Fan mounting is a great way to preserve the memories you made this season and, unlike big Moose and Deer mounts, can look subtle enough to get the approval of even the non-hunters in your family. These mounts can be created using just a hand full of common household materials and do not require any taxidermy skills to achieve a great result. This article will walk you through step by step, from shot to wall, how to make a fan mount of your own.
Bagging a big tom turkey on a spring hunt is an exciting accomplishment for any hunter. After all the pre-season scouting, waking up early for hunting, and calling at wary old gobblers, it’s rewarding to finally see your hard work pay off.
But the hunt doesn’t end when you pull the trigger. Preserving the memories through a proper turkey mount is also an important part of the overall experience. A full-body mount by a professional taxidermist can cost over $500, putting it out of reach for many hunters. Thankfully, you can create a DIY turkey fan mount yourself for a fraction of the price.
Read on to learn how to make a turkey mount in 7 easy steps. With some basic supplies and a few hours of hands-on work you’ll have a custom turkey trophy ready for display.
Step 1: Remove the Fan and Beard
After harvesting your turkey, the first step is removing the fan (tail) and beard You’ll want to do this shortly after the kill, before the carcass has a chance to stiffen up
Carefully cut the skin around the base of the tail feathers with a sharp knife. Try to leave a few extra inches of flesh attached. This gives you some material to work with when mounting it later.
The beard can be cut off once you start the field dressing process. Just be ready to rinse out the blood and fluids that will seep from the chest cavity.
Place both the fan and beard in a sealed plastic bag and put them in the freezer as soon as possible. Freezing kills any bacteria, parasites or insects to prevent spoiling.
Step 2: Skin and Clean the Carcass
With the fan and beard removed, you can now focus on skinning the bird and removing the meat Field dress the turkey like normal. Skinning it will make the meat prep much easier
Remove all usable breast and leg meat. Also, pluck any wing feathers or other plumage you may want to use in your mount. Place these feathers in a freezer bag as well.
Dispose of the carcass appropriately. Make sure you follow all regulations in your state for turkey waste and remains.
Step 3: Thaw and Clean the Fan
Once you’re back home and ready to start the mount, remove the frozen fan from the freezer. Allow it to fully thaw.
Use a sharp knife to cut away any leftover bone, tissue or unwanted feathers from the base of the fan. You want to remove all meat, fat and connective tissue.
Next, scrape and brush between the feather barbs with a stiff wire brush. This cleans out any remaining fat and gunk. Scrubbing with borax powder also helps remove grease.
Step 4: Re-shape and Position the Feathers
After cleaning the fan, carefully separate and position the feathers how you want them to look in the finished mount.
Use pins, tacks or toothpicks to hold the feathers in place as you work. Start from the outside edges and move towards the middle. Overlap the feathers slightly to create a smooth, consistent look.
Aim for a natural fanned out shape. Apply a dab of superglue to the base of any broken quills or loose feathers to reinforce them. Let the glue cure completely before moving on.
Step 5: Create a Solid Backing
To mount the feather fan on the wall, you need a solid material behind it. Plaster of Paris works perfectly for this.
Mix up a small batch of plaster according to the package directions. Apply a half-inch thick layer over the back of the arranged feathers.
Smooth the plaster with your fingers or a putty knife. Make sure it fully covers the feather bases and quills.
Allow the plaster to cure overnight until completely hard and dry. Gently remove any remaining pins once it has set up.
Step 6: Seal and Preserve the Feathers
Before mounting your fan on a plaque, you need to seal and preserve it to prevent rotting or insects.
Liberally apply a borax powder paste to the base of the feathers. Make sure it coats them thoroughly.
Let the fan dry for 1-2 weeks. The borax will fully penetrate the quills and neutralize any organic matter. Brush off any excess powder before mounting.
You can also use a spray-on preservative like hairspray or matte sealant for an extra layer of protection. Avoid glossy finishes.
Step 7: Mount the Fan on a Plaque
The final step is affixing your preserved fan to a mounting plaque. You can find unfinished turkey fan plaques online or at hobby and taxidermy shops.
Use strong wood screws to attach the plastered back of the fan to the plaque. Predrill holes to avoid cracking the plaster. Place the screws far enough apart for stability.
Attach any supplemental feathers, spurs, beard and so on. Consider adding a photo, date, location or other text with vinyl lettering or a custom plaque below the fan.
Add a hanging screw or bracket, then display your homemade turkey mount with pride!
Troubleshooting Turkey Mount Problems
Turkey fans are delicate and it’s easy to run into issues, especially when doing it yourself. Here are some common problems and ways to fix them:
Broken or missing feathers – Use superglue and toothpicks or wire to splice feathers back together. Replace missing ones with matching feathers saved from the carcass.
Fan won’t hold its shape – Make sure feathers are firmly pinned while drying plaster backing. Apply additional plaster if needed to stiffen.
Feathers falling out of plaster – Roughen the edges of the set plaster with sandpaper to create more texture. Re-glue any loosened feathers.
White powdery growth – This is likely mold. Wipe down with borax solution and seal with spray protectant. Discard mount if mold persists.
Strong odor – Odors mean organic matter is rotting. Remove fan from plaque, thoroughly clean with borax and re-seal.
Displaying Your Turkey Fan Mount
Once complete, your homemade turkey mount can be proudly displayed as a decorative accent in any room. Here are some tips:
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Hang it on the wall in a sports bar, man cave or cabin for rustic flair.
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Add it to a sophisticated library or office as an elegant natural element.
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Place the plaque on a bookshelf, mantle or credenza for an up-close look.
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Incorporate supplemental feathers in a shadow box or tabletop arrangement.
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Let the beard and spurs adorn a hat, lamp or other object for a unique, personal touch.
However you choose to show off your hand-crafted turkey trophy, it will provide lasting memories of the hunt and your accomplishments as an outdoorsman. Enjoy your success!
Step 2: Freeze The Fan
Whether you shoot your bird on opening day or on the last day of the season, it is important to freeze your fan and beard as soon as possible. This will not only keep things from rotting until you get around to creating your mount but also kill any lice or mites that could be living in the feathers. These poultry lice are extremely common in Turkeys and although they can’t be spread to humans, hanging any form lice on your wall is highly discouraged. I typically keep the fan in a plastic grocery bag in the freezer as well to make sure that the dead lice stay in the bag and do not get mixed in with other food you may have in there.
Step 6: The Mount
Turkey fan mount kits can be found at most hunting stores and come in a variety of shapes, colours, and materials. They will also vary in their accessory mounts that can allow you to hang beards, spurs, and even skulls alongside your fan. Whichever one you choose to buy or make, these mounts will often simply screw through the centre of your plastered fan, locking it in place, and screwing into the wall on the other side.
DIY Turkey Mount
FAQ
How do you prepare a turkey for a full mount?
How do you put a turkey tail in a shadow box?
Take several tail feathers from the bird, sized to fit in the shadow box (you may have to evenly clip the quill ends). To mount the spurs, remove the turkey legs at the joint beneath the feathering. Cut through the leg on either side of the spur to remove it, either with a saw or heavy-duty shears. Clean the insides out with a pipe cleaner.
How do I remove a fan After gutting a Turkey?
Removing the fan is one of the first things that I do after gutting the turkey in order to avoid unnecessary damage during the transport and cleaning process. Removing it is relatively easy, finding the tail bone just above the bird’s vent and cutting along it with a sharp knife.
How do you remove a turkey leg spur?
To mount the spurs, remove the turkey legs at the joint beneath the feathering. Cut through the leg on either side of the spur to remove it, either with a saw or heavy-duty shears. Clean the insides out with a pipe cleaner. Remove the leg scales above the spur if you wish, and finely trim them with a knife. Use Borax to aid the drying process.
How do you preserve a Mount?
After all the fat is removed from in between the feathers, it is time to start preserving the mount. Although some go as far as soaking the feathers in white gas to remove all the oil from the base, I find Borax sufficient at drying the feathers and ensuring there is nothing to rot.