If you really want to use an artificial head, do the same thing only order the head you prefer. In the interim, you can bondo up the tail, wire and inject the legs, etc.... so everythings ready to go once you get the head back.
Eric
turkey help send email
Thanks to you guys for the help.