HELP! TURKEY DOWN BUT LOST!

[irishevox]

Last night I shot my first turkey, least to say I was excited.  So what happend was I shot this bird with my bow full pass through the wings.  He ran in to some brush and I looked last night and couldn;t find it.  It got dark out and no light so I called it quits and then headed home.  I am at work and i can;t look for until this evening.  so two questions.   the Temp was 49 degrees and Rainy and it is still raining and the temp will go up to 56 but will still rain so dew point will stay lower to mid 40's
When I find it will the meat still be good or did I just eat a tag?
How long does it usually take for a shot like that to have the bird expire?
Thank ya'll

[jackmaster]

you should have called in sick, a coyote will find that bird before you get off work, that i can promise you, or a ratcoon or possum... good luck though

[jackelope]

Pretty sure that bird will not be edible.

It's poultry, like chicken. You wouldn't eat that after letting it sit all night with temps in the 40's. At least I wouldn't.
Red meat is different.
 

[turkeyfeather]

Turkeys don't really have alot of blood in them. It wouldn't take very long for a bird to expire from a mortal wound. Everyone I have shot with a bow died within a couple yards. Are you absolutely sure you hit it? But at this point it's probably not edible.

[TheHunt]

I bet it was a coyote meal.   Sorry to say....   

[Gringo31]

Several years ago I shot a turkey with my bow and it took off flying.  The next morning I was able to find it although it was still alive.  You need to go look, find it and the answer to some of these questions will be fairly evident.   

[Fowlweather25]

  you should at least be able to find feathers. If you hit him in the body hes a hurtin unit if not dead. If hes still alive then the meat is good. If hes dead and still warm to the touch hes good. If hes dead and not warm then dont risk eating him.

[buglebuster]

People hang ducks and pheasants in 40 degree weather for a week... Why wouldn't the meat be good

[irishevox]

He is def hit.  I found blood and feathers and my arrow.  It was a complete pass through fletchings covered in blood and featehers i hit him broad side

[irishevox]

i am praying the meat is good.  I hate to waste.... 

[3dvapor]

Go back and use a bird dog to help u find it.  A good bird dog will make short work of finding that turkey.  I will say they are tough birds I've seen them fly down the canyon after being shot with a bow.  I use a gobbler stopper made by spitfire for a broadhead.  Its a mecheanical that has a blunt tip and 3 blades that open up on impact.  It does a number on turkeys.

[jblackburn]

turkeys are tough and the vitals are small.  I watched a buddy put an arrow through what looked like the sweet spot, it flew off, we found in another field, still alive.  It took off flying and we never found it.

After that we switched to Magnus Bullheads. Shoot them in the head with a 3 inch wide broad head and they don't go anywhere.  that or its a clean miss.

[The Gobble-stopper]

Probably coyote meat, but I would beg to differ, I turkey  at that temp I not like a store bought one. Where it might be disposed to ecoli etc. Your turkey actually will end up better. Aging a turkey is much like aging a deer. Much more tender! There has been many a time, hunting grouse that I will shoot a grouse in the morning, leave em in the back of the truck on a 65 degree day, not gutted. Take em home and eat em. I pretty much guarantee it will be fine. Just my opinion

[rosscrazyelk]

Go back and use a bird dog to help u find it.  A good bird dog will make short work of finding that turkey.  I will say they are tough birds I've seen them fly down the canyon after being shot with a bow.  I use a gobbler stopper made by spitfire for a broadhead.  Its a mecheanical that has a blunt tip and 3 blades that open up on impact.  It does a number on turkeys.

Boykin spaniels specialize in this.. I have one , Where did you shoot it? if its not to far I can bring mine and help

[WAPatriot]

I always hang my turkeys with guts in upside down for at least 24 hours after shooting um tenderizes the meat