Youve just shot a turkey, and now youre faced with the question, “What do I do now?”
Whether youre a new hunter and youve just killed your first bird or youre a seasoned hunter out for another spring hunt, scouting, hunting, and shooting a bird is only part of the adventure we call turkey hunting. To finish the job, you have to get the bird home and prepared to eat.
So, today, we talk about what to do after the shot to make sure your turkey hunt is a successful harvest.
You finally got your shot on a gobbler this turkey season. Congratulations! Now that the bird is down, it’s important to follow the proper steps to ensure you safely and legally retrieve your harvest. Here is a comprehensive guide to what you should do after shooting a wild turkey.
1. Keep Your Eyes on the Bird
After taking the shot don’t take your eyes off the turkey. Even if the bird drops, keep your gun or bow ready in case it was just stunned and attempts to run off or fly away. Turkey can be surprisingly resilient so you need to stay alert.
2. Approach Cautiously
Slowly and cautiously approach the downed bird. Be prepared to take a follow up shot if needed. Listen and watch for any signs of movement. Expect the turkey to flare or kick even if mortally wounded.
3. Tag Your Bird
Once you’ve confirmed the turkey is dead, tag it if required in your state. Most states require you attach a transportation tag to the leg before moving the bird. Be sure to fill out any info like date, time, and location.
4. Field Dress the Turkey
Field dress the turkey as soon as possible after retrieving it. This involves removing the entrails to help cool the body cavity. Use a knife to cut around the vent and remove the organs. Save the heart, liver and gizzard if desired.
5. Photograph Your Harvest
Now is the time to take photos of your success! Capture some memories with your bird where you shot it. Take solo shots and selfies to remember the hunt.
6. Check In Your Turkey
Follow your state’s requirements to check in the harvested bird. Many states require reporting it either online, by phone, or at a check station within a certain time frame.
7. Safely Transport the Turkey
Carefully transport the turkey from the field. Use a hunting vest with a pouch or bag to protect the bird and prevent loose feathers in your vehicle. Keep it cool during transport.
8. Process the Meat
Once home, process the turkey for cooking. Carefully remove the breast meat, legs and wings. Save other useable parts like the beard and spurs for keepsakes if desired.
9. Clean Your Gear
Clean any blood and debris from your knife, gun or bow, clothing and other gear to remove contaminants and prevent smells from lingering.
What to Do if You Injure a Turkey
If your shot only wounds the turkey, quick action is required:
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Keep your eyes on the bird as it attempts to flee. Note the direction it travels.
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Listen for sounds of movement to track the turkey. Look for broken vegetation, feathers, and blood smears.
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Use landmarks to indicate the bird’s last known location before trailing it.
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Slowly follow the signs left by the turkey as you track it. Have your weapon ready to take a finishing shot.
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If you lose the trail, methodically grid search the area around your last sign of the bird.
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Use a dog trained to track wounded game if available. Their nose can often pick up the trail.
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If the turkey evades you, wait at least 12 hours before attempting to pick up the trail again.
Field Dressing Tips
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Field dress turkeys soon after harvesting them to cool the body cavity.
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Cut around the vent area and carefully remove the entrails. Take care not to puncture the intestines.
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Remove all internal organs including the lungs and trachea by reaching into the cavity.
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Save the heart, liver and gizzard in a bag if desired. Discard the other viscera responsibly.
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Allow the empty cavity to air dry rather than rinsing. Use paper towels to blot blood.
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Leave the feathers on until you are ready to process the bird for cooking. They protect the skin and meat.
Transporting Your Turkey
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Use a turkey vest with a game pouch, bag, or an old pillowcase to protect the bird.
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You can also carry over your shoulder or create a sling with a length of rope.
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Prevent feathers from blowing out of your vehicle by wrapping or containing the bird.
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Keep the turkey cool with ice packs or by placing it in a cooler for the trip home.
-Processed turkey meat can be frozen in airtight bags for longer term storage.
Turkey Hunting Regulations
Be sure to follow all regulations for tagging, checking, and transporting wild turkeys:
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Tag your turkey immediately upon retrieval if required in your state.
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Fill out check-in tags completely and attach to the bird properly.
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Check in your turkey by the mandated method and time limit set by your state.
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Only transport turkey during legal hunting hours and with proper tags visible.
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Follow restrictions on vehicle transportation of dressed turkey. Some states prohibit it.
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Keep the head and wing attached to the carcass until you reach your final destination.
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Know the possession limits for turkey in your state and don’t exceed them.
Processing the Turkey for Consumption
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Use sharp knives and take care when removing meat from the carcass.
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Carefully cut each breast half away from the bone and remove from ribs.
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Cut legs and wings at the joints. Carefully remove all meat from these parts.
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Save desired parts like beard, spurs, wings, and tail feathers for display.
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Consider grinding some meat for use in burgers, chili, sausage, and other dishes.
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Refrigerate or freeze turkey meat within 2 hours of processing for food safety.
Successfully harvesting a wild turkey is an incredible experience for hunters. By following the proper procedures after taking your shot, you’ll retrieve your bird while adhering to regulations and preserve the meat to enjoy the rewards of your hunt.
How to Process Your Bird
After the bird has been checked in and youve arrived home, its time to process the harvest.
Before I start with any meat, I like to remove the tail fan, wings, beard, and spurs — mostly because those are the trophy aspects of the game.
To remove the tail fan, you first start by folding all of its feathers together. Grab them with one hand, similar to how you would hold an empty paper towel roll. Cut above the birds anus and follow the quills.
Then, start your last cut on top towards the end of your first cut. Remove any excess flesh and smaller feathers in that area.
Doing the wings is also a very similar process. Once the wings and tail fan are prepped, grab a sturdy piece of cardboard or plywood. Spread them out to your desired liking and pin them into place with thumbtacks or small nails.
When removing the turkeys beard, I like to pull on it and cut roughly an inch past its base into the flesh. I have also seen people grab the beard and just pop it off with a good tug.
Removing the spurs requires a hacksaw or something similar for easy removal. I usually cut 1/2-3/4 of an inch above and below the spurs. Clean out the tendons and flesh inside of the hollow cavity.
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How to Clean a Turkey the EASY WAY!
FAQ
What to do right after you shoot a turkey?
For most hunters, breaking the bird down and getting it in a fridge or on ice will be more practical. I stress “on” ice, not “in” ice. Just like any meat, submerging it in a slurry of ice water will discolor and wash out the flesh.
How long after shooting a turkey do I have to clean it?
Clean it immediately after killing. If you don’t clean an animal immediately it’s like marinating the meat in death juices. It will have a strong flavor you will not like.
How long to hang a turkey after killing?
Place a field dressed turkey on its back on a rack, or hang it by the head for proper ventilation. Age turkey meat uncovered, for up to 4 days (remove the hardened outer layer that forms prior to cooking). Juvenile birds generally don’t need aging.
Do you have to gut a turkey right away?
The key to eliminating any “gaminess” in the meat is to take proper care of it in the field. After your shot, you’ll want to field dress your bird as quickly as possible. The goal is to cool the bird down by removing its internal organs and allowing air to circulate in the body cavity.
What should I do after killing a wild turkey?
In the rush of sweet moments after killing a wild turkey, it’s sometimes hard to catch your breath. Of course, a lot of folks first check the spurs and beard (or beards). That’s a given. Consider doing these nine things after you take a bird as well. Some are strongly suggested. Mission accomplished and now © Bill Konway photo 1.
How do you shoot a Turkey with a shotgun?
You’ll want to be ready to take a second before the bird can run or fly away. When turkey hunting with a shotgun, keep the gun in a ready position, pointed at the bird, even if the turkey is down. When a turkey is first hit, it may fall to the ground in shock.
How do you get a turkey back from a dead bird?
Turkeys sometimes have a way of coming back from the dead, so stay ready as you approach the downed bird. 2. Unload Your Gun Assuming you’re done for the day, unload that shotgun. Or take care of those arrows. And be sure to pick up the one you arrowed the bird with and the empty shotgun hull. 3. Give Thanks
How do you stop a Gobbler from spooking a Turkey?
Also, plan to call softly. After noticing the direction in which the turkey ran off or flew, very quietly walk in that direction, take a stand and start calling softly and infrequently. The gobbler wanted to be where you were when you spooked him.
Should you call a turkey if he is missing a hunter?
Change calls, and don’t use the same series of calls that you have when the turkey has come in and you’ve missed him. Also remember that no turkey-calling tactic always works. Too, the more times a wild turkey encounters a hunter, the more difficult he becomes to hunt.