[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

Title:The Hunting Notesfile
Notice:Registry #7, For Sale #15, Success #270
Moderator:SALEM::PAPPALARDO
Created:Wed Sep 02 1987
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1561
Total number of notes:17784

655.0. "Gutting a Turkey- How to???" by SENIOR::PENNING () Fri May 04 1990 13:32

    
    
    Hi Guys,
    
          I may have a silly question but does anyone out there have any
    tips on "gutting" a turkey?? I have one of those feelings, like the day
    before I went deer hunting for the first time and bagged an 11 pointer,
    that I am once agian going to have that beginners luck and bag a nice
    bird this year. I have shot pheasant, ducks and deer but never a turkey
    and I need some input on how to gut one of these bad boys?
    
    Any replys would be greatly appreciated!
    
    Thanks,
    
    Wildman
                      
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
655.1There ya go...CSC32::SCHIMPFFri May 04 1990 18:037
    Clean him just like you would a pheasant....Cut around the lower
    abdominal cavity, remove the head (if your not going to do any type of
    mounting)...And just start...Ummmmm, pulling, flinging the inards out.
    
    
    
    Jeff
655.2easyCSC32::WATERSThe Agony of DeleteFri May 04 1990 18:1527
    
    
    Field dressing until you get to where you need to remove feathers.
    
    I cut an opening where the breast bone ends and reached in and pulled
    everthing out. Then pack the inside with ice. This will keep until
    you get ready to dress the whole bird.  (In Missouri this should be
    done after going to the check station, since they weight them.
    Might be the same in our area.)
    
     To dress the bird, I just started pulling feathers, leaving this skin
    on. You can take skin and all but I think they cook better with skin
    on. 
     The wing feathers are the hard ones to get out, They WILL cut if you try
    pulling them out bare handed. Use gloves or pliers and quick yanks.
     Where the neck meets the body there is a gullet. Don't waste you time
    trying to clean this out, just cut around it an remove the whole thing.
     The legs, cut them at the knee joint. You can cut around the join to
    get a nice clean cut, don't cut the bone it will splinter.
    
     Save the feathers to tie your favorite fishing flies.
     
     Happy eating !
    Mark
    
    ps. My brother called me last Sunday. 9:30 opening morning he got
        a 21 lbs tom with a 10 inche beard. (where was I?)
655.3plucked a fewSAHQ::BREWERWed May 23 1990 03:507
    
    I think you will find it a whole lot easier to pluck a Turkey if you
    dip him in a little scalding hot water first. It might take two or
    three dips to get all the feathers loosened. The first one I killed I 
    plucked dry and it took me about 2 hours. Now I can pluck one in about 20 
    minutes. Seems like my granny used to pluck chickens that way.
                               
655.4BRABAM::PHILPOTTCol I F 'Tsingtao Dhum' PhilpottWed May 23 1990 14:2015
One of our backwoodsmen members might supply more detail, but the method I 
have seen for dealing with a turkey that works best is take the entire bird and
roll it in mud to form a ball, and then bury it in a shallow hole and build a 
camp fire on top of it. Keep the fire burning all night then next day when the
fire dies down dig out the ball of baked clay and break it on the ground.

All the feathers will come away with the clay.

Cut off the meat and discard the bones and entrails.

Simple.

Tasty. (I've eaten turkey done this way, but couldn't give precise details).

/. Ian .\
655.530 seconds is all it takesKNGBUD::LAFOSSEWed May 23 1990 15:585
    Every fall, I get a call from my brother in law to help slaughter his
    turkeys (15-20), he uses the boiling water method (30 seconds) it works
    very well, is simple, efficient, and not messy.... no complaints
    
    Fra