Need help preserving turkey wings
 

Hi, I shot my first turkey last night and I would love to do a mount of the tail fan, wings, spurs, and beard. Spurs, beard, and tail are all easy enough for me, but I am unsure how to do the wings.

I got a box of borax and have the flesh end of the beard covered in that, and I have the spurs buried in some borax too. The tail fan I still need to flesh out and will cover it in borax.

For the wings, I have read that its best to leave the bones in. What is the best way to cut the meat out? How long to leave the borax on after cutting the meat off? And do I need to wash the wings and tail? If so, please let me know the way you do it, and if I need to blow dry them or anything.

Thanks so much, I'm very excited to get my first turkey and do my first little taxidermy project on my own! Any advice you have for me is greatly appreciated! By the way, the bird was 22.2lbs, 10" beard, and 1" spurs.

Start on the underside and get as much of the meat off the bone as you can. Don't worry about the last one at the tip. Fill the boned out area with borax, and add some pepper to the mix, will help keeps the bugs off. There is no thing as too much, the more of each the better. Turn the wings over and staple to a piece of plywood or heavy cordboard the shape you want. Put mix on base of beard and set aside till later. Same with the tail. DO NOT WASH!.
Cut the spurs off so you have about 3/8" of bone on either side, leave the skin on the bone. take a piece of wire and clean out the center of the bone and pack with the borax and pepper mix. Keep everything in a cool place, and I leave for a month, that will let the smell go and everything set.
Grant

Thanks so much for the detailed advice!!! I've got the tail, beard, and spurs drying and I think I'm going to tackle the wings in a day or two. Its a lot more work than you think!!
Again, thanks a lot!
I'll post a photo when I finish it (it might be a month or so because I'm getting married May 14 and am going through finals week at college right now, ugh!!!).