Need help immediatly with wild turkey

[SCUMFROG]

I picked up a dead turkey on the side of the road. (D.N.R said I can keep it.) How to I freeze it for the taxidermist?

[CornPirateKiller]

Stuff the mouth with cotton first. This prevents fluids from leaking out. Gently wipe off any blood or dirt with a clean cloth and smooth the feathers flat. Wrap the bird in paper being careful to keep the feathers smoothed flat and not bent. Newspaper will work since the feathers are dark but be careful on light colored birds, fish or animals as the ink can stain the fur/feathers/skin. The main thing is you want the wrapping to soak up any fluids that leak out and also be sturdy/stiff to protect the feathers from being bent or stained. Do not put the bird in a plastic bag! Once wrapped securely in paper and taped shut, you can freeze it. Be careful that the package doesn't get crushed or bent and get it to the taxidermist as soon as you can.

Should be a great addition to your home!

[SCUMFROG]

I wraped it already in a plastic bag. Why can't you do that?

Do you know a good taxidermist?

[CornPirateKiller]

Plastic traps moisture that can damage your bird. Just like food in your freezer, moisure leaches out of the bird and collects in the bag. This can stain or damage the feathers and skin. If you want to wrap it in plastic to protect other things in the freezer, wrap the bird in paper first and then put it in the plastic bag.

Can't recommend a taxidermist. I'm told Tom's Taxidermy (Tom Lenorts), in Clarks Grove (just North of Albert Lea) is excellent. I do some amatuer work on my own trophies so I've learned how to care for them. Ask at your local sporting goods store.

[jlm]

I will make a couple of remarks as well, sorry if this too late. Be sure the bird is completely dry before you freeze it, wet feathers that are frozen will be damaged! This could make the bird "unmountable". The other writer was correct, use some sort of absorbant material to wrap the turkey in and then wrap it in plastic. If you plan to keep any critter in your freezer for more than a month or two, be sure to wrap it in an air tight bag to prevent freezer burn and dehydration. Good luck!

[QuackAttack]

Do NOT Wrap with things that will soak up moisture! Put in a plastic bag and get as much of the air out as possible! I put ducks in Vacume Seal Thingy Majig, the only problem there is I could damage feathers (But I don't because I freeze the bird in a good position and then vacume seal it). By placing things such as cotton or paper towels in there will only speed up the freezer burning effect. Clean as much as you can and remember that feathers will retain a memory (like mashed tail ends). Good luck with the bird....my advice though "If you have the $dinga$ to have a turkey mounted, why don't you bop your own and get that done?"

[SCUMFROG]

I don't really have the money to have it mounted. And I plan on going huntting for them next year. I have to much going on this spring. I have talked with a master taxidermist and he said that wraping it in plastic is fine. I'm going to have him mount it for me also. I don't think I can give out the name on here, but I went to his place and all I have to say is WOW! I did weigh it and it's 25 pounds.

[hanson]

I would like to point out again that it is a BAD, BAD IDEA to wrap any sort of bird in newspaper before going into the freezer. One of my relatives is a very good taxidermist and has been doing it for 30+ years. He scolded us so bad when we brought in a duck wrapped in newspaper. He immediately took it out of the paper, and stuffed it into a Subway sandwich bag and wrapped masking tape around it.

The newspaper will suck all the moisture right out of the bird which is not a good thing. I don't intend to argue with him about the newspaper since he cuts me a pretty good deal. If he wants it in a plastic bag, he will get it in a plastic bag.