Embark on a journey of preserving your hunting memories by learning how to mount your own turkey spurs. This guide, meticulously crafted from the wisdom of the Missouri Department of Conservation, will equip you with the knowledge and techniques to transform your trophies into lasting testaments to your hunting prowess.
Preparing for the Task:
- Gather your tools: You’ll need a hacksaw, a knife, borax, cardboard, pins or staples, epoxy or hot glue, and a leather lace or string.
- Secure the spurs: After removing the leg at the knee joint, use a hacksaw to cut through the leg on each side of the spur, leaving a base as wide as desired.
- Clean the spurs: Remove the skin and fleshy material from the outside and inside of the bone. You can choose to leave the spur natural or coat it with polyurethane for a glossy finish.
Preserving the Spurs:
- Borax treatment: Apply borax liberally to the fleshy part of the beard and the base of the spur quills. This helps prevent rot and insect damage.
- Drying the spurs: Thread the spurs onto a leather lace or string, followed by a brass bead. Secure the lace with hot glue inside the bead. Allow the spurs to dry completely for about seven days.
Displaying Your Spurs:
- Mounting options: You can display your spurs in a wooden panel, a shadow box, or even incorporate them into a custom-designed piece.
- Adding a personal touch: Consider engraving the date of the hunt or other meaningful details onto the brass bead for a personalized touch.
Beyond the Spurs:
- Mounting the tail and beard: This guide also provides instructions on preserving the turkey’s tail and beard, allowing you to create a complete trophy display.
- Creative display ideas: Explore various display options, from traditional wall mounts to unique arrangements that showcase your creativity.
Remember:
- Handle the spurs with care: Avoid damaging the delicate bone structure during the cleaning and mounting process.
- Be patient: Allow sufficient drying time for the spurs and other components to ensure their longevity.
- Enjoy the process: Take pride in preserving your hunting memories through this rewarding DIY project.
By following these steps and incorporating your personal touch, you can transform your turkey spurs into a treasured memento that will evoke the thrill of the hunt for years to come
Additional Tips:
- Source materials locally: Look for borax in the laundry section of your local grocery store.
- Utilize online resources: Explore online tutorials and forums for further guidance and inspiration.
- Share your creations: Showcase your mounted spurs on social media or hunting forums to connect with fellow enthusiasts.
Embrace the spirit of DIY and embark on this rewarding journey of preserving your hunting legacy. With patience, creativity, and the guidance provided in this article, you’ll successfully mount your own turkey spurs and proudly display them as a testament to your hunting adventures.
Stay In Touch With MDC
Stay in Touch with MDC news, newsletters, events, and manage your subscription Link
I scanned the dark timber, searching for the light-tipped tail feathers that I had seen only moments earlier. At sixty yards, the mocking fan had reappeared, accompanied by a thunderous gobble that made it clear this was a mature tom. Then it vanished.
Knowing he was in stealth mode, I watched and waited while he tried to determine whether or not he liked the hen decoy. Then I caught movement out of the corner of my eye as he entered the clearing. He was giving it everything he had, having decided that this was the girl for him. Chest puffed out, tail feathers spread, beard dragging, spitting, and drumming. Despite the lack of reaction from the foam female, he wasn’t letting up.
He strutted his way down the end of my gun barrel, and I squeezed the trigger.
I knew that long after the turkey was eaten, the mounted tail, beard, and spurs would remind me of this hunt.
For the most part, taxidermy work should be left to the professionals. They are truly artists at what they do and require special equipment and processes. Mounting a turkey tail, beard, and spurs, however, can be a simple, quick, and satisfying way to wrap up a hunt, and anyone can do it. You just need to follow a few steps and use one item available at your local grocery store.
The quality of a finished turkey mount begins in the field. Avoiding broken tail feathers is much easier than fixing them. A bird in full strut in your direction may appear like a bigger target, but it can be harder to hit and will probably cause damage to the fan and pellets in the meat. Aim for the area where the neck skin ends and the feathers begin, or wait for the bird to drop its tail and stretch its neck naturally. You can also cluck a few times to pique the bird’s interest. Gently smooth the tail feathers into place and cover the bird with an orange vest or bag before you leave the field (both for safety and to prevent damage)
Once home, the easiest part of the bird to preserve is the beard. Pulling on the beard and trimming the base where it connects to the body will remove it, leaving enough skin to keep it together. Apply a generous amount of borax (found in most grocery stores’ laundry section) to the area of the beard that is fleshy. Then pour some borax into a small container and place the skin of the beard in it overnight.
The next step is to remove the tail. Hold the fan closed. Feel for the triangle-shaped base beneath the skin that connects the tail feathers to the body. Cut in front of this to separate the tail from the rest of the turkey. Err on the side of caution. It is better to leave too much skin on than not enough. Cutting extra off later is easy, gluing feathers back in is time consuming.
Lay the removed tail section on a hard, flat surface. Using a knife’s edge, remove any meat from the quills’ base without severing the tissue that connects them. When all the excess is removed, apply generous amounts of borax to the entire base. In order to prolong the life of the mount and shield it from rot and insects, thoroughly rub it into all nooks and crannies.
Now the tail must be held in shape to dry. You can choose to have a half strut or spread the fan out to a full strut with the bottom feathers parallel. Whatever position you choose will be permanent, as moving them after they are dry is not possible. To secure the fan, place a tiny pin, nail, or staple in front of each bottom feather. Then, place the fan onto a large sheet of cardboard. Carefully arrange and smooth out each tail feather. Cover the tail with another piece of cardboard and tape the two pieces together. Put in a location where it will not be disturbed. Drying should be complete in about seven days.
The bird’s spurs can be taken off after tending to its more delicate tail and beard. Start by removing the leg at the knee joint to make it easier to work with. Next, use a hacksaw to cut through the leg on both spur sides, allowing the base to be as wide as you like. This will leave the spur attached to a hollow section of the leg bone. Remove the skin and any fleshy material from the outside and inside of the bone. The spur can be coated with polyurethane for a shinier finish or left natural. Run a string or thin strap of leather through the hollow bones.
After the tail’s drying period, remove it from the cardboard and the beard from the container of borax. Brush off any excess preservative. Just slide the fan into the slot on the wooden display panel (found at sporting goods stores) if you’re mounting them. Most of them will also have a hole on the bottom for the beard. Apply hot glue or epoxy to the beard’s tip and place it into the panel’s opening.
The appeal of mounting your own is that there are numerous alternative ways to showcase the tail, beard, and spurs. Regardless of the pattern you decide on, you will be reminded of the hunt and the pleasure you felt in keeping the memory every time you walk by that natural work of art hanging on the den wall.
Credit Noppadol Paothong Right to Use
Credit Larry R. Beckett Right to Use
Credit Larry R. Beckett Right to Use
Credit Larry R. Beckett Right to Use
Credit Larry R. Beckett Right to Use
How to Mount Turkey Spurs | Turkey Mounting 101
FAQ
What do you coat turkey spurs in?
How do you save wild turkey spurs?
How old is a turkey with 1 inch spurs?