I cut the legs/feet off the bird I killed this year and dried them out to save, but wasn't sure what I was going to do with them. I've decided now that I may do one of those displays with the leather string, with just the spurs hanging on it, and the beard hanging from the shell (just the brass part).

The legs/feet are still all in one piece, I didn't cut the spurs off at the time. Will it mess anything up to cut the spurs off now that they're totally dried out? figured I'd just make a cut across the leg just above and below the spurs.

Do I need to do anything to preserve them long-term? I've seen where people somehow remove the outer cap of the spur and do something with it then replace it...

Just cut it bout 3/8" above and below the spur and it will be fine. You can leave skin on or peal it off. I use a nail to clean the hollow part of the bone. You can use a sawzall, hack saw. I use a plunge cut saw.

Pretty much the same process I use. I peel the skin off cause I think it looks better.

I cut mine closer to the spur and remove the skin too, then I spray them with a light coat of clear spray paint

I need to take the time to do that with all of mine one day. Mine are all whole legs rubber banded together with the beard and tossed in a bag. Is there any issue in cutting them up if they have been dried up for several years? Can you still peel the skin off?

skin comes off fine, bone marrow in the leg might be hard as a rock

Buddy had a bunch of beards in a bag that had been in there for years and when he got them out to do something with em all the strands had separated! I always do mine after season and hot glue the beard in the brass and nothing has turned loose yet

Spray the beards with Raid (Green Can) every couple years and it helps keep them from seperating

I always leave the skin on the legs & dip them in polyurethane. I remove the marrow with a nail before doing this & wash the Spurs with plain water & let them dry. I usually put them on a necklace.