Hello! On a stroll in the woods here in lovely SD, I came across a cougar kill of three turkeys. It left little but bare bones, and six beautiful full wings. I'd like to preserve the wings rather than pluck the feathers, but am a relative newcomer to taxidermy. I have had to deflesh a cormorant for an osteology class, but that's it. Moreover, I'd like the wings to remain flexible somehow. I've stuck them in the freezer, as they're still quite meaty. Can anyone give a beginner any tips? I'm guessing that I'll have to remove the bones and replace things with some sort of flexible armature. Thanks in advance!
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You're going to have to remove all the flesh. That means all the way to the tip. Several supply companies sell soft replacement wings for the outer two joints, but the tips will have to be incised and cleaned. You can peel the skin down to the "wrist" area but it takes some strain in certain places. I seriously doubt you're ever going to get the "flexibility" you desire. All of us get stiff eventually when we die.