Turkey Hunt

[rlfrazee]

For the first time I harvested both my eastern longbeards on the same day! Took the birds in the early morning shortly after they flew down. I didnt do any calling to these turkeys just sat across the field the were using for a strutting area. Within 30 minutes they fed my direction and came into range. Four longbeard toms and about a dozen hens. When you get to watch these birds drum and strutt and fan their tails it is quite a show. One of the highlights of the great outdoors in my experience. Anyway shot the first bird and the second bird came running to the bird I shot and I got him also. He turned out to be my first multiple beard turkey. 1st beard was 8 1/8" and the other beard was 10 5/8", he weighed 21.3 lbs. and 7/8" spurs. The other bird was 22.4 lbs, 10 3/8" beard and 1" spurs. I will remember April 17, 2004 for a long time........RL


http://images.snapfish.com/33%3A5572323232%7Ffp45%3Dot%3E232%3A%3D%3B9%3A%3D6 88%3DXROQDF%3E23234%3C%3A9%3A%3B667ot1lsi

[Wgoodrich]

Really shortened hunting season for you but really big and long memories to go for rest of your life. Keep the picture and frame it. Does not happen every day. Congrats

Wg

[rlfrazee]

Shortened my season but still get to tag along with other hunting buddies plus think I may have my daughter talked into giving it a try. Our season runs from April 14th to May 31st. Since my son moved to Wisconsin I could sure use another hunting partner hope she wants to try to get her a turkey. Would be a great picture for the forum. Also wanted to say I need to fix some of the photos on some of my posts that arent appearing on the thread anymore. I unknowingly deleted them from their storage site and didnt realize this would effect them showing up on my posts......RL

[6pack]

Rl! Nice picture, nice birds. Never have Turkey Hunted, hows the eating compared to domestic.
Wanted to mention several years back, while Deer hunting(tree stand). Heard this sound, with the stillness of the woods,assume louder than normal. Being familiar with the area could'nt recognize the sound? (very eary) Had mind wondering thought's of a space ship or martions? While keeping still I noticed movement in front of me. Well! Turned out to be my first encounter with wild Turkeys. They were feeding, in the woods, fall dry leaves(no snow). I noticed there was a scout or scoutess in the lead. While the others followed and fed poss 15 to 20 birds. They would feed then move 5 yards and stop and eat agin while that lead bird watched. When scout moved on, they all followed.Heard no bird sounds just the stillness then rustling sound.(hard to explain but it was an eary sound when not knowing what you were hearing). After explaining to Land Owner learned DNR had planted the Birds. Actually was waiting for them to come crashing into me, when they took to the tree's. Then it became somewhat funny, i'd see one or two in flight coming into close stand of trees and then hear this crashing sound. Surprised they survived there landing's. Wanted to pass along!

By the way an ealier picture with a cat fish captioned "which is better lookin". Titled your last one here!! " Pick out the Real Turkey" Har Har Safe & Good Hunting to you!!

[rlfrazee]

Hey Wannabee good to hear from you. Wild turkeys are great table fare and I like to smoke them over pecan or apple wood. Hickory is good choice for some tastes. I have been a little scarce on the forum lately as I have been fishing and/or hunting with my good friends and family often the past 2 or 3 weeks. Should try hunting turkeys they are really a treat to watch and try to out smart them. As for cooking wild turkeys I usually just dress out the breasts and discard the rest of the bird. Very difficult to pluck the bird and retain the skin. The drumsticks are very tough and full of ligaments so havent bothered with them for several years. Suppose if you went about it the way we did chickens on the farm boiling water and all. Would be better but would only give it a try if came across good recipe. Have tried several over the years but none rendered drumsticks edible. Anyway just got back from roosting some turkeys for a hunt in the morning with my little nephew (9 yrs. old). Got his hunter safety course this year and will be great to get him a big ole tom in the morning.....RL

[Wgoodrich]

Save the wings, legs, thighs etc. that are hard to cook, and freeze them. Just skin those parts making it easier. In the winter time great fixens for soups hung over a fire place fire in a pot of bean soup, creamed vegetable soup, and many other types of soups. Works just like ham in beans or bacon in green beans etc.

When you are ready to use these as fixens just put a couple of table spoons in a pot and drop bones and all in that pot. Brown without flour or anything else. Then cover in water and let boil and boil until meat falls off the bones. Pull out the bones and you have the meat and broth to add to soups as fixens. Even works as fixens for dressing on Thankgiving day.

Just some ideas to save wasted meat from a once living food source thus showing the respect of the harvested animal as they deserve.

Not trying to say you disrespect your harvest. Just trying to give more use of the animal meat product.

Just some ideas

Wg

[rlfrazee]

Thanks for the ideas I will give it a try sounds like it would be just the ticket to use the meat Ive been unable to utilize. Have always hated to throw so much of the bird away, just never came up with good way to cook the other parts of the bird and ended up throwing away. Not a cook guru but what you suggest makes sense and will make a great stock for soups I should think. Thanks for the idea....RL

[6pack]

(domesticated birds) after thanksgiving the wife will throw entire carcass into pot for soup then we freeze up soup. (In portions).We also bag portions of left over tukey & gravy and freeze. We do same with corn, clean and cut and bag in portions, nothin better than fresh sw corn in the winter.

Fishing buddies got aced on 3day trip(turkeys). Said they called two in, clouds and storm came up GONE. Dont know much on turkeys other then you must be still. Although they stumbled on some great bluegill eve fishing, I'm told.

Sunup here, got 3 deer right in front of me and I know there eating our Arber Vita Trees, cedar. One looks like she's ready to drop fawns big deer.