Turkey question

[Jackalous311]

Hi guys, I am relatively new to hunting turkeys. I'll be hunting a few hours away from my house and camping for two nights as well. My question is in regards to the best way to field dress a turkey right after its harvested while still keeping proof of sex attached (the beard). In the past I've never had to store the turkey and typically just brought it home after the hunt or breasted it out. Any tips? Just want to follow all the right rules here in Colorado. Thanks

 

[Bearlodge10]

Shouldn't be any problem of simply gutting the turkey and removing the crop. I have done it a couple different ways. 1. is to pluck it (leaving the beard intact) and to cut off first joint of wing and the legs and then gut it and remove crop. once home etc. cut the beard off for the trophy board. 2. I have just cut the breasts out and tried to leave the beard/feathers attached enough to prove gender but it wasn't very pretty and wasn't very clean. I also left the lower legs on the drumsticks with the spurs as evidence too.

 

[Fink]

If you have to leave the beard on as proof of sex, I'd do what Bearlodge says, and pluck it, gut it, and cut off the head, wings and legs. Fill him full of ice and put it in the cooler.

 

[Jackalous311]

Thanks Bearlodge10 and Fink! Greatly appreciated

 

[JimP]

My best advise to you would be for you to pick up a turkey guide book or download it from the CP&W web site. That way you will know what the regulations are as far as going after a turkey.

http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/turkey.aspx

Now just as a fyi you must leave the beard on the turkey during the spring season but the fall season is a beardless season

 

[Jackalous311]

My best advise to you would be for you to pick up a turkey guide book or download it from the CP&W web site. That way you will know what the regulations are as far as going after a turkey.

http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/turkey.aspx

Now just as a fyi you must leave the beard on the turkey during the spring season but the fall season is a beardless season

Thanks for the info. Yes I've got the guide book and I've read through it. It just doesn't specify HOW to leave the beard on just says you have to.

 

[JimP]

It's like a lot of different animals it need to be naturally attached to the turkey.

On deer and elk the sex organs need to be naturally attached and not just in a meat bag.

They leave it up to the hunter on how he wants to leave it attached. You just can't remove it and then try to sew it back on.