how do you cape a turkey

• Hang your tom by the head.
• Cut the skin where the feathers on the neck meet the skin of the head.
• Continue down the center of the back toward the tail. Follow the natural seams that run down both sides of the back. ...
• Remove the skin, including the tail skin.
• Scrape the fat and flesh from the cape using a knife and spoon.
• Cover the wet skin in 20 Mule Team Borax laundry booster.
• Lay the cape treated-skin-down on large piece of flat cardboard.
Pin the neck end to the cardboard using a straight pin or brad.
Fan the tail feathers out, spreading them to the desired width and pin each feather in place. ...
Lay each feather in place carefully with a pocketknife and trim off any excess feathers from the sides.
Let dry three to four weeks in a nice dry part of your house, garage or shop and keep the cape protected from rodents and pets.
Scrape off the old Borax and reapply a fresh coat, if there is still moisture in the cape. Let this sit for another week.
Remove pins, shake off the loose Borax and hang your trophy on your wall.
Mount the cape on a piece of wood, if desired, cut to fit the cape.

What do you put under the skin of a Turkey before stuffing?

For added deliciousness, rub herb butter (also called compound butter) under the turkey's skin before stuffing — it helps boost flavor and moisture. Spoon your stuffing into the neck cavity.

How do you measure a Turkey Spur?

Spurs must be measured along the outside center, from the point at which the spur protrudes from the scaled leg skin to the tip of the spur. Add both spur measurements and multiply the combined length of the spurs by 10. This is the number of points you receive for the turkey’s spurs.

How do you score a Turkey?

Before you begin to score your turkey, be sure to note that all measurements are taken in 1/16-inch increments and converted to decimal form. A conversion chart for measurements is located at the bottom of this page. Weigh your bird in pounds and ounces and convert ounces to decimal form. Measure each spur.

Can I stuff a Turkey the night before roasting?

Stuff your turkey just before you roast it. Do not stuff the turkey the night before. Cook raw meat and seafood, such as bacon or oysters, before adding them to any stuffing you put inside your uncooked bird. Insert a meat thermometer into to center of the stuffing to read the temperature.

How do you cut a turkey cape?

1:017:45How to Cape a Turkey - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPull it a little bit and cutting it on and as you go down be careful when you get to the spot whereMorePull it a little bit and cutting it on and as you go down be careful when you get to the spot where the skin touches the backbone.

How do you skin out a turkey to mount it?

0:3810:29How to Skin a Turkey for Taxidermy Mounting and Save the Meat (Part 1 ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn my situation I usually do a cut that goes from leg to leg. But there are taxidermists that use aMoreIn my situation I usually do a cut that goes from leg to leg. But there are taxidermists that use a cut that goes straight down the center of the breast.

How do you skin a turkey step by step?

0:496:41How to Clean a Turkey the EASY WAY! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo just one small incision. And then you can get it similar to a fish. And you just pull that skinMoreSo just one small incision. And then you can get it similar to a fish. And you just pull that skin back and I'll just take the legs. You want to pop. Them.

How do you preserve a turkey for taxidermy?

0:372:10How to Prepare a Turkey for the Taxidermist - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTo have it processed is not put it on ice. And transporting them to the taxidermist. Just get it toMoreTo have it processed is not put it on ice. And transporting them to the taxidermist. Just get it to him as quick as possible try to keep it out of direct. Sunlight.

How do you skin a turkey for a Cape Mount?

Wild Turkey Cape MountHang your tom by the head.Cut the skin where the feathers on the neck meet the skin of the head.Continue down the center of the back toward the tail. ... Remove the skin, including the tail skin.Scrape the fat and flesh from the cape using a knife and spoon.More items...

When should you mount a turkey?

Once the turkey has cooled off a bit, it's time to get it to the taxidermist or into cold storage. “If you can get the turkey to your taxidermist within six to eight hours from the shot, then do that,” Roub says. “Most taxidermists can skin the bird on the spot and give the hunters the meat.”

What to do after you shoot a turkey?

9 Things You Should Do After Killing a TurkeyCheck Your Shotgun's Safety. No options on this. ... Unload Your Gun. Assuming you're done for the day, unload that shotgun. ... Give Thanks. ... Tag Your Turkey (If Required) ... Shoot Photos. ... Take Care of the Bird. ... Check the Turkey In. ... Tell Your Friends and Family.More items...•

Where do you aim at a turkey?

When hunting wild turkeys with a shotgun, greater success is achieved when hunters shoot at the head and neck area of the bird. The most effective firearm shot for a turkey is to the head and neck. The preferred shot angle for bowhunters is broadside, aiming for the heart or lungs.

How long should the turkey rest before carving?

30 minutesYou carve a turkey the same way you carve a chicken or other poultry. It might be intimidating since it's the largest bird of the bunch, but with a little know-how, you'll handle it like a pro. Before you cut a thing, let your turkey rest — at least 30 minutes — so its juices don't end up on the cutting board.

How much does it cost to taxidermy a turkey?

Game Heads, Novelty Mounts, and Fish Mounts require a 25% initial deposit. Bird and Waterfowl Mounts require a 50% initial deposit. Deposits are nonrefundable. Prices may vary and are subject to change....SpeciesPriceCanadian Geese$425Turkey Standing$475Turkey Flying$500Turkey Strutting$5757 more rows

How do you preserve a turkey hide?

5:146:09How to Make a Turkey Cape Display - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThat won't dry out well you need to cut those off you know trim it off the best you can rub thatMoreThat won't dry out well you need to cut those off you know trim it off the best you can rub that table salt in there and then just store it and you know fairly temperate.

Can you freeze a turkey for taxidermy?

If you cannot get the bird to a taxidermist on the first day of the kill, then you will need to freeze the bird. Right before bagging the turkey, place its head into a small plastic bag and secure it.

Three Safety Tips for Stuffed Turkey

Stuff your turkey just before you roast it. Do not stuff the turkey the night before.

Step 1: Remove the giblets

Inside most uncooked turkeys, you'll find a little package that contains the turkey's giblets — its gizzard, heart, and liver. Think of it as a bonus flavor sack: The offal is a delicious addition to dressing and gravy. While it's best to remove the package before cooking your turkey, it's not a big deal from a health perspective if you forget.

Step 2: Stuff the turkey's neck cavity

Spoon your stuffing into the neck cavity. Pack it very loosely, then pull the skin over the stuffing and pin to the turkey's back using a metal skewer.

Step 3: Stuff the turkey's body cavity

Spoon your stuffing into the body cavity, loosely. Stuffing expands while it cooks, so you don't want to pack it in tightly or else it might not get fully cooked all the way through, and your stuffing can turn out with dense, gummy texture.

To Stuff or Not to Stuff

Some cooks believe that traditional holiday stuffing actually detracts from a turkey's flavor because it takes longer for the stuffing to cook than the turkey, so you can end up with dry meat. One easy alternative is to cook the dressing separately and then spoon it into the cooked turkey when it's resting.

Step 1

Weigh your bird in pounds and ounces and convert ounces to decimal form.

Step 2

Measure each spur. Spurs must be measured along the outside center, from the point at which the spur protrudes from the scaled leg skin to the tip of the spur. Add both spur measurements and multiply the combined length of the spurs by 10. This is the number of points you receive for the turkey’s spurs.

Step 3

Measure the beard length (a beard must be measured from the center point of the protrusion of the skin to the tip) and convert it to decimal form.

Step 4

Add together the weight, the points for spurs and points for beard (s): This is the score you receive for your turkey.