DIY Beard Mounts

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Over the years I've known many turkey hunters who have a cigar box or a drawer full of turkey beards and assorted spurs. In most cases the beards have not been preserved in any form and many are in a dismal state. I have actually seen beards where the base disintegrated and all that was left was a handful of loose hairs. With a small amount of work this could have been prevented and the hunter would still have a fine trophy to remember.
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I like to preserve and mount my beards, spurs and shotgun shells together and have found a very simple method that works quite well.
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Along with your beard, spurs and shotgun shell, you will need the following items: 12-inch section o 2×4 Drill with 5/16 and 3/8 bits Old arrow or wooden dowel Salt Borax Hammer Nail Boot lace Silicone ealant Plastic clothespin Scissors Pencil Towels
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After taking your gobbler, grab the tom's beard at the root, where it meets the chest, and tug it out. Then, take a hacksaw and make two cuts as close as possible above and below the spur on each leg. Take a wooden match or similar object and push the marrow out of the bone. You should have two round holes running through each leg section. Put about one-half inch of salt in a styrofoam cup and add the beard and spurs making sure to coat each with salt.
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After a week or so, remove the beard and spurs and break off the ball of hardened salt that will likely be attached to them. Replace with a new salt/Borax mixture and let stand for at least two months.
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When you're beard and spurs are prepped, place a nail in the shotgun shell hull and position it over a 3/8-inch hole in your 2×4.
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Tap the primer out with a hammer.
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Next, cut a 26-inch length of leather boot lace and thread the lace through your spurs using the hole in the leg bone as a guide.
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Push both ends o the lacing up through the primer hole
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Pull the lacing through the hull and tie a knot. Completely cover the knot with silicone.
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Pull the lacing back through the knot.
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Now, cut a piece of shop towel about two inches wide.
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Fill the center of the towel with silicone.
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Fold the halves of the towel in half length-wise.
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Push the folded shop towel and silicone.
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Depending on the gauge and length of your hull, you may need more or less filler.
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I like to top my hull off with a layer of silicone stopping at the bottom of the crimp.
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Using a 2×4 and and arrow (or dowel), clamp the hull to the arrow with your plastic clothespins to hold it upright.
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Wait 48 hours and remove your trophy.

Turn your turkey beard into a trophy that will last a lifetime.