After The Shot.

[Muskie_man]

Hey. i am pretty new to this turkey hunting. i had went a couple of years ago but had not luck. i was wondering what are the steps u guys take after shooting the bird: how do you end up with the meat, do you pluck the bird or what? Thanks for any info guys!!!

[Multidigits]

You should pluck your first one.....breast out the rest of them. :D

[AteUp]

http://www.reelfoot.com/cleaning_turkey_403.htm

If you’re a turkey hunter, you’re used to making decisions. And, after choosing the right turkey loads, camouflage, decoys and calls before entering the spring woods, it’s a relief when the final decision of the hunt is how to care for and cook your bird.

Cleaning your turkey is the first step, and regardless of whether you plan to skin, pluck or breast out and cut up your bird, doing it properly is both quick and easy. Just follow these simple steps.

1. If you don’t plan to cook your bird whole, start by laying the turkey on it’s back. Remove just enough breast feathers so as to expose the skin.

2. To remove the breast filets, pull or cut the skin back from the breast. Make cuts along each side of the breastbone as well as on the inside of both wings or the clavicle. To save the wings, peel the skin back and remove the wings from the cavity by cutting through the joint.

3. Find the breastbone and make an incision down each side of the breastbone to loosen the breast filet from the bone. Work from the rear of the breast forward, filleting off the breast by pulling the filet and using the knife as needed. Repeat this for the other side of the breast.

4. To remove the thigh and leg, cut through the thigh muscle where it attaches to the back. Then grab the thigh or leg and pull up until you can feel the joint pop loose. Keep cutting through the thigh until it comes free from the turkey’s body.

Plucking vs. Skinning
Considered the traditional style of cleaning a wild turkey, plucking is a perfect way to prepare your bird to be roasted, smoked or whole deep-fried. Before you remove the entrails or field dress the turkey pluck the turkey’s feathers to help keep the moisture in the turkey while cooking it whole. Remove the feathers after dipping the bird in hot water. Some people use boiling water but it has been said that 140-degree water is optimal for plucking a bird. Plucking does take time and produces more of a mess than does skinning; however, the taste of deep-fried or roasted turkey skin is worth the effort.

Many of today’s turkey hunters prefer skinning to plucking. Skinning a turkey allows you to cook the bird by frying or grilling the pieces of meat. You can skin and fillet the turkey breasts, and slice as much meat from the legs and wings as necessary. Make a cut just along one side of the breastbone. Then, it’s just a matter of working the skin off the breast halves, down the back and over each of the legs. In some states it’s illegal to only fillet the breast out, leaving the rest of the carcass behind. Always check your state’s hunt regulations, and make sure your turkey is properly tagged for transportation.

Field Dressing
In hot weather hunting conditions, field dressing your bird is a good idea before you clean it for the table. If you decide to field dress your bird, start by placing the turkey on its back. Find the bottom of the breast plate and insert your knife, making a cut to the anal vent. Remove the entrails from this opening and then reach into the cavity to sever the windpipe, heart and lungs. Cool the cavity by placing ice inside the chest.

For more great turkey hunting information, please visit the website of the National Wild Turkey Federation - www.nwtf.org . The leaders in wild turkey conservation.

[WildmanWilson]

If you want to smoke it or deep fry then you should pluck it. If you want to cut it up and make deep fried nuggets or grill it you can just breast it out.

[jeff ward]

if you plan on plucking , do so as soon as you get to your bird after the shot..( no hot water is needed ) just make sure you leave the head , beard and legs attatched so that a g.w. can tell its a leagel bird ..
its very easy to get the feathers out then but you have to do it fast, because it gets harder as the bird starts cooling off and the blood flow has stoped,
its a natural self defence for the feathers to fall out of a bird so it can get away from prdetars...

[Xi Bowhunter]

You should pluck your first one.....breast out the rest of them. :D

That is what I did on my first bird:o

[Valley Station]

If you pluck your turkey, in addition to gutting, you need to remove the "crop".
The "crop" is a sack-like thing, located in and between upper portions of the breast,filled with what turkey has been eating and will "sour" breast if not removed.
I usually make an "Y" incision from wing joints to center of breast bone for easy removal. Also, that will remove a lot of the fatty tissue, that a tom has in upper breast.

[Gobblergetter2.1]

I agree with multi... pluck the first one. Then after that, you can (and will want to) breast all of the other ones out. :D

[Hammer]

Breasting them out is a pretty easy job. That's what I would suggest. Immediately after the shot, I would also suggest that you not get within a few feet of the bird until after he's quit flopping for a few minutes. Lots of guys have been somewhat harmed grabbing a dying turkey too soon, lol!

[Feedman]

Lots of guys have been somewhat harmed grabbing a dying turkey too soon, lol!

I will say a big 10-4 to that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

[lab]

I have had scratches and cuts to prove that.:D

[jeff ward]

i picked one up to soon once and his spurs got tangled up in my glove that sharp little spur he had tore my hand up , i could have used a few stitches. now i just stand on that neck untill there is no movement at all..

[maxcam]

i picked one up to soon once and his spurs got tangled up in my glove that sharp little spur he had tore my hand up , i could have used a few stitches. now i just stand on that neck untill there is no movement at all..

If you need to move your bird while he is still flopping about I suggest grabbing him firmly around the neck......Its alot easier on the shoulder and
not as much damage will occur to the plumage of your trophy as a result of the bird beating the ground to death with its wings......

[jeff ward]

yep, thats what i do if i plan on mounting .

[Muskie_man]

Hey. Thanks guys for the replys. If i was to take my bird to a processor, would i just take it how it was after i shot it or do i need to field dress it or something first? How much would it cost to get it processed? Thanks!!!

[Multidigits]

Take it whole. Some, maybe most will save the meat for you. Just get it there quickly, not 3 days later?

Don't be afraid to shoot again to prevent runoff or excessive flopping.

[Muskie_man]

Take it whole. Some, maybe most will save the meat for you. Just get it there quickly, not 3 days later?

Don't be afraid to shoot again to prevent runoff or excessive flopping.

When you say "some , maybe most will save the meat for you" what does this mean? Does some places not give you the meat or what? I thought that was what a processor does.

[Gobblergetter2.1]

Lots of guys have been somewhat harmed grabbing a dying turkey too soon, lol!

No doubt! My cousin had to have 117 stiches in his wrist because of exactly this. OUCH!! :eek:

[HappyHunter]

I like to keep the legs as well. They can be boiled down with salt, pepper, bay leaf, carrot, onion, and celerey. They make excellent stock for soup, sauces, and gravies. Also the leg meat makes great turkey and dumplings and pot pies.

[Multidigits]

When you say "some , maybe most will save the meat for you" what does this mean? Does some places not give you the meat or what? I thought that was what a processor does.

I only know what my guy does. I suppose there's some that won't????? They are not processor, they are taxidermists.

[Valley Station]

Muskyman,
Talked to one of the larger deer processors in the area, they don't and don't know anybody who offers the services of "processing" wild turkey.

[maxcam]

For those that are fortunate to harvest their first bird, do not be intemidated by breasting out your bird. It is a far easier task than processing or even field dressing your first deer!

1.) Remove the beard by simply grabbing the based of the beard in one hand and place the other firmly around the skin where the beard is attached and with even pressure simply pull the beard out of the skin.....

2.) Then stick your finger inside the whole you have just created by removing the beard and begin to peel back the skin, feathers and all. Continue to skin back the bird so that the entire breast on both sides is visable.

3.) Identify the bottom of the breast bone which is pointing straight up with the bird on its back. Next identify the crawl! The crawl is similiar in apperance to a clear latex ballon!...DO NOT PUNCTURE!

4.) Begin filleting from the breast bone and away from the breast bone and crawl......Be patient use a sharp knife and the rest is easy....Once you have begun to fillet the breast it will become apparent what you need to do next.

Goodluck!