I went ahead and did the threaded rod drilled down thru the legs and it was much more difficult than I thought it would be.I didnt have any trouble drilling my holes with the drill bit but it was a pain to run that sharpened rod down thru the hole, it kept trying to get hung up and come out the side of the bones, also holding onto that slippery dang turkey leg while trying to run a rod down it is no picnic and the grease and goo that comes out makes it even trickier, nevertheless I got it done and attached them to my drumsticks and mannikin, maybe it will get easier every time I do one.
Return to Bird Taxidermy Category Menu
Wrap a papertowel or two around the leg when you are working with it. This will help you hold it stady when you're drilling. When I'm drilling the leg rod through, I usually put the foot on the floor just like the bird is standing on it and drill the rod in slowly. You have to get a feel for where you're at with the rod and stop when you get to the pad. Then you can maneuver the toe to get the rod to come out in fron of the pad. It will get easier.. Turkeys are tough beasts. What you need to do is look for ways to make the job easier. Just try to do one once using a conventional method of breast incision/feet attached to skin and you'll see why my method is easier. Trying to pose the feet/body with the skin on is a major pain. The bird will flop everywhere and be hard as heck to handle. Mounting the bird in stages saves me so much headache. Frank Newmyer breaks the mounting down even further in his video.
Go to the hardware store and buy an extended length drill bit to fit the size rod you're using. The drill bits come 12" long and are not very expensive.These are long enough to run the entire length of the leg bone. Although the above tip of holding the foot pressed in the standing position might help you I don't do it that way, but try both ways and see which works best for you. I put on a cotton glove on my left hand and this allows me to hold the leg without slipping. Then I start drilling from the knee joint and I guide the drill through the ankle bones at the same angle that the rod will go, and then out the center toe.This makes pushing the rod in place easier since the drilled holes line up.Whatever works.....good luck. JL