Hey fellas, Blaine here again with another beginner question.

Just thinking of this while reading this evening.

I will be hunting Spring for the first time for turkey. I have a good grasp on how to clean the bird, but being in IL it could possibly be around 50-60 degrees, how do I go about the bird prior to cleaning? Cooler with ice, just in the back of the truck on the way home, etc.

Thanks

Depends on how far home is and where you go before hand. If its less than 4 hours it doesn't much matter. Heck longer even. If you are hunting, then going to work and its hot outside... cooler with ice works grand.

I have a fridge in the garage for just such events. Keeps birds great.

Optomistic, ain't he?

Out of the sun with lots of air.

Thanks fellas. I got a family friend who is going to help me clean it up (if I get one). I will be driving 45 minutes so it should be alright in the back of the truck, under the tool box in shade? Thanks!

Ya id say a cooler. Keep it cold however you can.

It will be fine in the back of the truck, for the drive home. I've done it that way for years and I've never had a problem. Best of luck to you.

Cooler with ice an i will fill the cavity of the bird with ice also if i need to travel far to get home

MrGobbler

I have a six hour drive home from Missouri and when I kill one there and I hurry up and get on the road I put the bird in a trash bag and put ice on it. Then when I stop for gas a few hours down the road I replace the bag of ice with a new one. Ive never had any problems with the meat going bad.

Breast them out. Fast and IMO the only edible part of a wild turkey.