First Turkey! Ka-Pow

slimjim · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 6:26 pm Post subject: Re: First Turkey! Ka-Pow

jeh7mmmag, I've been to the Lex several times! T-2s, A-4s, A-7s, Boy Scout "camp" over in her new Corpus Cristi home. LSO kept ragging on me for landing on 16 Left! When were you aboard?

Suzanne · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 7:55 pm Post subject: Re: First Turkey! Ka-Pow

Good job Dallan!! I'm still waiting for my first one, the darn birds are in my yard all the time, I think the season starts on the 15th....I better find out...tell us how you're going to prepare it.

Suz

Vince · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 8:53 pm Post subject: Re: First Turkey! Ka-Pow

That is one sweet looking bird Dallan...and as James said...your young fella's smile is as big as the bird mate.

Cheers, Vince

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Suzanne wrote:

Good job Dallan!! I'm still waiting for my first one, the darn birds are in my yard all the time, I think the season starts on the 15th....I better find out...tell us how you're going to prepare it.

Suz

My boy wants to deep fat fry it like we do for the thanksgiving and christmas birds. Still got the oil for it so we'll probably do it this next weekend.

Fair warning though, wild toms are really different physically from the farm raised birds. The big old air bladder/ slime sack up near the neck area under the skin is pretty disgusting LOL.

-DallanC

jeh7mmmag · Member Joined: Dec 24, 2006 Posts: 223 Location: DFW, TX.

Dallan,
Did your Boy save the tail feather and make a fan?
Just spread the feathers out and pin on Cardboard. Then scrap all the fat off of tail and salt it good. Make you a board to mount on.
He definitely looks like he has turkey in his eye for next year. LOL Very Happy

Slimjim,
We will have to get together sometime and tell a few sea tales. Party

I worked Cats and AG 1968 to 1971. Seen them all, T28, A6, C1, C2, S1,S2. even some A1D and more. Did the the BSA over night with our troop 93 an 94. They loved it. Made a great Museum and doing a super job with all the exhibits. Laughing

What years for you?
I am in Colleyville.

gelandangan · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:15 pm Post subject: Re: First Turkey! Ka-Pow

Yeeeehaaaa... EVERYBODY!!!!
PARTY THIS WEEKEND AT DALLAN'S!!!!

Vince, how's the beer stocks?
Glocky get some of them smoke ribs ready..
Stovie.. um stoves, you aaahh.. ummm okay, you go and get some unicorn fore quarter.. and dont came back without it.. or if you must, came late.. reeealy late ..

Bushmaster · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:05 pm Post subject: Re: First Turkey! Ka-Pow

Beer? Party at Dallan"s? Unicorns?? Why when we have deep fried turkey.

Vince · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 11:10 pm Post subject: Re: First Turkey! Ka-Pow

With Stovey's appetite Bushy, there won't be any turkey left for Dallan and his young fella if Stovey don't go lookin' for that unicorn fore-quarter. And, if he comes back with one, so much the better...hge'll leave the bird alone while chowin' down on his shoulder.

Beer is good Gelan...let's party. Cheers

Cheers, Vince

Bushmaster · Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 6:43 am Post subject: Re: First Turkey! Ka-Pow

Point made, Vince.

Stovey...You gone for that unicorn yet?

stovepipe · Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:45 am Post subject: Re: First Turkey! Ka-Pow

Nice bird !!!

Great story too! Nice when ya meet LEO that think like us.

Stoked for ya man!

Uni's aer a lil gamey and my license fer same expired so....I'll bring some fixins to help fill the gap a lil. Wouldn't think of eatin' out of turn. That's DC and fam's bird so....I can wait.

Get that peanut oil on the boil and lets EAT!!! *droooooool!* Razz

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

jeh7mmmag wrote:

Dallan,
Did your Boy save the tail feather and make a fan?
Just spread the feathers out and pin on Cardboard. Then scrap all the fat off of tail and salt it good. Make you a board to mount on.
He definitely looks like he has turkey in his eye for next year. LOL Very Happy

I've done bird taxidermy in past, so I did put some work into preserving this.

I skinned out both wings and pinned them outstretched. The fan with complete skin is stretched out as well after removing as much meat as I could. I have some tanning preservative I injected into any remaining meaty areas to prevent rot. Liberal amounts of borax was then added covering all the exposed skin / meat.

I'm planning on doing something like the following:

-DallanC

jeh7mmmag · Member Joined: Dec 24, 2006 Posts: 223 Location: DFW, TX.

Wow, Never seen the complete bird preserved. That will be super nice Dallan.

Vince · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 3:17 am Post subject: Re: First Turkey! Ka-Pow

I'm with JEH7mmmag on this Dallan.....WOW...I have never seen anything like that...ever. That is one magnificent looking wall piece mate.

When you skin the bird, how do you stop the feathers from dropping out mate? What does the borax do? I've tanned up 'roo hides and deer hides, but can't even begin to get my head around tanning a bird skin complete with feathers.

Good luck mate. If your "bird" comes out even half as good as this one it will be awesome.

Cheers, Vince

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 6:42 pm Post subject: Re: First Turkey! Ka-Pow

Congrats on yer first bird...

and good luck to the wife on her quest too...

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Vince wrote:

I'm with JEH7mmmag on this Dallan.....WOW...I have never seen anything like that...ever. That is one magnificent looking wall piece mate.

When you skin the bird, how do you stop the feathers from dropping out mate? What does the borax do? I've tanned up 'roo hides and deer hides, but can't even begin to get my head around tanning a bird skin complete with feathers.

You have to be careful when you skin it, but the feathers usually are durable. I like to skin it out on top of a slick piece of cardboard as it allows the feathers to slide more and not get hung up / pulled.

Borax works as both a drying agent and a preservative. The skin wont need any additional treatment once dry. I'll let this dry for a month or so, then un-pin it and carefully shake out the borax. At that point I can look it over and figure out just how I want to mount it.

Quote::

Good luck mate. If your "bird" comes out even half as good as this one it will be awesome.

Cheers, Vince

Thanks, I have high hopes for it. Its not a perfect bird featherwise, but it costs next to nothing to do a mount like this so there is little to loose Smile

-DallanC