If you would like to preserve your turkey kill as a trophy hunt, there are several steps you should take before and after the hunt in order to get the best results from your taxidermist. Here are the steps you should take to prepare your turkey kill for taxidermy.

Shop Around for the Best Taxidermist You Can Find

The first step to preserving your trophy hunt should take place weeks before the actual hunt. You want to begin by shopping for the best taxidermist you can find. Shop around your area for professional taxidermists. Get a feel for the quality of work that they do. Ask how much they charge. If you live in a smaller area, there may be fewer taxidermists to choose from. However, if you cannot find an adequate taxidermist in your local area, scout other taxidermists across the country. There are many fine taxidermists that you can find simply by asking other hunters or doing a bit of research. Taxidermy is one of those fields where you don’t want to skimp. Paying a little extra can often go a long way.

Considerations Before the Hunt – Things to Pack

There is a lot of prep work to be had previous to the hunt. There is a list of things that you should pack with you for the hunt. There are many things you should consider packing, which includes a large plastic bag, a cooler, paper towels, and cotton balls and used pantyhose. Some taxidermists recommend used panty hose so that it can be used to keep the birds feathers in place. To use panty hose, simply cut out a section from the thigh area and tie it up on one end. After shooting the bird, make sure to slip the bird carefully into the hose or bag headfirst. Using a plastic bag is another alternative.

Getting Your Kill to the Taxidermist in the Best Possible Condition

The secret to getting the best possible taxidermy mount is to keep the animal in good condition before getting it to the taxidermist. There are special considerations that you should take in order to ensure the best possible results at the taxidermist. A lot rides on how you shoot the wild turkey.

Tips for Shooting Wild Turkeys for the Best Taxidermy Results

If you are hoping to mount your kill, always aim for a clean neck or headshot. In general, avoid shooting the bird head-on while it is strutting, as this can cause the tail feathers to become easily rumpled or shred them entirely. In general, avoid shooting a strutting bird. The best shot for mounting a bird later is to take a clean side shot, ideally while the bird’s neck is stretched upwards. In general, you should avoid getting shotgun pellets near the wing feathers or the tail. Most taxidermists will find it much easier to repair the head or neck than the tail and wing feathers. For the best results, there is evidence that 25 to 30 yards is a good distance for hunting turkeys. This amount of space allows for a clean kill without the messy patterns that can result with closer patterns. Avoid having to take a second shot, but if you have merely wounded the bird, try taking a second shot at the head from a sufficient distance. Many turkeys will thrash around after being hit, thus losing many feathers. If this is the case with your kill, collect all the loose feathers you can so that the taxidermist can replace them.

Considerations During the Post-Kill Period

There are many important considerations to take during the post-kill period. Use napkins to keep the bird from spilling blood or body fluids on the feathers. Limit damage to the feathers, and keep the bird as cool as possible after the kill.

Do you need to get your turkey set up for that perfect shot, but you are not sure how? When it comes to successful turkey hunting skills, finding the perfect turkey set-up is key to being a successful hunter. There are many small considerations when it comes to finding and maintaining the perfect turkey set-up. Here are some important tips for improving your turkey set-up so that you can improve your success in the woods.

Tips on Preparing for the Perfect Turkey Set-Up

Part of establishing the perfect turkey set-up is doing your homework. In fact, if you take the time to research and scout before the big day of the hunt, you will find that this small bit of preparation can make all the difference. The day before the big hunt, take the time to scout out of the location where you will be hunting and shooting. Spend the afternoon before you go hunting to check out the location. Late afternoon is the best time to go scouting.

What You Should Look For When Scouting

What exactly are you looking for during your turkey location scouting expedition? You will want to look for signs of turkey activity. The biggest and most obvious clues you will ever come across are turkey sounds. If you hear turkeys, or what you think are turkeys, somewhere in the vicinity, there are probably gobblers in the area. Almost everyone can recognize the distinctive gobble of a turkey, but there are other sounds that you will learn as you become more familiar with turkey hunting. During your scouting expedition, you will want to scout in late afternoon, at least until nightfall. Your goal is to be around when the birds are flying up to the trees to roost for the night. Thus, you will want to be in the woods in evening, at nightfall. If you suspect that there are turkeys in the area, but you aren’t sure, there are some things you can do to make sure. In general, the best way to determine if there are any turkeys in the area is to call to them. You don’t have to make any complicated calls, as you just want to verify the turkey’s presence in the area. Thus, you can elicit a response simply by hooting like an owl, or just crowing. If you don’t hear anything, this doesn’t mean automatically mean that there are no turkeys in the area. However, if you do hear a response, you know you have found the perfect location for a turkey-hunting set-up. Make a note of the area where the turkeys are roosting for a fruitful day of hunting.

Creating a Good Set-Up for Taking Aim

One of the most important parts of setting yourself up for turkey hunting is use effective calling techniques in a the right location. Practice and cultivate a good box call or slate call. During mating season, a good yelp works well for attracting male turkeys. As for creating the ideal set-up, you should place yourself in the best possible position when taking aim. The best position should ideally find you on equal elevation between you and the turkey. Always avoid calling a turkey downhill or uphill. Both of these positions are not known to be very productive.

Aiming Tips for the Perfect Set-UP

Here are some tips that will help you approximate the best possible set-up during turkey hunting. Using a tightly choked 12 gauge with a number 6 premium has been known to be very effective. Load about a 2-¾ inch of shot. For clean kills under 50 yards, these are your best bets.