Can you cure a turkey hide

GrumpyTom · 04-02-2009, 10:20 AM

Hi all ................ I am looking to find out if there is a way to cure a turkey hide (with feathers complete) to drape over a decoy to make it more life like. I know you can use this years hide (first harvest of the year), but I would like one for use on an opening hunt as well.

I would like ideas to give me direction as to how to precede.

Thanks

coonhunter67 · 04-04-2009, 09:41 AM

Dear sir i have mounted a few hens for guys to use for decoys its a littke tough to carry them around in tte woods but if you get a back pack and put buble wrap around it they seem to hold up when i know its only for a decoy after painting the hen i seal it with a clear 2 part epoxy like you would do for a fish this prttects the paint on the head right before you set it up spray a clear satin gloss coat on it to cut down on the shine if its damp or raining spray sone camp dry on the feathers to protect them from the rain its not the best looking mount but it seems to fool the toms if you take care of it they last for a pretty long time i've had the same one for going on my nineth season well good luck and i hope you get a nice one . this is one of suses victoms

NJheadhunter71 · 04-04-2009, 09:03 PM

Yes you can preserve a turkey hide by using http://krowtann.com/krowtann.htm
I have used this for turkeys and it works pretty good. I let mine sit for a couple weeks, hung it up to dry and blow dried the feathers to fluff them up. The trick is to totally flesh ALL the meat off the hide.

GrumpyTom · 04-05-2009, 07:00 AM

Thanks for the replies. In the past I have just draped a fresh skinned turkey hide over top of a decoy (but no fan or tail section) and it has worked extremely well. It just does not last without it being cured. You can just roll or fold it up and the only bulk is the decoy you use to drape the hide over. I think that with a regular decoy, the turkeys notice that the feathers do not have movement and with the hide over top it does look and act more normal. I will look into the krowtann.

Thanks again and if there is more suggestions, please add them.