Avoid Standing Up to Verify the Turkey’s Location

It can be hard on the body to be bent over or kneeling, but this is the only way to remain camouflaged from the birds during hunting. Many beginners make the mistake of stretching or standing up to check the turkey’s exact whereabouts. But no matter how carefully you think you are operating, always resist the urge to stand up when a bird is moving in your direction.

The Early Bird Gets the Turkey

One of the biggest mistakes that any hunter, novice or otherwise, will make is to sleep in late. Although turkeys are up and about during all waking hours, any experienced turkey hunter will tell you that the crack of dawn is the only time that you can expect to make a big score. The most exciting hunting is always in the early morning hours. Rising early can make all the difference between a successful or a disappointing hunt.

Don’t Give Up Just Yet

Another common mistake that many hunters make during a turkey hunt is to leave too soon. The early risers who abandon the hunt after 9 a.m. may experience a bad hunt, just as the latecomers make experience a bad hunt. Although it can be frustrating to experience many near-hits during a very early morning hunt, it can pay off to stick around long enough to encounter more birds.

Getting Too Close to Birds on the Roost

This is a common mistake because it can be very tempting to get too close to the roost, especially if you spot many birds on the limbs. As a general rule, however, you will get a better shot if you are able to get near a tree full of roosted birds without being detected. You are more likely to get a clear shot when the birds fly down. However, you don’t want to get too close to the birds on the roost, especially if you are hunting very early in the morning. As you tiptoe through the darkened woods, the roosting birds may merely become a dark blur of shapes flying from the trees. When you flush a flock of birds from the trees, you may not only miss a clear shot from the chaos of fleeing birds, you may also inadvertently cause a commotion that alerts other nearby flocks. This can cause a flush of turkeys from the area, making it very difficult to get a good shot in the area.

Calling the Turkeys Too Long

This can happen when the hunter gets carried away with his own calls. Many turkey hunters enjoy honing and practicing their own turkey calls. Calling too long may actually be counterproductive in that it can cause the turkeys to spot you. A call should be just long enough to get birds in the area. But when you sense a bird approaching your setup, stop calling. Otherwise, the turkey may notice the caller and flee.

Not Dressing in Layers

Not wearing the suitable clothes for a turkey hunt can certainly cause a problem. Many turkey hunters tend to under-dress for the hunt. This is a mistake. Prepare yourself for the elements and you will be more apt to experience a successful hunt. The general guideline here is to dress in layers, and don’t forget the rain gear.

Before you can start measuring up the spurs of a turkey, however, you need to know the right way to look at the spurs. Spur measurements can be taken by looking at the side view of the turkey. The outside edge of the spur is the guide for measurements – the spur runs from the outside edge up the back of the leg right until the actual leg scales start. Of course, taking this kind of measurement is easy after you have made the kill but a bit more difficult when you are trying to gauge the age of a turkey on the run. When trying to age a turkey while hunting, make sure you check it out from the side and do you best eyeball estimate.

But once you have a measurement of the spurs, what does it all mean? A general rule of thumb is that the spurs get longer as a turkey ages. The shortest spurs are on jakes – one year old turkeys. The spurs on a jake grow to a maximum length of 7/16” – and often can be quite a bit shorter. By the time a turkey gets to be two years old, their spurs usually range from ½” to 15/16”.

Turkeys that are three and four years old have longer spurs still. The typical spur length for a bird of this age is between 1” and 1 7/16”. By the time a turkey has reached five years old (full maturity) and beyond, the spurs generally range from 1 ½” to 2 ¼ in length.

Of course, these general guidelines don’t tell the entire story. There are a lot of reasons why turkeys might have spurs that don’t quite match up to their ages. One of the biggest reasons is terrain. Turkeys that live in areas that are hilly or very rocky may have shorter spurs than expected for their age because they get worn down as the turkeys move around. On the other hand, turkeys that live in areas that are relatively flat and have sandy soil may have longer spurs than expected for their age – the spurs on these turkeys are also usually extremely sharp, because there is nothing to wear them down. Although it may be difficult to make any judgments while stalking the turkeys, after a kill, you can usually tell if the spurs have been worn down at all. If your turkey’s spurs are not every sharp and have cracks, you can assume that they have been worn down and that the bird may be older than the actual measurement indicates. Broken spurs are another indicator than all of the spurs have probably gone through a wearing down process.

Turkey spurs are a good guide to age, but if you still have questions, compare the spurs with charts of turkey feather patterns by age to get a complete picture.

Shop Around for the Best Taxidermist You Can Find

The first step to preserving your trophy hunt should take place weeks before the actual hunt. You want to begin by shopping for the best taxidermist you can find. Shop around your area for professional taxidermists. Get a feel for the quality of work that they do. Ask how much they charge. If you live in a smaller area, there may be fewer taxidermists to choose from. However, if you cannot find an adequate taxidermist in your local area, scout other taxidermists across the country. There are many fine taxidermists that you can find simply by asking other hunters or doing a bit of research. Taxidermy is one of those fields where you don’t want to skimp. Paying a little extra can often go a long way.

Considerations Before the Hunt – Things to Pack

There is a lot of prep work to be had previous to the hunt. There is a list of things that you should pack with you for the hunt. There are many things you should consider packing, which includes a large plastic bag, a cooler, paper towels, and cotton balls and used pantyhose. Some taxidermists recommend used panty hose so that it can be used to keep the birds feathers in place. To use panty hose, simply cut out a section from the thigh area and tie it up on one end. After shooting the bird, make sure to slip the bird carefully into the hose or bag headfirst. Using a plastic bag is another alternative.

Getting Your Kill to the Taxidermist in the Best Possible Condition

The secret to getting the best possible taxidermy mount is to keep the animal in good condition before getting it to the taxidermist. There are special considerations that you should take in order to ensure the best possible results at the taxidermist. A lot rides on how you shoot the wild turkey.

Tips for Shooting Wild Turkeys for the Best Taxidermy Results

If you are hoping to mount your kill, always aim for a clean neck or headshot. In general, avoid shooting the bird head-on while it is strutting, as this can cause the tail feathers to become easily rumpled or shred them entirely. In general, avoid shooting a strutting bird. The best shot for mounting a bird later is to take a clean side shot, ideally while the bird’s neck is stretched upwards. In general, you should avoid getting shotgun pellets near the wing feathers or the tail. Most taxidermists will find it much easier to repair the head or neck than the tail and wing feathers. For the best results, there is evidence that 25 to 30 yards is a good distance for hunting turkeys. This amount of space allows for a clean kill without the messy patterns that can result with closer patterns. Avoid having to take a second shot, but if you have merely wounded the bird, try taking a second shot at the head from a sufficient distance. Many turkeys will thrash around after being hit, thus losing many feathers. If this is the case with your kill, collect all the loose feathers you can so that the taxidermist can replace them.

Considerations During the Post-Kill Period

There are many important considerations to take during the post-kill period. Use napkins to keep the bird from spilling blood or body fluids on the feathers. Limit damage to the feathers, and keep the bird as cool as possible after the kill.

Don’t Cancel Your Hunting Date, Just Prepare for the Rain

Most determined hunters would not let the rain put a damper on events, especially if you are experiencing a light or passing rain. However, here are some tips for dealing with turkey hunting in case you should find yourself caught in the rain. First, you should move out towards the fields and open pastures. Old roadbeds and fields are ideal for rainy weather because turkeys tend to gravitate to open spaces when it is raining. This can be a boon to the dripping yet determined wild turkey hunter.

Switch Your Calls Accordingly

When it rains, you will want to adjust your turkey calls. The general rule of thumb here is to switch to friction calls rather than traditional mouth calls. This is because friction calls can be heard at a much greater distance than conventional mouth calls. Use carbon and acrylic strikers if you have them, as these can help greatly with friction calls when it is raining.

Protect Your Box Call in the Rain

If you know that you are heading out to questionable weather circumstances, carry with a use a plastic bread bag or something of the sort to cover your friction or box call. The box and frictional call will not sound effectively if it is not dry. Keep it dry inside a plastic bag.

Keep an Open Eye and Ear

When it rains, turkeys tend to grow uncomfortable and quiet. It can be harder to spot or hear them. If a turkey is not in a good mood, if it is cold and raining outside, chances are you will not hear its buoyant gobbling as much as you would on a sunny day. You will have to strain to hear the wild turkeys, so you will have to be even more quiet than usual.

Carry With You a Good Pair of Binoculars

When it is raining, it is plain to say that your visibility will be lessened. The gobblers will be more quiet than usual, so you will have to depend on your sight to find most of them. This is where a good pair of binoculars comes in handy. Since the turkeys cannot hear as well in the rain, you will be at an advantage if you can spot them. Also, turkeys tend to go out into the open when it rains, so you will be at a definite advantage if you bring with you a good pair of binoculars.

Dress Appropriately and Stay Comfortable

It is important that you stay comfortable during your hunting expedition, and this is especially true if it is raining. Wear your rain gear and make sure you stay out of the rain as much as possible. If you are serious about hunting in the rain, you must remember that it will take patience to wait for the turkeys to enter clearings. Ideally, you should be wearing rain gear, including a vinyl poncho that protects you from the rain. Rubber boots are also a great accessory to have. Of course, if it is pouring and it doesn’t look like it will be stopping soon, and you are not wearing the appropriate rain-protective clothing, you may be better off calling it a day or heading for shelter until the rain stops.

Removing the Feathers from Your Fowl

The first step to preparing your turkey kill is to remove its feathers. Maybe you think you can hand-pluck the feathers from your turkey kill. Although theoretically this is possible, keep in mind that most wild fowl carry around nearly 5,000 feathers on them. Hand-plucking fowl feathers are often simply not an option. One of the easiest ways of getting rid of wild fowl is to dip the bird in hot water. Some people swear that dipping the bird in water at a temperature of 140 degrees is the most efficient way to loosen all of its plumage for easy removal. However, any level of boiling water will tend to work well in removal of the feathers. Removing your fowl’s feathers by dipping the bird in hot water also prevents the plumage from drifting around the room. Set up a large washtub where you can work by dipping the dead bird into the water.

Steps for Skinning Your Turkey Kill

Here are some general guidelines to get you through the process of skinning your turkey kill. First, make sure to remove the tail fan or cape of the turkey if you plan on saving them. This should be the first removal. Then you can remove the beard before starting to clean your kill. However, if you are not planning on saving the bird’s cap or tail, you can begin by laying the turkey on its back.

Beginning the Process of Cutting Your Turkey

One of the easiest ways to begin to cut your turkey is by starting with the removal of the breast filets. You will want to pluck some feathers from the middle of the breast area. You can do this by making a small incision through the turkey’s skin. Then you can work your fingers underneath the skin. Make sure to pull the skin back from the breast and peel them back toward the sides of the turkey.

Learn to Locate the Bones

Begin by learning to locate the breastbone. Make an incision down one side of the breastbone. Loosen the breast filet from the bone. This incision will be from the lower tip of the breast, along the breastbone and ending up along the wishbone and the area where the wing and shoulder are joined.

Tips for Removing the Breast Fillets

Here are some tips that can help you remove the breast filets. Begin by making an incision from the bottom tip of the breast and working it to the rear of the breast forward. Using a knife, filet off the breast. You can do this by pulling the fillet and using your knife to separate the breast. Take care with the crop that is located at the top of the breast. The crop is a sac, much like balloon, that occupies that space between the two halves of the breast in the neck. The last thing you want to do is to puncture the crop! Repeat this procedure for removal of the other breast.

Cutting the Leg and Thigh Areas

Flip the kill over so that is lying on the breastbone area. Skin the thigh and leg area thoroughly. After you are done skinning, you will want to make an incision through the thigh muscle. Help this process along by grabbing the leg and thigh area and bending them upwards toward the backbone. Allow the joints to pop loose. Keep cutting until you separate the drumstick.

Why it is Preferable to Pluck the Turkey Before Removing the Entrails

The main reason why you want to remove the feathers from the turkey before removing the entrails is that it helps to keep the inside of the bird cavity clean. In general, the entire process is cleaner if you do it this way. However, if you are accustomed to field dressing your wild fowl kill, you should not worry about plucking the feathers. Instead, be certain to rinse out the bird cavity in order to remove any feathers that may have gotten inside during the plucking process.

Tips and Hints for Plucking Your Wild Fowl

Did you know that wild turkeys have over 5,000 feathers on them? In general, wild fowls are often prized for their plumage. One of the easiest and most treasured ways of plucking wild fowl is to dip the bird in hot water. There are many thoughts on the ideal temperature for using this method. Many people swear that dipping the bird in water at a temperature of exactly 140 degrees is the most efficacious way to remove its plumage. Others believe that any level of boiling water will work just as well. Whatever method you choose, it has been proven that the bird’s feathers will be removed much easier if you dip the bird in hot water. Wild fowl also becomes much easier to handle if the feathers are damp. Otherwise, plumage has been known to fly and drift around the room. The best method for dipping a bird in hot water is to use a large washtub where you can fit the entirety of the bird. There are certain areas of the bird where the plumage is more difficult to remove. The primary wing feathers, which are quite large, often pose a problem for people. Many people opt for removing the wing in order to avoid problems with those large feathers. You can remove the primary wing by moving it past the first joint at the shoulder.

Removing the Legs from the Bird

One of the most important steps in preparing wild fowl comes when it is time to remove the legs. The final step is to remove the entrails. You do this by gutting the bird after removing the feathers. This process is similar to what you would do while field dressing. However, this process is more complete as you often remove the head as well, using a hatchet, cleaver or large knife. However, some people follow tradition and save the neck, which can be cooked in a stockpot. Other parts that are often saved include the giblets, which include the heart, gizzard and liver. Most everyone knows what the heart and liver accomplish, but the gizzard is less well understood. The gizzard is the part of the bird that allows it to grind up its food. In order to use the gizzard, you will want to open it up and clean it out thoroughly. Once clean, you can cook or freeze your wild fowl.

Why Do So Many Wild Game Hunters Preserve the Turkey Beard?

Just why do so many wild game hunters choose to preserve the turkey beard, of all things? The reason that the turkey beard has become such a popular part of the turkey to preserve is because it is probably the easiest part of the turkey to remove and save. Many experienced hunters have their own method for removing and preserving the turkey beard. In general, however, the easiest way to remove a turkey beard is to just cut it off, let it dry and then store it in a clean, cool box. The turkey beard only has a little flesh attached to the end of it, which means that there is little chance the beard will become infested with insects and destroyed. Although the process of removing and preserving a turkey beard is relatively easy and intuitive, there are many small steps that you can take in order to ensure that your beard is well preserved.

How to Remove the Beard Safely

Here are some tips and guidelines for easy and safe removal of the turkey beard. First, pull the beard away from the turkey’s body. Using a sharp knife or hunting scissors, pull the away as you carefully cut through the skin all around the beard. You want to separate the beard from the turkey’s body as cleanly as possible, and without taking as much skin as possible. Many people don’t bother with clean incisions. They simply get a firm hold on the beard at its base and give a hard jerk. Although this can certainly be an efficient way to remove the turkey beard, and it often works for very experienced hunters, your best bet is to remove the beard safely and cleaning using a knife or scissors.

What to Do Once You Have Removed the Turkey Beard

After you have removed the turkey beard, use your sharp knife to trim away as much of the flesh and skin as possible. You simply want to leave the cartilage that is holding the beard together. Any excess skin or flesh should be cleanly excised from the beard. Once you have this clean beard, prepare a small container with Borax. Place the flesh base of the beard into the small container and let it dry and preserve for at least a week. You can use many different types of Borax products. The easiest one to use is the 20 Mule Team Borax that you can purchase as a laundry additive at your local store.

The Next Step in Preserving Your Turkey Beard

After the week of Borax preservation has passed, you can remove the beard from the box. Make sure that it has dried thoroughly. Brush off the turkey beard and prepare it for display. There are many ways to display your turkey beard prominently. Use your imagination for creating a memorable and prominent display for your turkey beard. If you are creating a collection of turkey beards, consider purchasing or making a wooden beard rack that allows you to put on display all your turkey beards in an organized display case. Another easy way to display your turkey beard is to simply hang it as part of a mount of the wild turkey. Many hunters display their turkey beard along with the spurs and fan mount. Some hunters glue their turkey beards into decorative shotgun shells. There are many different ways to display your turkey beards. The only limit is your imagination.

Slate Call Maintenance

Slate call boxes are some of the most popular kinds of calls. Slate calls are often also referred to as pot and peg calls. They are made of a variety of materials and come in a variety of different surfaces. Slate calls can be made of aluminum, slate, glass or other materials. However, no matter what kind of slate call you happen to own, there are many several general guidelines that you can use to keep your call boxes in optimal condition so that they will last you through several hunting seasons. In general, you want to make sure that you always keep oil off the striking surface. Watch out for fingerprints from excessive finger handling and field dust. You can keep your slate call box as clean as possible by storing your call box in a specially designed storage pouch, plastic bag or holster when it is not in use. Make sure to store your slate call in a dry, cool place when it is not in use. This will help to prevent warping of the wooden chambers in the call box. You may also want to keep the surfaces of your call box sanded. You should make certain to only sand in one direction. Do not sand back and forth, nor should you sand in a circular motion. When you sand in one direction only, you are ensuring that you are creating that special ’sweet spot’ on your slate call box. What kind of sandpaper should you use? Light steel wool or a sanding stone can be used. However, you should ideally opt for light grit sandpaper for true slate call boxes. For other surfaces, opt for heavier grit sandpaper. This is a general rule of thumb. Also, you may want to use an emery board on a semi-regular basis to clean the slate call box of dirt and oil. You will want to try to sand the striker tips in one general direction as well.

Information for Maintaining You Box Call

A good box call can be quite expensive, so you want to make sure to take good care of it and preserve it for future hunting seasons, and perhaps even for posterity. Box calls are generally created from crafted pieces of wood. The most important thing is to keep your box call’s surface clean at all times. Do not use sandpaper on a box call. Sandpaper will change the tone of your call, thus rendering it much less effective over time. Always handle your box call with care. Resist the urge of over handling the striking surface, as the natural oils from your fingers will affect the sound and life of your box call. Only use chalks on your box call, but avoid chalks that are made from a sugar or oil base. In general, you should only use chalk on the underside of the lid. The use of chalk can wear down the important beveled edges of the box call. You should also occasionally blow out the sound chamber of the box call, as this can help get rid of chalk dust that may have settled in the interior of the box call.

Maintenance for the Mouth Call

The mouth call also requires special maintenance. You will want to use warm water to rinse out the mouth call after each use. You can also use spray antiseptic to keep it clean. Store your mouth call in a plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator until the next use.

Taxidermist or Dressing in the Field – Making the Right Decision

The decision between using a taxidermist or dressing your kill in the field depends on what your final goal is. If your final goal is to mount your wild turkey kill, you should not dress your own kill in the field. However, if your goal is not to mount the wild turkey kill, then you should go ahead and dress your kill in the field, especially if the day is not especially cool and you are far from home.

What to Do If You Would Like to Mount Your Wild Turkey Kill

What if you are planning to mount your own wild turkey kill? If this is your final goal, begin by shopping around for professional taxidermists? Visit all the local professional taxidermists in your area in order to get a feel for their work and prices. Check on their work and prices. Play it safe—never choose a taxidermist that appears to do work at a discount price or whom you suspect may produce uneven or even shoddy work. There are many fine taxidermists across the country, so it may take a bit of travel if you do not have a good taxidermist in your immediate area. Do not attempt to mount your own wild turkey if you have no experience in taxidermy. Taxidermy relies on the experience of the taxidermist you are working with, so make sure you find someone you can trust to mount your hunting trophy prize.

What You Should Do After the Kill

There are many steps you can take after the kill in order to maintain your kill in optimal conditions for the taxidermist. After the shot, there are many things you should do in order to keep the kill in prime condition. First, you want to keep the plumage as dry and clean as possible. You should carry with you cotton balls or paper towels with you in order to keep the bird in optimal condition after the kill. You can stuff paper towels in the dead bird’s anus and mouth in order to keep body fluids or blood from soiling the bird’s feathers. If the bird has any bloody wounds, use paper towels in order to stuff them. Your goal is to keep the feathers as free from blood as possible. If necessary, wrap the head of the bird in paper towels.

Watch Out for Feather Loss

Your goal after the kill is to prevent feather loss and damage. Carry with you some panty hose or a large plastic bag to preserve the bird in optimal condition. Make sure not to bend the tail feathers. Collect any loose feathers that you find around the bird post-kill.

Keep Your Kill Cool

Make certain to keep your turkey kill as cool as possible. Carry a large cooler with you during your hunt. If you know that you will not be able to get to the taxidermist for several hours or more, make sure to keep your kill cool. If you know that you will not be able to get to the taxidermist for several hours or more, you may even want to consider freezing the dead bird immediately. Again, most taxidermists will want to do the field dressing themselves, so simply keep the bird cool until you get to the taxidermist.

Advice from many experienced hunters is to have layers of clothing. Each layer is another layer of insulation and just with a house, or any other insulated object, the more layers the better. Also, layers can be taken off if necessary. If the day started out very cold, but the spring or fall sun heats the day much more than expected, the hunter can always take off one of those layers. Some hunters like to wear one-piece suits, thick and warm like a snowsuit, but that can sometimes actually be a bad decision. While the day gets warmer, the hunter will not be able to take any clothing items off. There is only the one piece and maybe a thin layer of undergarment underneath. When buying those clothing items, the hunter should not look at the price tag, but rather feel them for quality. Try them on for comfort and if it feels right, then perhaps look at the price tag to see if you can afford the item.

One of the first things that will ruin a hunt is cold or wet feet. Therefore, the proper pair of boots is essential. For many hunters that are walking miles to get to their hunting spot, the comfort is essential for long walks. Many hunters will use boots that are appropriate for the weather they are going to be in and sometimes add insulation by adding a few pairs of socks. Should the hunter be trying to hang out in the very cold, a good suggestion might be a boot blanket. These boot blankets are like big socks that are wrapped around the outside of the boot. The hunter then can add some sort of warming blanket or warming device into the blanket close to his toes and the feet will feel toasty for a good amount of hunting time.

As for the legs and the rest of the hunter’s body, there are many options. An insulated bib overall, a coverall suit, insulated pants and several shirts, are all options for under the coat. When buying these items, again the hunter will get what he pays for. It does not mean that he needs to buy the most expensive clothing items, but rather checking for quality when buying. The material of the clothes is important as well, some material make a lot of noise. For example, such clothing items as snowsuits and overalls are very noisy when moving. Noise is something a hunter wants to eliminate when hunting for game. A noisy suit can ruin the whole hunting trip. Most hunters recommend making sure that the material is fleece, micro-fleece or wool, which are not noisy. It is also recommended to buy overalls that have full-length zippers. This means suits that have zippers from waist to the feet and another zipper from top to the waist. This helps with putting on the overall when wearing big heavy boots. Often hunters do not want to take off the boots and then put on again when taking off layers of clothing in warmer weather.

Some hunters say they prefer bib overalls to one-piece overalls, because the suit might restrict the arm movement, while the bib-overall leaves that arm movement under the coat.

As for the coat, a parka is a must and the higher the quality of the insulation and the material is, the more quiet and warm will the hunting experience be. The coat should cover the hunter past the waist and should also have a hood. Some of the better parkas also have a tall neck collar to help prevent chilly winds from coming in with the hood on or with the hood off.

Also essential for a warm hunting experience are gloves, hand mufflers and the right kind of hat. Gloves should not be too bulky should be able to handle the gun properly. There is always the possibility of putting a hand warmer in the muffler to keep hands and fingers warm. As for the head, a hat and a facemask might do the trick on cold days, while a baseball cap is a good choice on the warmer days.