How to Freeze a Turkey for Taxidermy

Wild turkey feathers are surprisingly fragile once the bird is dead. The barbs and barbules — the little hooks that hold each feather's shape — will mat, kink, or freezer-burn in a hurry if the bird isn't stored the right way. Follow these steps as soon as you can after the shot.

Step 1 — Do not gut, wash, or cut the bird

Do not field-dress a wild turkey you're planning to have mounted. Do not rinse it or dunk it in water. Do not remove the beard or spurs. If you absolutely must cool the bird's interior in hot weather, contact us before you make any incision. Nine out of ten times, keeping it whole and getting it cold fast is the right answer.

Step 2 — Smooth the feathers

Take a minute in the field. Smooth every feather back into its natural lay — breast, back, wings, and tail. Fold the tail closed so the fan feathers stack together. Fold the wings against the body. The way the feathers set now is more or less how they'll thaw later.

Step 3 — Get the bird cold quickly

In warm Texas spring weather, get the bird into a cooler with ice as soon as reasonable — but keep the bird itself dry. Ice in a separate bag on top and below is fine; a bird sitting in a puddle of melted water is not.

Step 4 — Tuck the head

Once you're home and ready to freeze, tuck the head either under a wing or straight along the side of the body. This protects the head, snood, and wattles from the freezer walls.

Step 5 — Bag it

Slide the whole bird — head first — into a large plastic garbage bag. Two bags is better than one if you have them. Squeeze out as much air as possible before tying off. The less air, the less freezer burn.

Step 6 — Freeze flat, and keep it frozen

Lay the bird flat in your freezer. A chest freezer is ideal because it holds temperature better than a fridge-top freezer. Keep the bird frozen solid until it goes to the studio or ships. Do not partially thaw it in between.

How long can a bird stay frozen?

Well-bagged, air-free, and kept solidly frozen, a wild turkey holds up for many months without noticeable degradation. That said, the sooner you can drop off or ship the bird, the better — long-term storage always risks a power blip, a shifted bag, or freezer burn on an exposed feather.

Common freezing mistakes we see

• Bird stuffed into a bag while wet from rain or blood.
• Legs zip-tied crossed together, leaving crease damage.
• Bird crammed into a too-small freezer, bending the tail.
• Tail feathers left splayed and stuck to the freezer wall.
• Half-thawed and re-frozen multiple times over the summer.

Any of these problems are usually recoverable, but the goal is to hand us a bird that doesn't need to be recovered. When in doubt, call us before you freeze — we're happy to walk you through it.