Ocellated Turkey Mount

[Jaybuck99]

Hello everyone! I’m planning on going to the Yucatán on my first out of the states hunt for an Ocellated Turkey Hunt Lord willing. Scheduled to leave next month. Was wondering if yall could recommend some taxidermist for an Ocellated Turkey and Coatimundi. And also post your mount photos so I could get some ideas on the form and such that is if the Good Lord blesses me with a safe and successful harvest. Thanks in advance and look forward to seeing some photos!!

 

[Firebird]

What state do you live in

 

[buck wild]

Cally Morris is arguably the best turkey taxidermist in the US. Not sure he does mammals though.

 

[DieJager]

You are probably going to do the same hunt as I am planning to do in 2027. Lots of pictures online of occelated turkey mounts. Just Google with the following search terms "occelated turkey taxidermy".

Also they will probably skin and dry salt the birds. Look for a taxidermist who has experience with that. Cannot help you with a name because I live in Europe so no need for me to look for taxidermists in the states.

 

[Heeler75]

Birds are required to be processed at a USDA approved taxidermist. You can find those here:

VSPS Veterinary Services Process Streamlining

The taxidermist you choose should be able to help you with all necessary paperwork, import process and costs for import, etc.

Look up Hazel Creek Taxidermy - they have oodles of photos of ocellated mounts.

Be prepared - by the time it's all said and done the taxidermy bill could be 50% or more of your hunt cost.

I'm going for a Gould's in Chihuahua and can bring the bird capes back in my carry-on. Just have to declare at customs where I'm shipping them to. And the USDA will follow up that they get shipped.

Enjoy your hunt!!!

 

[Green Chile]

I would love to hear how your hunt turns out. I've taken 33 turkey in 25 states but none in Mexico yet. I would love to do the Yucatan for the experience and to try and get a brocket deer also. The Goulds is the prettiest turkey to my eyes.

 

[buck wild]

Birds are required to be processed at a USDA approved taxidermist. You can find those here:

VSPS Veterinary Services Process Streamlining

Not to split hairs, but I'm going to . Out if country birds do have to go through a USDA approval process within 72 hrs ( I think this is correct) of entering the US, but that doesn't have to be a "USDA approved taxidermist". It can be any USDA approval facility. That does open more avenues for import.

 

[JINKLE]

No Ocellated Turkey mounts but I am drawn to this style of "mount" for turkeys. Haven't seen an Ocellated fan framed yet either

 

[Firebird]

Hazel Creek is Cally Morris and has long been the GoTo for turkey taxidermy and freeze dried heads. But there are many outstanding turkey taxidermists around the country
I’ve never been a big fan of the “singing” pose and if I ever get one, I would probably do a flying mount, but that’s just me

 

[Mekaniks]

Contact @gizmo and his Top of Texas Taxidermy in Amarillo. He can help you out

 

[Jaybuck99]

What state do you live in

Northern Indiana

 

[Jaybuck99]

No Ocellated Turkey mounts but I am drawn to this style of "mount" for turkeys. Haven't seen an Ocellated fan framed yet either
View attachment 668315

That’s a beauty! Definitely be something I’d want to do with one. Going to full body the first than maybe a future ocellated I’ll try it on. Actually did my eastern from this past season myself like that. Turned out better than I expected for my first try

 

[Jaybuck99]

Not to split hairs, but I'm going to . Out if country birds do have to go through a USDA approval process within 72 hrs ( I think this is correct) of entering the US, but that doesn't have to be a "USDA approved taxidermist". It can be any USDA approval facility. That does open more avenues for import.

Yea we are bringing our birds (if harvested) back through Houston which they have a USDA official stationed to clear our birds so we’ll be bringing our birds back in person instead of shipping them to a certified taxidermist and then taking them to where we please

 

[gizmo]

Hello sir, I'd love to help you. I am USDA certified so I can take them in direct. We've mounted several of those birds over the years, both Oscillated turkey and Coatimundi. We have mounted Crested Guan as well as several others. I've got more pics somewhere of finished Oscillated turkeys but I can't find them right this second.

 

[Heeler75]

Not to split hairs, but I'm going to . Out if country birds do have to go through a USDA approval process within 72 hrs ( I think this is correct) of entering the US, but that doesn't have to be a "USDA approved taxidermist". It can be any USDA approval facility. That does open more avenues for import.

Yea we are bringing our birds (if harvested) back through Houston which they have a USDA official stationed to clear our birds so we’ll be bringing our birds back in person instead of shipping them to a certified taxidermist and then taking them to where we please

There's a difference between 'approval/clear' and 'processing'. If you reread my initial post I said 'processed by an approved taxidermist'. The skin you bring back will be cleaned and boraxed, but not processed per USDA standards. It's similar to Dip/pack and warthogs/primates from Africa. Sorry if I wasn't clearer on that.

As I understand it, when I come back through DFW with my Gould's, the USDA official at DFW will inspect the skins and give approval for import. Then you'll fill out a form 3-177. On that form you list which taxidermist/facility is receiving the cape/skins. (The majority of approved facilities are taxidermists - reason for saying that). The final step is to get the cape/skins to the taxidermist listed on the form. As I already mentioned, USDA will follow up with that taxidermist to see if they received or not. That's what a friend had to do with Ocellated taken a few years back.

That turkey way of mounting turkeys with the frame is pretty neat but I'm probably going to do a bust mount.

By the way, who are you hunting with?

Edit - I see Gizmo has posted since I started typing this...But since I went through the effort, I'm going to post anyway. LMFAO.

 

[Jaybuck99]

I would love to hear how your hunt turns out. I've taken 33 turkey in 25 states but none in Mexico yet. I would love to do the Yucatan for the experience and to try and get a brocket deer also. The Goulds is the prettiest turkey to my

There's a difference between 'approval/clear' and 'processing'. If you reread my initial post I said 'processed by an approved taxidermist'. The skin you bring back will be cleaned and boraxed, but not processed per USDA standards. It's similar to Dip/pack and warthogs/primates from Africa. Sorry if I wasn't clearer on that.

As I understand it, when I come back through DFW with my Gould's, the USDA official at DFW will inspect the skins and give approval for import. Then you'll fill out a form 3-177. On that form you list which taxidermist/facility is receiving the cape/skins. (The majority of approved facilities are taxidermists - reason for saying that). The final step is to get the cape/skins to the taxidermist listed on the form. As I already mentioned, USDA will follow up with that taxidermist to see if they received or not. That's what a friend had to do with Ocellated taken a few years back.

That turkey way of mounting turkeys with the frame is pretty neat but I'm probably going to do a bust mount.

By the way, who are you hunting with?

Edit - I see Gizmo has posted since I started typing this...But since I went through the effort, I'm going to post anyway. LMFAO.

This is all new to me so maybe I had a misunderstanding on my end and I’m sure that’s the case. I’m going with a fella that’s been to Africa dozens of times and did a few hunts in Mexico as well so he’s planning everything for me since I don’t know what I’m doing. He’s going after the Brocket deer while I turkey hunt. We are going with Yukkutz on the Mennonite UMA colony if you’ve ever heard of that. Thanks for your response and clear info! I will show him what you responded and also reach out to a few taxidermist and have them clarify everything for me! Thanks again for the response! Much appreciated

 

[Heeler75]

No worries - I may have that off a little bit myself, but the taxidermist can get you lined out. I've heard of Yukkutz but that's about it.

I'm still up in the air on Gould's taxidermy. I might end up doing good photos/video of my hunt and not do any taxidermy. That said, if I was doing an Ocellated, I'd definitely get it mounted.