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Wild Turkey 2019


ANYFISH2

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Season is less than a month away, just started seeing some birds this week after "warmer" weather has arrived.

 

What is everyone else seeing as far bird numbers and where are they hanging out?

 

Hoping the winter hasnt been to rough on them and they are happy to play with us this spring.

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A friend was shed hunting this weekend and claimed to see 'dozens' of them in conifer areas. I haven't personally seen many lately but they don't spend much time on the lakes like I do. Lots of wily coyotes in my area too.

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  • Official Fishing Report Team - MN

Been seeing a fair amount on my propertys. Food sources have been keys lately espically open corn and manure spreads. Great to see as they needed a break. 

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Seeing lots of birds turkey ? time

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Been seeing a lot near food lots and corn fields.   With the fields starting to open up turkeys, deer and pheasants have been hitting the freshly exposed ground. 

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None for me yet but I’ve pretty much just been going back and forth from work or been on 371.  Been looking anyway though.

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I have not seen any, but I am not out in the country much yet. I need the snow to drop quite aways before I can get back to most of my spots.

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A group of 3 small Jakes were out and about this morning.  Not very big birds at all.

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Good friend found several dead birds on his farm near Ellsworth, WI, an area that I hunt hard.  He's got me worried.  I'm certain that rain then wet snow we had a couple weeks ago was the culprit.  That being said, I'm still seeing a bunch in the areas around home.

 

With 5 tags in three states, I don't remember the last time I've been this excited about an upcoming season.

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Sounds like a great season is on tap for you Don!  You’ll find the birds.

 

I located a flock of 5 toms over the weekend in a confined area.  Thinking it was a good score, I found out later that the landowner is planning to hunt em for the first time this year.  With his bow...  might have to look elsewhere after all.

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Last year’s spot will likely be my fall back spot, along with maybe checking in at that other place you mentioned before.  The good news is I just heard today the birds appear to be doing well at last year’s spot.

 

The “new” spot is a property that we seem to have “limited” permission on.

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Gotcha.

If you need a scout out this way,  just let me know.

 

Spotted 6 more this afternoon right near the house.  They usually dont show hear till mid season.

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Just now, Wanderer said:

I wouldn’t turn it down.  That and another burger stop. ?  

 

Is hockey done now?

Sort of!!?

 

Spring hockey practice starts April 8th.  5-6 practices for the month only.  BUT,

...April means the start of Travel and JVL baseball as well.  

 

It is turkey season(scouting anyway),  I can work around athletics!

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Now that a bunch of posters are on this thread, I'd like to know what ya'll do with your wild turkey after you harvest one.  I've tagged 8 wild turkeys in 15 seasons and I simply have not found a great way to prepare/cook one.  I took one to our venison processor about 5 years ago because he said he would smoke it for me, but I had to leave the skin on it, so I had to pluck that thing.  It took me over 2 hours to pluck it!  So ya, I aint doing that again even though it tasted decent.  I've tried baking, grilling, and crock pot.  All with different items in it and marinates ahead of time and its just not very good no matter what I do.  Last year I gave it away.  Its never downright inedible (like a goose), its just not very good.  Any suggestions?  I don't have a deep fryer and I don't have a smoker so those are not options.

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  • Official Fishing Report Team - MN

I have had it smoked, done appetizers, made turkey pot pies , ground into turkey burgers but my favorite is country style smoked ring sausage. I take it to my local venison processor after butchering it. He grinds it up into ring sausage adding some pork to it and smokes it in rings. This stuff is great easy to cook grill have it for breakfast lunch or supper. Just a FYI you can smoke it without plucking. I have smoked the breast meat in cheese cloth and it worked just fine. 

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We have:

Deep fryed- My favorite way, again plucking to leave skin on is best.

 

Slow cook/crockpot- most common method. I dont like plucking either this is easier.

 

Smoked- Tastes great but can get away on you and become dry.  Skin is best.

 

The key I have found is a good injection marinade.  I really like Creole butter cajun injector.  I will inject the entire jar.  Let sit overnight and cook,fry, or smoke.

I really enjoy wild turkey.

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4 hours ago, gimruis said:

 I don't have a deep fryer and I don't have a smoker so those are not options.

 

Those are the only 2 options I consider when thinking about wild turkey.  With injecting marinade.

 

You could cube it, marinade and grill it also.  Ive had Donbo’s done that way in the past and it was good.

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6 hours ago, gimruis said:

Now that a bunch of posters are on this thread, I'd like to know what ya'll do with your wild turkey after you harvest one.  I've tagged 8 wild turkeys in 15 seasons and I simply have not found a great way to prepare/cook one.  I took one to our venison processor about 5 years ago because he said he would smoke it for me, but I had to leave the skin on it, so I had to pluck that thing.  It took me over 2 hours to pluck it!  So ya, I aint doing that again even though it tasted decent.  I've tried baking, grilling, and crock pot.  All with different items in it and marinates ahead of time and its just not very good no matter what I do.  Last year I gave it away.  Its never downright inedible (like a goose), its just not very good.  Any suggestions?  I don't have a deep fryer and I don't have a smoker so those are not options.

 

Chunk up the breasts (approx  3" long x 1" wide). Marinate in Italian dressing overnight. Wrap each chunk in bacon and grill till done.  Try not to over cook them though, might be best to start on a hot grill to crisp up the bacon, then throttle it back to finish.  

 

As for the thighs and legs, it's best to slow cook in some chicken broth for 8-12 hrs, then remove, let cool, shred the meat off all the bones and remove all the tendons (kind of a pain, but not too bad and WAY worth it).  This meat can be used for tacos/burritos, or my favorite is to toss back into crock pot with some of the broth, toss in a block of Velvetta cheese and some sour cream and let it get all gooey and yummy.  Serve on a warm hard roll with some a hot pepper mix. Cheesy turkey sammiches! 

Edited by BRULEDRIFTER
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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

I smoked one a few years ago on my old smoker and it turned out pretty nice. Smoke with water under it and keep it basted and wrap it in foil the last hour or so if your worried about it drying out. Only did the breast since it's the only thing worth eating!  ?

10349899_1524589404455716_4794789310565800697_n.jpg

Edited by leech~~
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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

I cube it fry in bacon grease and and make it into a wild rice hot dish 

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For me the best is to smoke it. I can drop the whole bird off at a local processor. I am not required to butcher or anything. Usually done in 3-4 weeks. I have heard good things of baking it with the bag method but I have not tried that yet.

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On 3/27/2019 at 5:01 PM, leech~~ said:

Only did the breast since it's the only thing worth eating!  ?

10349899_1524589404455716_4794789310565800697_n.jpg

 

This is SO not true. Please don't waste those legs and thighs. There's a lot of good meat there. Crock-Pot them till fall apart tender, use for tacos, enchiladas, burritos.  Use for soups or stews or my favorite, pot pies.

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Our favorite way of preparing the breast (outside of smoking) is to cut each half breast into 4-6 large pieces, roll in flower/bread crumbs, brown well in butter. Add a can of cream of mushroom to a baking pan, add the breast pieces along with potato chunks, carrots, green beans, anything you like. Cover and bake at 250-350 depending on how much time you have, till tender. Enjoy.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

I saw a group of Jakes today must been 30 or more of the run across highway 95

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The open fields and pastures have made good progress for melting the snow. Some bare spots on the hill tops. Still 2' of snow in the woods but with this warmer forecast I think we will be in good shape by the opener in 2 weeks. I don't have anything scouted yet but will try to get out soon.

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  • Official Fishing Report Team - MN

Looking good around hear been hearing them gobbling on there roosts early morning and once on the ground the hens also have been very vocal makes scouting a lot easier. Still a little amount of snow left in woods in spots but fields are nice and muddy making looking for tracks and  activity very easy. Still seeing bigger wintering flocks but a few warm days will have them breaking up. 

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I cook skinned turkey in an oven bag with a couple apples in body cavity. The key is to not overcook. About an hour less than a domestic turkey. Use a meat thermometer.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Kettle
      Walked today and yesterday, flushed 9, shot at two and got two. Hopefully next year I'll have a dog to hunt with. Still warm up here, skim of ice on ponds. Weather has been nice. Hopefully walk a bit more the next few weeks. Been pretty cautious walking for birds to not interfere with deer hunters. There sure are not the deer hunters there used to be 
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus for many this week is the ongoing deer hunting season which is a big tradition in these parts, even for avid walleye anglers.  There were some that either already harvested their deer or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting.     Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake.  Cold weather is in the forecast in the upcoming days and weeks so that is also getting many excited. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water.     Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch.  Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters.    Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well.  Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes.      There are good numbers of walleyes and saugers across the south shore which is setting up nicely for early ice.   On the Rainy River...  There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well.     Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river.  Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river.   Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong.  The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle...  As temps are getting colder, most are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent.     A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days.  Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands.  Both casting and trolling is getting it done.  
    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
    • Wanderer
      20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.   I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.
    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
    • 11-87
      That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both   One for turkey and one for deer.      I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better
    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
      Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.   More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.   There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.   Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.     If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.   If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 
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