I have had several PM's asking about how I preserve my turkey spurs that I pictured in a recent thread, so I put this series of pictures together.
I hope it helps all that are interested in preserving those spurs to keep and display for a lifetime. I am by no means saying this is the best method or easiest method but it has worked for me for many years and gets the bone very white and keeps them nice for display.
This method works best if done within a week or two of harvesting your bird as the bone starts getting a yellow tint from the greasey tissue under the skin.
Step 1 - Cut the leg bone with a hack saw or dremel type saw if available equally on both sides of the spur.
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Step 2 - I use a razor blade knife to cut the skin off the leg. I start around the spur and work my way around making sure not to get into the spur itself when cutting.
You can always go back and trim closer to the spur if needed. Scrape all the meaty tissue off the bone possible. This may take some time until you get the hang of it and do a few.
You will also want to take a Q-tip or pipe cleaner and scrub out the inside hollow portion of the leg bone.
![Image]()
When they look like this, you are ready for the next step.
![Image]()
Step 3 - Put them in a pot of boiling water for 3 minutes and then after a cold water rinse rescrape anything you missed and whatever may have oozed out under the spurs onto the leg bone.
![Image]()
Step 4 - I use the high strength peroxide from a beauty salon supply and borax for the bone bleaching process.
![Image]()
Dip the leg bone up to the spur in the peroxide.
![Image]()
Step 5 - While the spur is wet with the peroxide, coat it heavily in Borax detergent. Note: Make sure you wipe off any borax and peroxide that may have gotten on the spur itself.
![Image]()
Step 6 - After 3 - 7 days of leaving this solution set up and crust on the bone, you now wash it off and let the spur dry for a couple more days.
Step 7 - Some spurs will chalk a bit and discolor or have an orange peel effect.
To avoid this over time and keep the deep color and luster of the spur, I put 1 or 2 coats of tung oil on the spur itself and rub it in, letting it dry in between coats.
The end result should be something like the picture below, You can also take a fine tipped sharpie and on one side of the spur (depending on how small you write) put the date, weight, species etc.
![Image]()
The process is somewhat time consuming but the before and after are worth it. If anyone has any suggestions or comments please feel free to post them. I will leave this a sticky until the end of Turkey season for all that may wish to give it a try.
Good Luck Hunting to all....GSLAM
I hope it helps all that are interested in preserving those spurs to keep and display for a lifetime. I am by no means saying this is the best method or easiest method but it has worked for me for many years and gets the bone very white and keeps them nice for display.
This method works best if done within a week or two of harvesting your bird as the bone starts getting a yellow tint from the greasey tissue under the skin.
Step 1 - Cut the leg bone with a hack saw or dremel type saw if available equally on both sides of the spur.
Step 2 - I use a razor blade knife to cut the skin off the leg. I start around the spur and work my way around making sure not to get into the spur itself when cutting.
You can always go back and trim closer to the spur if needed. Scrape all the meaty tissue off the bone possible. This may take some time until you get the hang of it and do a few.
You will also want to take a Q-tip or pipe cleaner and scrub out the inside hollow portion of the leg bone.
When they look like this, you are ready for the next step.
Step 3 - Put them in a pot of boiling water for 3 minutes and then after a cold water rinse rescrape anything you missed and whatever may have oozed out under the spurs onto the leg bone.
Step 4 - I use the high strength peroxide from a beauty salon supply and borax for the bone bleaching process.
Dip the leg bone up to the spur in the peroxide.
Step 5 - While the spur is wet with the peroxide, coat it heavily in Borax detergent. Note: Make sure you wipe off any borax and peroxide that may have gotten on the spur itself.
Step 6 - After 3 - 7 days of leaving this solution set up and crust on the bone, you now wash it off and let the spur dry for a couple more days.
Step 7 - Some spurs will chalk a bit and discolor or have an orange peel effect.
To avoid this over time and keep the deep color and luster of the spur, I put 1 or 2 coats of tung oil on the spur itself and rub it in, letting it dry in between coats.
The end result should be something like the picture below, You can also take a fine tipped sharpie and on one side of the spur (depending on how small you write) put the date, weight, species etc.
The process is somewhat time consuming but the before and after are worth it. If anyone has any suggestions or comments please feel free to post them. I will leave this a sticky until the end of Turkey season for all that may wish to give it a try.
Good Luck Hunting to all....GSLAM
