BIRD TAXIDERMY

PART 1:
TURKEYS THE CALLY MORRIS WAY
WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY LARRY BLOMQUIST

IFEEL SAFE IN SAYING THAT A WILD TURKEY IS ONE of the most challenging mounts a taxidermist will encounter. This challenge is compounded when the customer grins and say, "I would like it mounted in a strutting pose." Many taxidermists still dread the day when it is time to mount their intake of America's largest gamebird.

For the taxidermist who still tackles the task, the first challenge that must be addressed is the head. Options include an artificial head, having the original head freeze-dried, or mounting the head yourself. The most popular choice, and by far the easiest, is to send the head to a knowledgeable freeze-dry specialist.

In this series of articles, the best way for storing and shipping a turkey head will be discussed. If you would like to prepare the head yourself, we have presented several articles in past issues on the various options of handling a turkey head: "Artificial Heads" in Issue 34, pages 46-50; "Mounting the Head" in Issue 36, pages 58-61; "Freeze-Drying the Head Yourself" in Issue 47, pages 52-57. In this series by Cally Morris, he will be using a freeze-dried head prepared by his studio and cover his painting process.

Before starting, I must say a few things about Cally Morris and his procedures. He has proven himself by winning Best in World Bird with a...

...Continued in the Winter 2002 Issue of Breakthrough.

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