How to spread a turkey fan

This was my first turkey; and I'd really like to mount the fan and beard. Not knowing better, and not watching any youtube videos prior; I've had it laying out to dry since I got it. Now the fan is stuck in the closed position - what's the best easiest way to spread it out without or minimizing any damage to it?

oof, not sure it can be saved if allowed to dry out this long.

You might try an hour or so soak in warm soapy water to see if it softens back up (just the base of the fan)

Soak it and use a pants clothes hanger (has clips at ends) to keep it spread out. I'd probably go ahead and put borax on the meat too.

I would try to scrape as much meat away as possible then spread on a hanger with borax. After it's completely dry put some bondo on each side before mounting it on a plaque

I'd soak in a salt and/or borax solution just to be safe.
Once rehydrated take a stiff wire brush and clean between those quills. Better yet, if you have a dremel tool with a wire head so that. Yellow fat will go everywhere but it will be clean and allow you to position the fan anyway you want. Once positioned you can pin it to dry then a little bondo to hold it all together.

The clothes hanger method is easy, but I get better results the old way with a big piece of cardboard and T-pins from a taxidermy supply store. Also I don't go crazy trying to get every bit of meat. That borax is good stuff. It will dry the meat up, eliminate any smells, and the dried meat will hold everything permanently.

Since this one dried closed I would try one of the methods above. Good luck. I hope it softens up for you.

Thanks guys; will try this weekend while I'm smoking some jerky

Never tried to open one up after it dried. If it doesn't work I have a fan or two if you wanted one to display with the beard and they're dried open. I know it's not the from the bird killed but you'd have a fan. Good luck!

I've found the easiest way is to flesh it out within the week (be SURE to get the pilonidal oil gland out), arrange fanned out on a small piece of folded cardboard with borax on both sides, the weight it down to press and hold with a textbook or a couple boxes of shotgun shells.

These from the past few years I've been too lazy to store inside in my hunting closet with the others. I'm getting close to having enough to wallpaper my largest wall in my office with them all.

Gravey said:

Never tried to open one up after it dried. If it doesn't work I have a fan or two if you wanted one to display with the beard and they're dried open. I know it's not the from the bird killed but you'd have a fan. Good luck!

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Very generous of you and I appreciate it, going to give the suggestions above a try first