I want to know how long a turkey will last in the freezer. I've cleaned and washed it and wrapped it in a plastic bag. I would hate for it to not be good when i get it out to mount it. It is my sons turkey and he wouldn't be happy with me.
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I put one in the freezer only this morning and low and behold when i looked again at lunch tine it was dead.
When I get a turkey in this is what I do.
1- Remove the head and freeze in plastic zip loc bag with
water to send to freeze dryer.
2- Skin out body. Severe wings and leg bones.
3- Cut skin around leg to foot area and then skin out legs.
Flesh off leg bone and remove foot and leg bone
together. Freeze in plastic bag with water.
4- Spray water on inside of skin and line with a few wet
paper towels.
5- Roll skin and put in a plastic bag. Squeeze air out and
secure with rubber bands.
6- Place plastic bag inside another plastic bag and then
put into a paper bag. (Triple bagged).
7- Use good quality strecthable electrical tape and secure
paper bag tightly
I have mounted turkeys I shot which were frozen this way after 6 and 7 years. Of course my customers birds get mounted and returned within 8 or 9 months.
I mounted an eastern last fall that had been in a chest freezer for 7 1/2 years. I had some serious rehydration to do on the feet/legs and breast skin. The original head was toast but with some luck and a Cally Morris freeze-dried head the customer was very happy.
BTW, I do my turkeys pretty much like duckfeathers except I vacuumn pack them