Davidp16 Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 Hey guys! Got it done this morning!!! Got my first ever bird at 7am right on the dot! Am working afternoons this week and Got done at 11pm last night went home and woke up at 445am to get out there. Was a beautiful chilly morning had 3 does come in around 630am, heard a few Tom's gobble. I looked over and saw a Tom walking in slowly to my decoys, didn't call at all today just set up my decoys.. he was so focused on the hen decoy and that's when I got him one shot and fell down, I'm so thankful to harvest my first ever bird. boogaloo, Tinyboatcam, knightfisher and 7 others 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genec Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 Congratulations on your first bird! Now your hooked!! Wish I had the same luck…I blew a shot at a gobbler that was coming right at my hen and jake decoys…I had a heavy hunting coat over my vest and sweater because they were calling for cold temps, and had trouble lining up the shot with all that padding. I think I ended up shooting over his head. 😖 Davidp16 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubba14 Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 That smile says it all, way to go!!! Davidp16 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooseslayer Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 Congrats! Great job. If you dry the legs in a standing position they can sit up on a table or whatever. I put on a piece of wood with another at 90 degrees to hold it straight and nails to spread the toes. Davidp16 and smerchly 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightfisher Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 Nice bird. How did you remove all the feathers ? Davidp16 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markster Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 Congratulations. Nice bird! no luck for me, they were gobbling all around me but i only saw a hen within a 100 yards. Davidp16 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davidp16 Posted April 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 23 minutes ago, knightfisher said: Nice bird. How did you remove all the feathers ? I just did it the old fashion way and just hand plucked them all no problem! knightfisher 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler0420 Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 Congrats Davidp16. Was that your first time hunting turkey? Davidp16 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davidp16 Posted April 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 18 minutes ago, Tyler0420 said: Congrats Davidp16. Was that your first time hunting turkey? Thanks Tyler! This was my second year going after them! I had to throw in the towel early last year due to health reasons and had to stop hunting last year. Tyler0420 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smerchly Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 Way to go David , real nice bird and I hope you enjoy your turkey dinner soon . When I used to mount birds I cut the feet open and pulled the tendons out with pliers and forced borax inside the legs and toes. . As mentioned you can stand the legs upright spread the toes , hold them apart with pins on a piece of wood . Salt will do but I prefer the borax for birds and fish . How are you going to cook this delicious looking bird ? Davidp16 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davidp16 Posted April 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 1 hour ago, smerchly said: Way to go David , real nice bird and I hope you enjoy your turkey dinner soon . When I used to mount birds I cut the feet open and pulled the tendons out with pliers and forced borax inside the legs and toes. . As mentioned you can stand the legs upright spread the toes , hold them apart with pins on a piece of wood . Salt will do but I prefer the borax for birds and fish . How are you going to cook this delicious looking bird ? Gonna cook it up this Friday! Just going to get my mom to stuff it with dressing and just do it up like a Christmas turkey in the oven, I'm very excited to try wild turkey! Captain Hooksets 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smerchly Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 You may want to try putting 5 or 6 strips of bacon over the breast while in the oven . Wild birds dont have much fat in the skin and the bacon adds flavour to the bird. I'll bring the apple pie ..... ❤️ Davidp16 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooseslayer Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 I wet brine all my turkeys now. It makes it much juicier. smerchly and Davidp16 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishingking Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 Congrats! ..I hope to get out this weekend I'm tied up with work a few more days boo hoo...ya they turn out pretty dry in the oven without a marinade injection ....keep basting it and ya bacon i Helps...enjoy ! Davidp16 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markster Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 I’ve never tried cooking a whole bird before, but for breasts i found a strange but great receipe online. marinate for 12 hours in mountain dew. Dry them off and coat with yellow mustard, then apply a dry rub - i used texmex seasoning. Then on the bbq for about 30 mins or internal temp above 165. Plate it with rice and enjoy with a nice beer. smerchly, Davidp16 and Tyler0420 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honeyv Posted April 26, 2023 Report Share Posted April 26, 2023 10 hours ago, Davidp16 said: Hey guys! Got it done this morning!!! Got my first ever bird at 7am right on the dot! Am working afternoons this week and Got done at 11pm last night went home and woke up at 445am to get out there. Was a beautiful chilly morning had 3 does come in around 630am, heard a few Tom's gobble. I looked over and saw a Tom walking in slowly to my decoys, didn't call at all today just set up my decoys.. he was so focused on the hen decoy and that's when I got him one shot and fell down, I'm so thankful to harvest my first ever bird. Congrats! Davidp16 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surf and Turf Posted April 26, 2023 Report Share Posted April 26, 2023 Good job on getting your Tom! Also nice job of processing him, looks like a professional plucking job! Bubba14, smerchly and Davidp16 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markster Posted April 26, 2023 Report Share Posted April 26, 2023 Hey @mooseslayer what is the process you use for wet brine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooseslayer Posted April 27, 2023 Report Share Posted April 27, 2023 I completely submerge the bird in a large pot or clear plastic bag and add about a cup salt and whatever citris I have, usually some lemon juice, lime juice, slice up and orange. I throw in parsley, sage, thyme, peppercorns and let it sit in the fridge for a 1-2 days. I'll often do it when it is still partially frozen so it is defrosting while it brines so usually 2 days. Rinse the bird thoroughly when you are ready to cook and then do your normal turkey spices, butter etc and cook it. My brother got me doing it and it makes it much juicier. Tyler0420 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markster Posted April 27, 2023 Report Share Posted April 27, 2023 Thanks for the info. I’m hopefully going to try that this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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