turkey weights

[Hangfire]

What are actual weights of Merriam's turkeys? I have weighted only a few, most under 20 pounds, around 16-18 pounds for spring gobblers and 12 pounds fall hens.

The hen I shot yesterday weighed 12 pounds live weight. Boned out was 4 pounds 3 ounces of ground turkey.

[fishunt247]

Depends, but 22 #'s is a big Merriams.

[steen]

To me a turkey is a turkey.  One or two or five pounds doesn't make a diference nor does how long the beard is or spurs.  If you shoot any turkey and the tail feathers are pretty and you didn't put to many beebees in the meat it's a great turkey.  Just my opinion.  I shot a jake that weighed 15-16 lbs. 

[PA BEN]

Ave. tom is 17 to 19 lbs. They will w/more in the afternoon then right out of the tree in the morning because there craw is full.

[yelp]

My heaviest shot by hunters in 1994 was 24.3 lbs.  Anything over 19 lbs is a big bird.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Most 2-year old spring toms run 16-19lbs.  I agree with Yelp that anything over 19lbs is a big Merriam's.  I've never killed a mature tom in the fall, when weights would be maximum.  The heaviest I've killed was a 1.5 year old fall jake (would have been a 2 y.o. in spring) that was 21.5lbs.  As a 2 y.o. spring tom he would likely have been 3-5lbs less.  Fall jakes and adult hens for me have run 11-14lbs, the smallest I've killed was a November juvenile hen that was only 8lbs live weight.

[Hangfire]

Thanks a lot that is the kind of information I wanted.

Any real good Turkey recipe's, We really like patty's made from ground turkey especially the older birds.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I generally make two dishes with my birds.  Breast them out, cut into 3/4" steaks/cutlets, marinate overnight in the fridge in a mixture of:

1" cube of peeled ginger, sliced thin
4 cloves crushed garlic
salt and pepper
juice of 1/2 lemon (or one orange)
1/2c olive oil

Grill just until cooked through.

Legs, thighs and scap meat from the carcass goes into the crockpot, cover with water and simmer low 24 hours.  Pour out the stock (can make good stuff with this too), remove meat from bones, tendons, joints, etc.  Shred meat by hand or with a fork.  Add an entire bottle of quality barbeque sauce (or your own recipe), cook a couple of more hours.  Serve on hamburger buns, dee-licious!

[Wacenturion]

My heaviest shot by hunters in 1994 was 24.3 lbs.  Anything over 19 lbs is a big bird.

If I remember the year right, the same morning near Hunters with Yelp and my son I shot a huge jake...............18.5 lbs.  Yelp got his that afternoon.  Bears were a bonus....woof, woof....lol.

[PA BEN]

Apricot Stuffing wild turkey, this works for skinned goose as will.
Pluck your turkey.
For the stuffing; make regular stuffing, then add 1/2 pt. apricot jam and cut up apple.
On the side in a sauce pan;
1 cub butter
5 beef bouillon cubs
1 bottle cooking sherry
1/2 pt. apricot jam
Garlic and what ever you want to throw in.
Add some of this sauce to stuffing/stuffing needs to be moist because wild turkeys are dry not butter balls.
Stuff turkey and rap turkey in cheese cloth.
Place in roaster pan, back down and cover breast w/bacon strips.
Pour remainder of mixture over turkey. 
Cover and place in oven at 350 for an hr.
After 1 hr. Base turkey from pan.
Lower temp to 325, base turkey every 1/2 hr until done.
Gravy;
Boil neck, heart, liver and gizzard w/salt and pepper. Pick and cut any of this cooked meat you want in gravy. 
Pour all turkey juice from roaster pan w/water from giblets.
Mix enough corn starch w/milk to thicken. 

[PA BEN]

BBQ turkey breast and legs.
Rub all meat w/cajun rub, place in a bowl.
1 bottle SoBe lean peach
1 cup soy sauce
After meat juices up pour mixture over meat. Let set for a day, mix every so often through out the day.
Cook on low heat, base meat w/mixture.

[turkeydancer]

 
I've found that the average weight usually is between 18 & 22 pounds and depends on what land you're hunting ... private (farm) birds seem to be at the heavier end and public land (forest) birds the lighter end. 

[PA BEN]

I shot a 22 lb'er once in the woods, But most of the 20+ lb toms are the yard birds that people feed. I know guys who have shot birds off of peoples front porch and tell a great story of the hunt.  

[bearpaw]

The two biggest birds I have been involved with were both 24 pounds. One had an 11 inch beard, the other had multiple beards and I don't remember just exactly how long they were. But we have not killed anything over 22 pounds in the last 2 years.

I agree with yelp, the vast majority of toms are 16 to 19 pounds, and the bigger ones have been fed all winter at a farm or in a back yard.

[yelp]

The two biggest birds I have been involved with were both 24 pounds. One had an 11 inch beard, the other had multiple beards and I don't remember just exactly how long they were. But we have not killed anything over 22 pounds in the last 2 years.

I agree with yelp, the vast majority of toms are 16 to 19 pounds, and the bigger ones have been fed all winter at a farm or in a back yard.

I caught mine lifting wieghts..LOL