New Mexico Spring Turkey Smack Down

[sgha]

Well living in New Mexico doesn't have too many perks but one of them for sure has got to be OTC turkey tags. Funny though how turkeys seem to quiet down after the season starts. I had several groups of turkeys located before the season started but due to my wife's surgery and work I wasn't able to get out and hunt until yesterday.

 

I picked a spot that had 4 or 5 toms that were hot and heavy, as I made my way up the canyon in the early twilight hours I could not believe that I hadn't heard a gobble. I figured maybe the area had been hunted and that caused the turkeys to quiet down. I was rounding a bend into a big meadow when I saw 4 toms running away from me I quickly gave them some calls on the diaphragm call but to no avail. I did however locate a roost tree that was being used heavily and I made plans to get back ASAP.

 

This afternoon I made it back to the canyon and quickly made my way to the meadow adjacent to the roost tree. I knew that the birds weren't going to be talking so I laid my bet on the fact that the birds would be coming back to roost for the night. I quietly called every 5 minutes and kept my eyes peeled. About 30 minutes of keenly waiting I saw movement to my left. Two toms were entering the meadow about 80 yards away. I gave a few soft clucks and they started strutting and making a B-line in my direction. I had to slightly adjust to my left as they neared but was concealed quite well at the base of a juniper. At 30 yards I let the biggest tom have it with the trusty old Mossberg. Since you can get two tags here in NM I thought about nailing the other tom which didn't seem phased in the least that his buddy was flopping on the ground but decided to prolong the hunt for another day.

 

My only regret is not having anyone to share the moment with, the last turkey i killed was 13 years ago with my Dad and I remember the hooping and hollering and high fives we had. I gave a couple whoops into the wilderness just for good measure and admired the beautiful bird.

 

 

Now like i said it had been a while since i killed a turkey so a quick look on the internet and I was off to plucking. The plucking went with out a hitch, but the gutting my oh my. I didn't realize how stinky the things were on the inside. Then there was the jelly like consistency of the breast. Not sure what that's all about but maybe one of you can fill me in. I decided to cut it all out and stuck the bird in the freezer. Then I felt something on my neck, something like a bug...... WHAT THE HECK TURKEYS HAVE LICE??????? A quick call to my pops and he assured me that they are specific to things with feathers, but tell that to my scalp. Maybe i can get some reassurance from you turkey experts.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

JD

[111]

Sounds like a great hunt! I stopped gutting my birds, I now just cut the meat off the breast. Good luck going after that second bird!

[azpackhorse]

Poultry lice are host specific and cannot be transferred to humans.

New Mexico turkeys whooped my butt last weekend, did find an old 45-70 round and a gob of Apache tears though!

 

Congrats on the bird!

[sgha]

Poultry lice are host specific and cannot be transferred to humans.

Thanks the good lord! Where were you hunting azpackhorse?

[jamaro]

great job...but for some reason I can't see the picture... can you post it again?

jason

[azpackhorse]

sgha,

we hunted south of Reserve and above Steele Flat in unit 15

[Red Rabbit]

The jelly-like breasts would be worrysome.

Can't imagine those NM turkeys having self-esteem problems and having breast augmentation done. Reminds me of the grand champion steer from the Houston livestock show many years ago that was taken to the slaughter afterwards and was found to be "silicone enhanced"

[sgha]

Is the pic working for everyone now?

[ehunt]

no the pic is not working...but congrats!!

[matthewp45]

That jelly like consistency is pretty common. It is like a slick layer between the skin and feathers. If you skin the bird instead of plucking it you will definetly run into it. I skinned mine this year and soaked it in buttermilk. Then I seasoned it and put it in the crockpot in chicken broth all day. In the evening I shreded it and made fried folded tacos and sonora rolled tacos with beans, rice and salsa. Man it was tasty.

[Coach]

Congrats, Josh!

If I had known you were hunting solo I would've come over and kept you company. Shoot me the pix if you want and I'll try to repost them.

 

J

[Coues 'n' Sheep]

Not to hyjack the thread... but Hurry up with the Pics, man!!!!

 

Also, I learned a Fantastic turkey bird recipe while in Texas......

 

1.....Filet the breast meat off of the bird

 

2.....Soak the breast meat in Salt water over night (optional) if at all bloody

 

3.....Slice the large "filets" across the grain into 1"x 2" strips. (Strips will be about 4"- 6" in length)

 

4.....Put the Strips of meat in a large zip-loc and add a marinade of your choosing (Grille Mate is what I used)

 

5.... Slice fresh Jalapeños length ways and remove all the seeds leaving 4 "peddles"

 

6.....1 lb of bacon.... Wrap the breast strips and the Jalapeño peddles (2-4 per) with two bacon strips (on the longer pieces 1 one the smaller) and fasten with toothpicks.

 

7......Flop them on the Grill (low heat) and turn them regularly (so they don't burn). Cook until the strips "firm-up" and the bacon is crispy.

 

8..... Serve with Ranch Beans or Pasta of your choosing and everyone at the table will rant about what a Bad A$$ cook you are!!

 

Everyone over here thought I was body-snatched by a 5 Star Chef or something!!!! It was by far the best wild turkey meal I have eaten...... and no Jelly Stuff....

 

CnS

[Coach]

Let's try this...