Turkey Fan Mount DIY

[Sheltowee]

Get the fat off the rump, use a scissors and wire brush. You want a touch of connective tissue remaining.

Pin out on cardboard, dry residual fat with borax. Once dry, cover with bondo or some other two-part body filler.

Add your plaque or whatever, then spray with permethrin to make sure no bug ever lives on it.

I've got a Rio mount about ready to go on a plaque in the next couple weeks that I did this exact way. A couple of additional tricks I've picked up:

• I like to dry my fans in a pretty warm but dry garage. Really seems to speed the drying process. I wouldn't do that if I lived somewhere it rained a lot.
• Switch out the borax every couple of weeks. I'll dry this Rio mount for 3 months before taking it down.
• Lay another piece of cardboard over the fan-- but not the hub part-- and lightly weight it. This will cause the fan to dry flat rather than bowed.
• Keep your nosy bird dogs away from it (ask me how I know).

I really like the plaques from Custom Barnwood Plaques. Made out of recycled barn lumber in southern Tennessee.

 

[Sheltowee]

Tom was a little worse for the wear but his mount still turned out fairly well

 

[pirogue]

I’ve done em a couple different ways, and like pulling the feathers, and using glue or bondo to rebuild it.

 

[ChaseH6883]

Looks great!