First ever turkey hunt is finally happening!

[returnofsid]

Well, sort of...

Every weekend lately, our daughter, Madison, has had dance competitions, keeping us from being able to get after any birds.  This weekend...finally, no dance competition!  We're actually going camping, leaving Spokane Thursday evening and having to return Saturday evening.  We'll head up north for some camping, fishing and try to get in a couple turkey hunts, Oh and I'm hoping to stumble upon some Morel mushrooms!  This same weekend, last year, I found a boat load of Morels in this same spot. Madison has been practicing with my slate and box turkey calls, every evening and has actually got really good.  We have a a Primos The Club XXL hunting blind, I've purchased couple turkey decoys off of Ebay (one which should be here tomorrow in time to take hunting), I've also got a Rinehardt Turkey target that we'll use as a second decoy, and I've got my broad heads hitting very close to my field tips!

I know there are lots of turkeys in the area we'll be camping in.  We'll see if we can get them to cooperate. Heck, Madison will be thrilled if she gets a gobbler to sound off.

Madison AND the target/decoy will be wearing hunter orange vests until we're in the blind.

[turkeydancer]

Good luck ...
How old is Madison?

[Karl Blanchard]

Good luck! Remember to take lots of pictures!

[returnofsid]

Good luck ...
How old is Madison?

She's 8. She's not hunting yet, but plans to by the fall of 2015.  That'll give her plenty of time to study for Hunter's Safety and also time to build up to drawing back 40lbs on her Mission Craze. 

Good luck! Remember to take lots of pictures!

Thanks!  I'll have my camera with us!

[BOWHUNTER45]

good luck  it should be getting good for calling in those lonely gobblers ..You can tell your daughter is on her way to becoming a good archer ...her form and target shooting tells the story 

[Karl Blanchard]

Thats awesome man!  Love seeing kids excited about hunting!  Especially bow hunting!

[returnofsid]

Yes, it's very exciting how much she enjoys it!  She's also a competitive dancer, dancing tap, jazz, ballet and hip-hop.  With all of that dancing, and school, she still makes time to shoot her bow regularly!  For me, it's come full circle.  I have 3 adult kids, and Madison, along with 5 grandkids.  My son is 24.  I taught him how to rifle hunt at a very young age.  Then, I stopped hunting.  Several years ago, he started archery hunting.  Last Father's Day, my kids all pooled their money and bought me a bow.  Then, my son taught me how to archery hunt.  Now together, we've gotten both Madison AND her mom involved in archery!  It's very fulfilling to see!

[turkeydancer]

Yes, it's very exciting how much she enjoys it!  She's also a competitive dancer, dancing tap, jazz, ballet and hip-hop.  With all of that dancing, and school, she still makes time to shoot her bow regularly!  For me, it's come full circle.  I have 3 adult kids, and Madison, along with 5 grandkids.  My son is 24.  I taught him how to rifle hunt at a very young age.  Then, I stopped hunting.  Several years ago, he started archery hunting.  Last Father's Day, my kids all pooled their money and bought me a bow.  Then, my son taught me how to archery hunt.  Now together, we've gotten both Madison AND her mom involved in archery!  It's very fulfilling to see!

   Just doesn't get any better than that .... good luck out there .....

[returnofsid]

Yes, it's very exciting how much she enjoys it!  She's also a competitive dancer, dancing tap, jazz, ballet and hip-hop.  With all of that dancing, and school, she still makes time to shoot her bow regularly!  For me, it's come full circle.  I have 3 adult kids, and Madison, along with 5 grandkids.  My son is 24.  I taught him how to rifle hunt at a very young age.  Then, I stopped hunting.  Several years ago, he started archery hunting.  Last Father's Day, my kids all pooled their money and bought me a bow.  Then, my son taught me how to archery hunt.  Now together, we've gotten both Madison AND her mom involved in archery!  It's very fulfilling to see!

   Just doesn't get any better than that .... good luck out there .....

I agree, 100% and Thanks!  I hope to get in an evening hunt, this evening.  Tomorrow, we'll be out before daylight.  I'll have to fit in some fishing somewhere but I'm going to do my darndest to bring home a turkey! 

Question...

Say I do get one...should I skin it out, removing the breasts from the bone, removing leg, thigh and wing meat for soup?  OR, should I pluck the entire thing to keep it whole with skin?  I know the skin will keep it more moist when cooking, but plucking turkeys is such a PITA!  Growing up, we raised turkeys, butchering several a year.  We'd have a huge pot of boiling water to dunk them in, making plucking easier.  I won't have that option available while camping.  I don't own a huge pot...lol

[turkeydancer]

Turkeys pluck pretty easy when still warm (takes me about 20 minutes after I've driven 30 minutes back to the camp). But you can also skin it.

 Depends on how you're going to cook it ....  if you are going to cook it whole (smoke, deep fat fry, bake etc) then pluck it ... if you are going to cook it in pieces (turkey nuggets or fingers, soups, pot pie, etc) then skin away.

   Just remember the state has a funny law about leaving the head on as proof of sex .... 

[returnofsid]

The "feathered" head even lol.