How to clean Turkey??

[goldenboy_105]

I am new to Turkey hunting have just started to dig into the specifics. When you kill a bird, how to you clean/gut it??? Also what is the best way to de-feather the bird?

[dpv]

Havn't done it myself, but a coworker of mine nails the bird to a gree by the neck. Cuts thru the skin about at the shoulder blades, basicly pull the skin off, cuts away the breast meat, and cuts off the legs without busting the guts open. Havn't been successful in killing a turkey......YET. I'll let you know when I get one.

David

[whiskeysnoot]

I don't completely clean and skin a bird anymore. I breast them out and cut off the drumsticks. Just split the skin up the center of the breast, peel the skin back to expose the entire breast, and slice two halves from the breastbone. I have found that a long slender knife, like a fishing filet knife, works best. Just start at the center of the breastbone, cut straight down, and follow the contour of the bone. All birds are constructed the same so you can practice on smaller birds (dove, ducks, etc.). Cutting the breast halves off like this gives you many more cooking options and is easier to handle.