I would like to try to take a turkey for this Christmas dinner.
I know it will be a small chance of actually getting one but I won't know until I try.
I know next to nothing about turkey hunting but I'm willing to learn.
I've done some reading about the bird last night and various hunting methods so I know just enough to get confused.
My understanding is that I can only hunt male (Tom) turkeys and that they have "beard" on their chest.
They have great hearing and sight so full camo and blind of some kind is usually used with decoys and calls.
Baiting is not allowed to draw them in to range. Finally shooting is only allowed from 30 minutes before sun rise but how about in the evening? Do people hunt them in the evening too?
I frequently see turkey's on my property. I think they nest in the hamock with large oak tree at the grove. I never paid close attention before but all the ones I see are skinny one with long legs which I believe are hens (females)? So where are males? Do males stay separated from females?
My plan is to set up my ground blind at the place where I occasionally see turkeys in the early morning hours and set up a decoy or two and wait with my Remington 870 12G shotgun. I'm going to use 1 1/4 oz #4 leadshots with 3 3/4 drams of powder. I believe the aiming point should be the head. I won't be using any calls as I expect my current skill with caller will scare off any turkey's within hearing range. Hopefully my skillful camo blind and sexy hen decoys will make up for the lack of sound. I'm going to give it a try next two weekend and if it looks like it will work Ill take my shotgun out with me on the weekend of Dec. 22... which will give me 3 days to harvest one.
Did I forget anything?
Anything else I should know?
Do you have any advice for me?
Well good luck. Its the fall season never called for them in the fall. I guess your on private land most public does not allow turkeys during the fall. season.
Also if you do get one remember cooking it takes longer than domestics. I cant say i enjoy the smell of boiling hot feathers while plucking cleaning.
In the fall, the turkeys are fairly easy to predict. You are on the right track. They will almost always roost in the same spot and fly down and go the same way every morning, and return the same direction each afternoon returning to roost.
If you can get figure out where they are roosting, then you can play cat and mouse with them if you know where they are going
Hens will have a bluish-gray head and are overall a duller color. Gobblers are gonna have a red head, be much bigger in stature and more of an iridescent color and shinier
A load of #4's to the head will do the trick. Just try to be within 40 yards max. Also keep in mind they move their head constantly. When they stretch their head and neck out is when you want to blast them
As far as cleaning them...I nowadays do a quick clean method. I hang them by the head and skin them. basically just cut a slit in the skin and rip the skin off. Then I debreast it, and cut the legs, wings and thighs off
If you want to cook one whole, I suggest plucking it. Its really not that hard. Get a big pot of water boiling. needs to be big enough to fit the turkey in. if you want to save anything like the beard, fan, feet or any feathers, you need to get them off first
Just before the pot of water comes to a boil...cut the heat off and dunk the bird. Hold it by the feet and dunk it head first up and down about 4-5 times (good idea to wear heat resistant gloves). Immediately hang it and start plucking. Most of the feathers will come off easy except the wing feathers. They are a little tough. if you have some pin feathers left, you can burn them off with a lighter
Iluv2hunt,
Thank you for your reply.
Looks like I'm within the starting point.
I'll start spending more time out there looking for, and at, turkeys.
I'm pretty sure they are up in those oak trees in the grove.
I've heard turkeys have great hearing and sight but can they smell too?
The smell is not as keen but it will still be a big enough challenge. Hunt for the Butterball turkeys they taste the best!
