10 Cool Turkey Taxidermy Options for Every Budget
Wild turkey taxidermy is like other facets of taxidermy — a way to preserve a memory. It isn’t a weird cult full of stuffed dead critters. Rather, it’s a way to celebrate and remember the hunt for a valued resource. Of which these memories are oftentimes shared with family and friends. For those who want to do this with their harvests, check out these 10 cool turkey taxidermy options for every budget.
Prices are approximate and may vary based on region, taxidermist, quality of work, etc.
Turkey and Predator Mount
Those who go this route typically opt for a scenery setting. The options are endless, but popular options include: coyote stalking longbeard, bobcat stalking longbeard, predator with dead gobbler, etc. Of course, it requires a harvested turkey and the predator of choice. Given that it requires full body mounts of each species, scenery setting, and unique poses that take specialty forms and skills, it’s quite pricey. Cost: $2,500 and up.
Multiple Full Bird Mounts
Like the turkey and predator mount, those who do a multiple turkey mount generally set this up as a specific scene. Oftentimes, selections include: strutting gobbler with looker, fighting gobblers, gobbler and hen, etc. Again, a hunter must harvest the desired birds for this mount, and given the nature of the multiple full mounts and scenery needed to build the set, it isn’t cheap. Cost: $1,500 and up.
Full Turkey Mount
A single, full turkey mount is one of the most common selections. Of course, there are numerous options for a full turkey mount. These include various poses and postures, including: standing alert, one-fourth strut, half strut, three-fourth strut, full strut, gobbling, flying, on a limb and more. Cost: $500 and up.
Turkey Table
One of the more unique ways of displaying large quantities of turkey beards and spurs is a glass-tip table with insets carved out to fit turkey beards and spurs. This is a special order table design that requires custom work, so it won’t be cheap. Cost: $2,000 and up.
Shadow Box
A similar concept on a much smaller scale, a shadow box displays your bird(s) behind glass, too. Except, this is to hang on a wall. Generally, tail feathers, spurs and beards are placed within these. Cost: $100 and up.
Tail Fan Display
Perhaps the most common option on this list is the tail fan and beard mount. This is where a spread-out fan is mounted on a plaque with the beard and sometimes the spurs. Cost: $10-$50.
Hanging Beard Display
Those who don’t want tail mounts, but instead want multiple beards on display, can do that. Hanging beard displays are crafted to hold numerous beards, usually from five to 10, or more. Cost: $30 and up.
Leg and Spur Display (Or Bookend)
Bag a bird with huge spurs? A great way to showcase these includes a leg and spur display. Turkey parts needed include the feet and leg (with spur attached). These are dried in position and placed on a round or square piece of wood and placed on display. Cost: $10-20.
Turkey Leg Coat Hanger
A turkey leg is a great coat hanger for outdoorsmen. With the toes dried in a curled-upward position, and the leg secured to a piece of wood that is mounted to the wall, hunters can hang coats and other items on the toes. Cost: $10-20.
Turkey Cape
Some hunters plan to cape their bird, tan the hide and then put it on the wall. This usually requires not the entire cape, but the neck, back and sides. Cost: $10-20 DIY, $250 and up at taxidermist.
Bonus: Turkey Skull
Skull mounts are common with big game animals, but not so much with turkeys. For those who like that idea, a gobbler skull mount on a desk or shelf looks pretty cool. Cost: $5-10.