turkey tail

the frenchman · Post by **the frenchman** » Sun May 10, 2009 10:04 pm

hi to all

I would like to know how i am able to preserve my turkey tail?
my turkey tail is in a bag in the freezer but i put salt on the end piece of it (the piece that is attach to the body)

thank's in advance

Michel

munch · Post by **munch** » Sun May 10, 2009 10:17 pm

i trim as much meat and fat off as i can then spread it out on a piece off cardboard in a nice fan shape .i also use a small paint brush to help clean up the feathers then pin it to the cardboard with strait pins and cover the tail part where the meat was with 20 mule borax and leave it for the summer.hope this helps.here is an idea for your spurs.munch

Boo · Post by **Boo** » Sun May 10, 2009 10:22 pm

I do the same thing accept that I sit the tail in salt for a week or two first, then brush off the salt before using Borax(from a drug store).

roly · Post by **roly** » Sun May 10, 2009 10:22 pm

Mr. French ; I do much the same only I use salt for about two weeks or till it is dry , then I use bondo on the back side to hold it in place

crazyfarmer · Post by **crazyfarmer** » Mon May 11, 2009 11:07 am

I jst use a piece of plywood for mine(same as above lol)

Then I get 3 screws.. just 3 is all you need

put the fan on the piece of wood and spread out. I take one screw and screw it to hold the bottom right long feather straight. Then I take the bottom left one and spread that around so both make a nice straight line across the bottom. Put the 2nd screw there to hold that side feather in place. Next, take your hand and push the meat part(where it would conect to the turkey) up the borad. This really spreads them out and gets the bottom perfectly straight. Put another screw there and you are just about done. Find something not to heavy and just put around middle way of the fan to keep the top flat. I dont lay anything on the center cluster of little feathers since I like some poof there

just play around to you find something that works for you..

but 3 screws and a peice of wood are all you need... Salt also for the curing process is all I use. Keep in a garage since lice and etc could be on those feathers still;)

Grizzly Adam · Post by **Grizzly Adam** » Mon May 11, 2009 11:18 am

munch wrote:i trim as much meat and fat off as i can then spread it out on a piece off cardboard in a nice fan shape .i also use a small paint brush to help clean up the feathers then pin it to the cardboard with strait pins and cover the tail part where the meat was with 20 mule borax and leave it for the summer.hope this helps.here is an idea for your spurs.munch

That is a cool way to keep spurs, Munch!

Is that your boy?

Sandman · Post by **Sandman** » Mon May 11, 2009 12:07 pm

munch wrote:i trim as much meat and fat off as i can then spread it out on a piece off cardboard in a nice fan shape .i also use a small paint brush to help clean up the feathers then pin it to the cardboard with strait pins and cover the tail part where the meat was with 20 mule borax and leave it for the summer.hope this helps.here is an idea for your spurs.munch

Very nice indeed ..

Black_wolf · Post by **Black_wolf** » Mon May 11, 2009 1:56 pm

Hello, As a taxidermist I will let you know how I do it. Clean all the meat from the tail and add borax as you go along. There is a bone that is in the tail which I remove by cutting as fat in as possible without going through the skin. Be very careful. Be very generous with the borax as you don't want the fat deposits to blead onto the feathers. Use a wire brush to clean the feather butts and then take your knife and separate the feather buts from one another. When this is done lay the feathers on a large piece of cardboard or styrofoam oen to the fan you desire. Use "T" pins in the feather webing and through the skin only at the base of the tail. DO NOT PUT PINS THROUGH THE FEATHER BUTTS...
Leave it dry like this for about 1 to 1 1/2 weeks.

mikej · Post by **mikej** » Mon May 11, 2009 2:03 pm

welcome to the forum black_wolf

Black_wolf · Post by **Black_wolf** » Mon May 11, 2009 2:05 pm

Thanks

munch · Post by **munch** » Mon May 11, 2009 5:11 pm

Grizzly Adam wrote:
munch wrote:i trim as much meat and fat off as i can then spread it out on a piece off cardboard in a nice fan shape .i also use a small paint brush to help clean up the feathers then pin it to the cardboard with strait pins and cover the tail part where the meat was with 20 mule borax and leave it for the summer.hope this helps.here is an idea for your spurs.munch

That is a cool way to keep spurs, Munch!

Is that your boy?

grizz the wife says he is but she has been known to lie.i made that for him from my birds but he is starting this own this year

DirtyGun · Post by **DirtyGun** » Mon May 11, 2009 6:54 pm

munch wrote:i trim as much meat and fat off as i can then spread it out on a piece off cardboard in a nice fan shape .i also use a small paint brush to help clean up the feathers then pin it to the cardboard with strait pins and cover the tail part where the meat was with 20 mule borax and leave it for the summer.hope this helps.here is an idea for your spurs.munch

Some nice hooks on there Munch. I have a few spurs lying around from Rios that I've taken in the U.S. while visiting family in Texas...that might be an idea for them.

the frenchman · Post by **the frenchman** » Mon May 11, 2009 9:49 pm

thank's to all for your reply

munch: I like what you did with your spurs if i would of knon i would of kept them but to late they are in the garbage

next year maybe

Michel

Sandman · Post by **Sandman** » Tue May 12, 2009 5:30 am

Welcome BW .. Thanks for the help