Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Turkey Hunting => Topic started by: dmv9 on September 15, 2016, 10:01:55 AM

Title: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: dmv9 on September 15, 2016, 10:01:55 AM: I'm hoping to go on a three day trip to get my first turkey.

So after the bird is down and tagged, do you put in on ice till you get back home?

Do you gut it back at the motel/camp? Or do you gut after you get home?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: asmith on September 15, 2016, 10:18:51 AM: Well, the one I've kill I threw in the back of my truck then drove the 15 minutes home and took care of it. This weekend, I plan to take care of it in the field. The wife wasnt too happy with all the feathers at the house. Remember, you must leave the feathered head attached until at home.
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: Russ McDonald on September 15, 2016, 10:20:11 AM: If you get you bird and your not far from camp you can wait till you get back to camp. If you staying at a hotel I would gut it in the field so you don't have the mess. Here is part of the regs to:
It is illegal to possess in the field or transport game birds unless a feathered head is left attached to each carcass, except falconry caught birds.
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: dmv9 on September 15, 2016, 11:23:51 AM: It's on private land, does that make a difference?
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: asmith on September 15, 2016, 11:52:08 AM: Quote from: dmv9 on September 15, 2016, 11:23:51 AM
It's on private land, does that make a difference?

Not for leaving the head attached it doesn't. If in field or transport, it must have the feathered head.
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: turkeydancer on September 15, 2016, 12:10:38 PM: I hunt both private and public and I always gut it in the field as soon as possible ... no way I'm leaving the guts in for any length of time especially if it's warm weather. I then pull up to the dumpster at the motel or RV campsite at the earliest possible opportunity ... I feel it's best and easiest to pull the feathers while the birds still warm. I then thoroughly wash it inside and out and put it on ice until I get home. Then the head comes off, final wash and preps, wrapped, and stored in the freezer ... or straight to the deep fryer.
:twocents:
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: dmv9 on September 15, 2016, 12:26:59 PM: So do you breast the turkey out and leave the head on and put the breast in a plastic bag on ice?
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: jennabug on September 15, 2016, 01:22:13 PM: I'm glad to hear I won't be the only one out there this weekend!
If I succeed... I'm planning on gutting in the field (putting the waste into a secure bag), then placing a bag of ice in the body cavity to cool it. I'll scald and pluck at home, outside with the turkey fryer.
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: Bill W on September 15, 2016, 01:26:11 PM: I believe you are required to save the meat from the legs also.
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: The Gobble-stopper on September 15, 2016, 03:56:45 PM: Quote from: Bill W on September 15, 2016, 01:26:11 PM
I believe you are required to save the meat from the legs also.
We were told by a warden in Asotin county that you do not have to keep the legs, because there is too many muscles to make it work. And to answer a question above. Yes even if you are on private property, you must have feathered head attached. We had only the breast and were going to get tickets. But we came up with enough evidence to prove with pics, and that they were being prepared to go in the pan. It was dicey for a little bit. I thought they were going to tell us the head had to remain while in the pan??? We thought we were going to get a ticket for throwing the carcass in the creek. But they said that was cool and it was acceptable, that the fish and aquatic animals would benefit from it.. They were cool by the time they left.
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: buckcanyonlodge on September 15, 2016, 04:33:28 PM: Millions of turkeys this fall. Shoot two!! They usually go to water first thing in the morning so keep that in mind for an ambush.
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: asmith on September 15, 2016, 04:36:44 PM: Quote from: buckcanyonlodge on September 15, 2016, 04:33:28 PM
Millions of turkeys this fall. Shoot two!!

Or 3 :tup:
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: dmv9 on September 15, 2016, 06:56:55 PM: I was watching this field dressing:

And thought I could save the whole bird (on ice) and keep the carcass with the head in another bag with the tag.

Or should I just breast out the Rio (most likely) and keep the carcass in another bag?

Thoughts?
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: Fshnpole on September 15, 2016, 07:17:52 PM: I have found it easiest to just throw the whole thing in the truck then when I get home I just breast them. The legs are full of tendons and difficult to debone but I do my best. The best way I have found to eat them is take them to eggars (local butcher) and have them grind it and they add pork fat and make teriyaki sticks and they are awesome.
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: turkeydancer on September 16, 2016, 09:22:39 AM: NO MATTER WHAT THE HEAD IS LEFT ON UNTIL YOU'RE HOME. I would still gut the bird and slip him into a kitchen garbage bag with the head tied outside the bag and the bird on ice whether he's plucked now or skinned for the thigh and breast at home.

It always depends on how going to cook the bird how you prep it. Usually I cook mine whole in a deep fat fryer after injecting 1-1/2 to 2 ounces of marinade per pound --- so if you are cooking them whole you want to leave the skin on by plucking the bird why it's still warm. If you are going to cook it in pieces - turkey tenders, ground, pot pie, etc - then you can skin it (breast and thigh the bird out) when you get home.
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: dmv9 on September 16, 2016, 10:53:22 AM: Right the head, feather entrails will be present, but can I put the "eatable" meat in a separate bag?
Can I have the tag, head, feathers, guts in one bag, and the breast, legs in another bag?
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: asmith on September 16, 2016, 11:11:35 AM: Quote from: dmv9 on September 16, 2016, 10:53:22 AM
Right the head, feather entrails will be present, but can I put the "eatable" meat in a separate bag?
Can I have the tag, head, feathers, guts in one bag, and the breast, legs in another bag?

Ok, it has been said several times now. The feathered head must remain ATTACHED TO CARCASS while in field or transport. It really isn't that hard to understand. Gut the bird in the field, hell even skin or pluck it in the field, but leave the head on.

Here is the exact quote from the regulations, page 88:
Quote
The feathered heads of game birds must be attached to the carcass when they are in your possession in the field or are being transported.
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: pens fan on September 17, 2016, 08:45:00 PM: Not to hijack the thread, but more to open a can of worms...
I go to my friends house on the east side to hunt turkeys. I shoot one the first day. I take it to his house, pluck it and gut it, and put it in his freezer so it doesn't spiul, Headless...
I go home with it six days later. How does that play into what the wardens do if they stop me?
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: sneakyjake on September 17, 2016, 09:08:36 PM: Hey Al, missed you this year. Hope things are going good.
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: huntnfmly on September 17, 2016, 10:27:55 PM: Hey asmith
No reason to be rude he's just asking to be sure
Title: Re: Turkey down, now what?
Post by: turkeydancer on September 19, 2016, 11:59:12 AM: Quote from: sneakyjake on September 17, 2016, 09:08:36 PM
Hey Al, missed you this year. Hope things are going good.

I was project coordinator on an aircraft carrier project from Jan 2015 until May 16th when they flew me to San Diego for another one until Sept 7th. Just too darn busy at work and home .... however I just put in my retirement papers on Friday with last day set for March 1, 2017. So we will see you for sure next spring Sneaky ... did you leave me any toms? :chuckle: :dunno: :chuckle: