You have been planning and scheming all winter long for the big day during this coming spring gobbler season when you will finally outwit that big old gobbler that has been eluding you for years. You have seen him time and time again strutting for his hens and, while he has answered your calls, he has outsmarted you season after season, never getting close enough for a fatal shot. You have watched the morning sunlight dance off the fluorescent colors of his feathers and watched his head turn from red to white to blue as his mood changes. You have promised yourself that someday, if Lady Luck ever comes your way, and you get your chance to bring that Old Tom home, you WILL get a full mount made of him strutting as you have seen him do so often in the clearing on top of the hill.

Before you head to the woods at the end of April, there are several things you should plan for if you want to ensure that a taxidermist has the greatest chance to create the best mount possible.

Your turkey hunting vest or backpack should include several gallon Ziploc bags, numerous paper towels, a paper bag or two, a number of rubber bands and a nylon stocking. Yes, I said a nylon stocking!

When a turkey is shot, it will invariably flop about for a moment or two before it expires, and in doing so might loosen or lose some feathers. Every feather might be important in a quality mount, especially any tail or wing feathers — so pick up any of these feathers and place them in one of the large Ziploc bags to take to the taxidermist. In another of the Ziploc bags, place any unusual items that are lying on the forest floor that may be unique to the setting, such as pinecones that are unique to the area or perhaps a shed antler that you found nearby. These items can add to the character of a mount when placed on the base of the display. (Twice — once in the state of Georgia and once in the Province of Ontario — I found an arrowhead near where I had taken a spring gobbler on those hunts. They are now on a necklace and add to the story of the hunts.)

The initial steps you take in caring for a spring turkey that you have just taken are very important, especially on the warmer days that spring will bring. It is important to keep the bird as cool as possible. Keep it out of the sunlight, except for a few quick photos. Place one of the paper towels in the mouth of the bird to absorb any blood, then smooth back the feathers on the neck and place several paper towels around the head and neck, securing them with the rubber bands. Finally, fold the neck and head back under a wing, smooth the feathers gently to the body in their natural direction and slip the entire bird (head first) into the nylon stocking. This will keep the feathers in place during transportation out of the field and to the taxidermist.

In order to help the taxidermist recreate the settings as accurately as possible, take numerous photos of the area and do so from various angles. You can’t take too many photos in your quest for accuracy.

Before the season begins, and definitely as soon as possible, make a trip to your taxidermist. There are lots of questions to ask him. What are his hours of operation and days he is open for business? What does he recommend if you cannot get the bird to him the same day you take it? Does he have any additional suggestions for handling the bird in the field or en route to him? What various poses or positions might he recommend — strutting, perched on a limb as on the roost, gobbling while on the roost or others?

A full mount of a gobbler can help capture the lore of a particularly unique bird or hunting adventure. Using special care in the field and en route to the taxidermist will insure a quality mount that you will enjoy for years to come.

So, what are the paper bags for? Morel mushrooms, of course — but that’s a story for another time.