Eastern Turkey Taxidermy

About the Eastern turkey

Meleagris gallopavo silvestris. The Eastern is the most widespread wild turkey subspecies — its range covers the entire eastern half of the United States and part of southeastern Canada. Missouri, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, New York, Wisconsin, and Michigan are all classic Eastern country, along with eastern Oklahoma and East Texas.

How to identify a Eastern

• Chocolate-brown, near-black tips on the tail fan — the darkest of the subspecies.
• Deep, iridescent body plumage with strong copper and bronze tones.
• Largest average body size — mature Easterns often exceed 20 pounds.
• Longest average beards; heavy spurs are common in the Southeast.

Mounting a Eastern turkey

Because Easterns are the darkest bird, a well-built Eastern mount is all about controlling how the iridescence catches light. We preserve every feather group carefully, degrease the breast thoroughly (Easterns can be fatty), and finish the tail with the classic dark chestnut-tipped fan. Habitat bases lean toward hardwood leaf litter, oak branches, and hardwood ridgetops.

Hunting the Eastern

Easterns are famous for how tough they can be to call — a hung-up 2-year-old in hardwoods has broken more spring seasons than any other bird in the country. It's why the memory of finally putting one down deserves a mount that lives up to the hunt.

Book your Eastern turkey mount

Whether you're hunting one at home or on the road, we're set up to receive birds from anywhere in the U.S. Reach out early — request a quote and we'll walk you through prep, shipping, and pose options.