I can't decide what to do this year. I've never killed a gobbler before, only a hen and i cant decide to eat the turkey or get a

[bigbuck96]

I can't decide what to do this year. I've never killed a gobbler before, only a hen and i cant decide to eat the turkey or get a full body mount if i kill a nice tom. My family has never been wasteful of any animal we kill. Should i eat the turkey or get it mounted?

[Derik Lee]

There will be many more turkeys, if it's your first one it may be a particularly nice specien that warrants a full mount if not into the oven with it and get a tail nmount. The oppurtunity will eventually present itself for a nice turkey that will look great in a full body if you keep hunting. But if you get a monster gobbler this time around i'd say mount.

[charlie elk]

Do both. It is not an either or question. The meat is not used in the mount. A good hunter would never waste the meat.

[the captain]

I am in agreement with Charlie Elk. If it at all possible, do both. I have always gone for the tail, beard mount. This makes it easy to keep the meat and build a mount. (And it is a lot cheaper than a full mount.)

[pineywoods]

Yes, you can have your cake and eat it, too. You might consider a "cape" mount which is really good looking and takes up less space than the full mount. Basically, you just skin your turkey, keep the meat and take the necessary parts to the taxidermist. Ask him ahead of time what he needs.

[bigbuck96]

Thank you guys for all of your answers.

[Michael C. Gugino]

Have him STUFFED!! I like cornbread, onions, celery, apples, and chesnuts if ya got 'em. if he is old and tough they are very good smoked. kidding aside, pineywoods as the answer i'd go with.