Suppose this weekend I bag a big longbeard... I already know I am going to have it done up by a taxidermist. However in the field do I breast it out or what do I do? Were I am going from the time of kill to the deep freeze would be maybe 20-30 minutes (Private Ranchland) What would be the best way to mount it also, Typical fan, beard, spurs or whole bird?

The whole bird would probably be the coolest mount, but it will probably cost you $450-$550. A fan mount with beard and spurs can be done for around $75. If you do decide to do a full body mount, dont do anything to the bird, just take the whole thing in to the taxidermist. If you are just gonna do a tail mount, you can cut the meat out that you want. Good luck and hope you do kill one this weekend.

i agree with jepcho, the entire bird mount is a great mount..a strutting tomlooks awesome, half strut and gobbling is pretty cool too, or even an alert tom with head up and neck outstretched is nice...i've got a friend who spent his whole paycheck..[&:]..to mount a boss tom gobbling from a roost limb, but that one was very cool!!..the tail, beard, and spur mounts are cheap and easy to do and you'll get it back alot sooner...so the choice is yours, it all depends on what you want as a memory of that specific hunt...yanno?

You can also get a shoulder mount. I had one of mine done that way last year. On the plack is the fan, and the front part of the bird from a little in front of the legs on through. I liked the fact that you can see the bird as it looked in life and the cost was better --$275.00 if I remember right.