Why do some people cut off the tail of a trukey. Is it so the tumbler don't mess it up.
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i also take pheasant tails off in the same manner for the same reasons.
easier to flesh without it attatched and you can position all your tails ahead of time it the desired pose, and when you mount your birds, your tails will be ready and all you have to do is re-attach.
Matt
www.wildlifebydesign.net
having the tail seperate also helps if you needed to ship it anywhere.
Once you've bondoed tht tail and sewn up, if the tail feathers didn't end up looking right, it is far easier to remove and correct if the tail isn't connected. You can break the bondo apart and re-do the fan if necessary. I've done this countless times do to one feather being just slightly out of place. Each time I've done it I was glad I removed the tail to begin with. Honestly, there are several good reasons listed above. The only reason I can see someone insisting on leaving it attached to the skin to begin with is that's the way they've always done it, and they are to stuborn to change.