This is what I do with my beard n spurs now. Just started it this year. I just don't have enough room to hang every fan.

I am ready for Saturday night to find out if we've won.

Been checking out some leads on properties for next year. My buddy says he's found a great location and I may be trying it out. Tag soup just isn't filling.

Phil, I've caped one myself and I like the look. Treat the skin with Borax to keep bugs out. Another look that I like is a fan mounted with the two wings spread and pointed down underneath. Kind of reminds me of the old Journey emblem. I did one like that but it got destroyed. For the most part I don't do anything with my birds anymore except save the wing feathers for arrow feathers. My buddy cuts the spurs off like jepcho described and puts them on a necklace he uses for hunting. The center has his call pouch. A little too tribal for my taste, but he likes it.

They look great! I like that idea.. Only I will hang them off my fans with the exception of my cape. That one I am not very sure how I will add the beard and spurs to it.. Maybe not at all and perhaps beside it some place??

I have my cape drying out right now with borax.. I have thought a bout adding the wings on with my tail fan. Just not sure about 2 things.. 1) is how to dry the wings out without getting any bugs on it.. Then a even bigger problem is 2) where I can find the room for it without the wife's cats getting at it. I told her I could keep Rusty my Irish Setter watching over it. She did not like that idea either as Rusty dislikes her cats worse than I do... lol

Since this contest is over (knock on wood) and we are the Champions!! I figured I'd post some old pics to show you that I can get it done, (just didn't) LOL.




Makes me feel better to post something. Even if its not from this year.

Phil,
As far as drying the wings. You just need to get as much of the meat off the bones as possible. You can cut open the underside of the wing to get the "shoulder" area cleaned as you wont see it once mounted. Rub the bone down with Borax and stuff as much as you can in there. Spread the wing the way you want it and pin it on a piece of cardboard to dry. I've got a BS in Biology and when we were taught to prepare museum specimens we didn't even clean the wings further than we could push inside out. There's just not a lot of meat in there. What I did with the cape was pin the beard at the bottom of the cape so it hung down. Looked cool. Its in the cabin so I can't take a pic of it to show you.

Ok cool.. Also it is still any ones ball game until after Saturday as it is very close right now.. But, yes I have hope we can hang onto the lead until it is over!!

This year was hard hunting for everyone.. The birds never responded the way they should of have.. But, that is hunting for you.. Which is a lot more fun than going to the store to buy it.. Besides I think wild turkey is better for you and taste better as well..

Nice pics talondale. Hopefully we will all be on same team again next year and you can kill next years " turkzilla"

Nice pics, we never doubted you talondale. Sometimes good hunters have tough seasons.