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How do you preserve the tail?; ...and the feet?
Topic Started: May 21 2007, 08:30 AM (209 Views)
Partikle
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Team Ontario Trophy Bucks
Hey Guys,

I notice there is some flesh connecting the tail feathers together. Do I cut it all off and then do something to keep it from smelling? Will the tail fall apart when I do this?

Also, the kids like the feet, is there a way to preserve them so they don't start smelling? (There's nothing worse then smelly feet)

Thanks
Partikle
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Population Control Specialist
00 Buck - Licensed to kill
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Posted Image buckstop
buckstop northern wisconsin

a quick taxidermy lesson. i've been at it for 20 years so here is what works best if you just have simple equipment . you must get the meat and fat off if you want your mount to last. if the tail is dirty i wash it in dawn dish detergent and warm water. make sure you rinse it with cold water thoroughly after washing and dry it with a blowdryer . (OPTIONAL: after rinsing with water. soak the tail feathers and skin in coleman lantern fuel (white gas) this helps to degrease it and will displace your rinse water making it much quicker to blow dry.) spread borax on the skin and rub it in. the borax will bugproof it and also help dry it faster. spread tail and let it dry for a week or two. the feet are a whole different story. you should get the tendons out but it is tough to explain this without showing you. the easiest way is to fill a syringe with formaldyhide and thouroughly pump into the toes foot and all fleshy areas. FORMALDYHYDE IS NASTY .DO IT OUTSIDE AND USE RUBBER GLOVES AND EYE PROTECTION. in fact you are probably better off ordering a liquid preservative from a taxidermy co. and use this in place of formaldyhyde. formaldyhyde is probably the best preservative but also a health risk. if you don't use borax on the tail and inject the feet with something you will probably have a bug problem in the future. GOOD LUCK. when in doubt take it to your local taxidermist and have it professionally done. :thumbsup:
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Partikle
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Team Ontario Trophy Bucks
Thanks Rick,

I decided to donate the tail to the waste management pickup guy this morning. I'll get rid of the feet too because I'm not into formaldyhyde.

Nick
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Posted Image swamp haint
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South/West Ont
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My experience has been after cutting off the legs I stuck the cut end in Borax for about 6 months (I actually forgot about them) They're dry, stiff as a board and absolutely no smell. The tail is the same, and as previously said, cut all the meat off you can, it'll dry out with Borax.
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Posted Image buckstop
buckstop northern wisconsin

you can take short cuts on some of these things and get away with it but just a word of caution from a full time taxidermist for 20 years. if you get dermasted beetles in your mount they can spread to other mounts in your trophy rooms. i know this last year someone was on the forum that had a bug infested moose mount and the hair was falling out. once they are in your home they are very tough to get rid of. i have seen these bugs eat up commercially tanned pelts once they become established and lay eggs. if your a do it yourselfer always get ALL the meat off your tails and while it does work to just dry turkey feet you are taking a chance. sometimes it works but sometimes it doesn't. :thumbsup:
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