My first turkey mount back
 

The first tom I took with my bow in 05 just came back the other day and I'd like to know your thoughts. I have another one that I'm waiting on from a different taxidermist, so it will be interesting to compare the two. I'm no expert, but I thought he painted the head on this one as well as any others I've seen.

RE: My first turkey mount back
 

another pic...

RE: My first turkey mount back
 

another...

RE: My first turkey mount back
 

another...

RE: My first turkey mount back
 

another...

RE: My first turkey mount back
 

a pic from the field

link to the story behind the hunt (if you're curious) and more pics from the field: http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1034781&mpage=1&key==

RE: My first turkey mount back
 

The heads can be purchased painted or unpainted. Looks like a real nice trophy. I still regret not mounting at least one of the big Gobblers I have taken. Now I can't seem to get one.
Congrats to you on a fine trophy.

RE: My first turkey mount back
 

Congrats.

RE: My first turkey mount back
 

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the kind words.

Anyone have any thoughts as to the quality of the mount? I don't think I got ripped off by any means, but I don't know that much about taxidermy to do a real educated evaluation. Is this average work? Better? Worse? Mistakes? Nice touches? Etc.

Like I said, about all I know is that the head appears to be painted better than many that I've seen. I know you can order them painted already (and some need to do that, from what I've seen) but this one wasn't. I thought he did a nice job of blending the colors. Some that I've seen look like they were paint-by-numbers stuff and just not natural/realistic at all.

RE: My first turkey mount back
 

I'm not real educated in bird taxidermy. I can tell good from bad as far as whitetails go. What I will say is that it looks AWESOME to me. The thing looks alive as far as my experience goes. I'm sure there are things an experienced turkey taxidermist would notice that you or I would never see. I think your taxidermist has done a few in his day, that is for sure.

At least you didn't make the mistake I made when I shot my first boss gobbler. I shot him head on in full strut and blew his fan off. I mean I shredded the whole top of his tail feathers. UGH!