The Eastern wild turkey is a beautiful creature, noteworthy for its striking fan and wing feathers. Turkey hunters who successfully bring home a bird might want to save more than just its meat. Turkey feather art can add texture and elegance to any home, plus they are a great talking point to share a passion for hunting and the outdoors with others.
When I tagged my first turkey in May 2015, I saved the entire fan and most of the wing feathers from my 20-pound tom, knowing I wanted to make something with those feathers. My mother-in-law is a calligrapher and she requested that I save most of the wing feathers for quillwork, which I happily did. So I took the 5 wing feathers I had left to make a piece of wall art, using a “dip-dye” method to add some color to the otherwise black-and-white feathers.
There are a lot of variations to how this DIY art project could turn out for you, and the best part is that customization is just as unique as the feathers you’ll use. For me, the coolest feature of the feathers I had is that the tips of 4 of the feathers are flattened, from the tom strutting and rubbing the feathers on the ground. I love how this project turned out – it adds texture and beauty to the wall it is hanging from. This could wind up as a piece of wall art, or a baby’s mobile, or outdoor décor. There are a lot of options to make it your own.
As a hunter, those gorgeous feathers you carefully pluck from your prized turkey are too beautiful to just throw away. But what exactly can you do with all those turkey feathers after a successful hunt? I’ve discovered so many crafty and decorative ways to repurpose feathers that make memorable keepsakes and gifts.
Here are my favorite ideas for using, displaying and crafting with turkey feathers
Jewelry and Accessories
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Make feather earrings by using wire or jewelry hooks to attach feathers to earring posts.
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Create a stunning feather boutineer by wiring feathers together into a floral shape and adding a pin back.
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Glue feathers onto barrettes and headbands for stylish hair accessories.
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Use feathers and leather strips to fashion unique turkey feather bookmarks.
Home Decor Projects
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Arrange feathers in a tall glass vase for simple natural wall art.
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Adhere feathers to a wreath form to create a beautiful turkey feather wreath for the front door.
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Cover a plain lamp shade with overlapping feathers secured with hot glue.
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Craft a dreamcatcher using a hoop, sinew, and dangling feathers.
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Fashion feathers into garlands and swags to decorate for Thanksgiving.
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Frame your best feathers alongside photos from your hunt.
Turkey Hunt Memorabilia
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Display your fan of tail feathers as a trophy from your big hunt.
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Preserve a turkey foot by cleaning and drying for a decorative hunt keepsake.
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Create a turkey spur necklace by stringing the spurs together on a cord.
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Use feathers and other turkey parts to make turkey calling lures for the next season.
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Place feathers in your turkey hunting hatband as memorable souvenirs.
Kids Crafts
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Make sweet handprint turkeys by embedding feathers into painted handprints.
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Help kids glue feathers onto paper plate turkey masks for dress-up play.
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Fashion fluffy dreamcatchers by tying feathers onto a paper plate hoop.
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Let kids create their own feather bookmarks for back-to-school.
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Have kids create turkey place cards for the Thanksgiving table using small feathers.
Thanksgiving Decorations
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Use feathers to make whimsical napkin rings for your holiday table.
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Adhere feathers onto plain votive candle holders for natural holiday decor.
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Make a festive turkey centerpiece by inserting feathers into a foam base.
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Accent fall wreaths and garlands with turkey feathers for added texture.
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Place feathers in vases as elegant Thanksgiving table decor.
With a little creativity and craftiness, your treasured turkey feathers can be transformed into beautiful decorative accents and handmade gifts. So before your next hunt, think about the many possibilities for displaying those gorgeous feathers. With these crafty ideas, you’ll be able to cherish and enjoy your feathers for years to come.
Apply paint to the front and back of the feathers
Make sure you are working on a surface you don’t mind getting paint on, such as a drop cloth or newspaper. Dip a clean paintbrush into the paint can so that a manageable amount of paint is on the brush. If you can, avoid getting excess paint on the brush; that helps keep paint only where you want it (the feathers, not the floor!). In clean strokes following the direction of the vanes, apply paint to the feathers on 1 side.
I laid out my feathers and left them lying on the piece of scrap paper I was using to protect the floor from paint. This allowed me a solid surface to paint on and made it go pretty quickly. It took about 2 hours for the first coat of paint to dry on the first side of the feathers.
The first coat of paint was enough coverage for my taste, but if it appears thin or if you want a bolder color, then apply a second coat. Wait for that final coat to dry on the first side of the feather, then flip it over to paint the other side.
This technique helps achieve a “dip-dye” look without the vanes of the feathers getting oversaturated with paint, which can cause them to become ragged looking.
1 Clean and prepare feathers
Since the feathers I used were from a 2015 harvest, they had plenty of time to dry out. I removed any tissue when it was fresh and placed the quill of the feathers in a cup full of salt to dry out anything that remained. If there are any down feathers or other dangling parts near the quill, this is a good time to remove them carefully with a knife or scissors. I highly recommend that you don’t skip this cleaning step, even though it might delay the project a bit while the feathers dry out.
How to Properly Care for your turkey feathers
FAQ
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