That's some food for the freezer. .22cal to the head from inside the barn using a long barreled rifle(somewhat minimizes the noise) 50 yards and under. Only shoot the ones with red heads and long beards. The beard comes out of the breast near where the neck joins the body. Those are the toms. The ones with whitish heads are the hens. You want to let those live to produce more turkey's.
Fillet off the breasts and legs after skinning. The legs are only good for soup, IMHO. Wild turkeys spend 95% of their lives on the ground. They can run at 25+ MPH when evading predators making their legs kind of tough, but flavorful. One can pluck them and roast the whole bird. However, plucking is a major pain the ass, IMHO.
Salt the shit out of the skins, wings and tail after removal from the carcass. The full feathered skins, wings and tails have value to fly tiers and primitive arrow makers, although less so these days with the proliferation of that noble bird.
WARNING!!!
The harvesting method described above is TOTALLY ILLEGAL and will result in a stiff fine, loss of hunting privileges, confiscation of firearm and perhaps jail, depending on the judge's mood that day, if you are caught.
I am NOT recommending that anyone employ this method of harvest. It's just spitballin'.
Ya know, I've got a Ruger American in .22, nice bull barrel, and have sat there plinking steel from 50-100 yds, wondering if I could pop a turkey in the head? Gotta start practicing with Necco wafers instead of steel.
Winchester single shot bolt action with a 26" barrel, 1920's vintage, no S/N, buckhorn sights. Dead nuts accurate and shoots flat out to 50-60 yards. Real quiet. I think the report is more from the round breaking the sound barrier as it exits the barrel. There's very little flash even with HiVel .22LR.
A few years ago, I shot a chipmunk right through the eyeballs, which is where I was aiming, offhand at 30 yards with that rifle. I called the shot and my buddy couldn't believe it when I brought the carcass back and showed him. He was trying to distract my concentration by telling me to "hurry up" repeatedly, the prick. That only made me bear down a little more and probably helped me get and stay in "the zone" until I fired.
Very nice view, turkeys and horses, we have similar when the turkeys come visit our horses, up here in Sullivan Co. Tho the wifey would have a conniption fit if I let loose near the horses! Agree w/anon above re the carcass prep.
Troop... never heard that used before for Turkey's. Gang, yes. Troop... interesting. I liked it.
ReplyDeleteFlock.
ReplyDeleteBear Claw
You need a punt gun for this!
ReplyDeleteAnother term I've heard used for a "herd" of turkeys is a "Rafter". Why....beats me.
ReplyDeleteCletus Valvecore
It's a "rafter" but "gaggle" also appears frequently to describe a large gathering.
ReplyDelete(shoot one of those things for Christmas dinner!)
That's some food for the freezer. .22cal to the head from inside the barn using a long barreled rifle(somewhat minimizes the noise) 50 yards and under. Only shoot the ones with red heads and long beards. The beard comes out of the breast near where the neck joins the body. Those are the toms. The ones with whitish heads are the hens. You want to let those live to produce more turkey's.
ReplyDeleteFillet off the breasts and legs after skinning. The legs are only good for soup, IMHO. Wild turkeys spend 95% of their lives on the ground. They can run at 25+ MPH when evading predators making their legs kind of tough, but flavorful. One can pluck them and roast the whole bird. However, plucking is a major pain the ass, IMHO.
Salt the shit out of the skins, wings and tail after removal from the carcass. The full feathered skins, wings and tails have value to fly tiers and primitive arrow makers, although less so these days with the proliferation of that noble bird.
WARNING!!!
The harvesting method described above is TOTALLY ILLEGAL and will result in a stiff fine, loss of hunting privileges, confiscation of firearm and perhaps jail, depending on the judge's mood that day, if you are caught.
I am NOT recommending that anyone employ this method of harvest. It's just spitballin'.
Nemo
Ya know, I've got a Ruger American in .22, nice bull barrel, and have sat there plinking steel from 50-100 yds, wondering if I could pop a turkey in the head? Gotta start practicing with Necco wafers instead of steel.
DeleteWinchester single shot bolt action with a 26" barrel, 1920's vintage, no S/N, buckhorn sights. Dead nuts accurate and shoots flat out to 50-60 yards. Real quiet. I think the report is more from the round breaking the sound barrier as it exits the barrel. There's very little flash even with HiVel .22LR.
DeleteA few years ago, I shot a chipmunk right through the eyeballs, which is where I was aiming, offhand at 30 yards with that rifle. I called the shot and my buddy couldn't believe it when I brought the carcass back and showed him. He was trying to distract my concentration by telling me to "hurry up" repeatedly, the prick. That only made me bear down a little more and probably helped me get and stay in "the zone" until I fired.
Well of course there is. Thanksgiving is over.
ReplyDeleteSaw and got a picture of 7 turkeys while I was out golfing this morning. Also found what I think is a beard feather.
ReplyDeleteVery nice view, turkeys and horses, we have similar when the turkeys come visit our horses, up here in Sullivan Co. Tho the wifey would have a conniption fit if I let loose near the horses!
ReplyDeleteAgree w/anon above re the carcass prep.
CPGen
It’s a “Grip”, a grip a turkeys:)
ReplyDelete