In order to be a successful turkey hunter, there are some things you should avoid doing. Every hunter is bound to make some mistakes while in the woods, but here are some of the few things that you should generally steer clear of in order to be a successful turkey hunter.

Avoid Standing Up to Verify the Turkey’s Location

It can be hard on the body to be bent over or kneeling, but this is the only way to remain camouflaged from the birds during hunting. Many beginners make the mistake of stretching or standing up to check the turkey’s exact whereabouts. But no matter how carefully you think you are operating, always resist the urge to stand up when a bird is moving in your direction.

The Early Bird Gets the Turkey

One of the biggest mistakes that any hunter, novice or otherwise, will make is to sleep in late. Although turkeys are up and about during all waking hours, any experienced turkey hunter will tell you that the crack of dawn is the only time that you can expect to make a big score. The most exciting hunting is always in the early morning hours. Rising early can make all the difference between a successful or a disappointing hunt.

Don’t Give Up Just Yet

Another common mistake that many hunters make during a turkey hunt is to leave too soon. The early risers who abandon the hunt after 9 a.m. may experience a bad hunt, just as the latecomers make experience a bad hunt. Although it can be frustrating to experience many near-hits during a very early morning hunt, it can pay off to stick around long enough to encounter more birds.

Getting Too Close to Birds on the Roost

This is a common mistake because it can be very tempting to get too close to the roost, especially if you spot many birds on the limbs. As a general rule, however, you will get a better shot if you are able to get near a tree full of roosted birds without being detected. You are more likely to get a clear shot when the birds fly down. However, you don’t want to get too close to the birds on the roost, especially if you are hunting very early in the morning. As you tiptoe through the darkened woods, the roosting birds may merely become a dark blur of shapes flying from the trees. When you flush a flock of birds from the trees, you may not only miss a clear shot from the chaos of fleeing birds, you may also inadvertently cause a commotion that alerts other nearby flocks. This can cause a flush of turkeys from the area, making it very difficult to get a good shot in the area.

Calling the Turkeys Too Long

This can happen when the hunter gets carried away with his own calls. Many turkey hunters enjoy honing and practicing their own turkey calls. Calling too long may actually be counterproductive in that it can cause the turkeys to spot you. A call should be just long enough to get birds in the area. But when you sense a bird approaching your setup, stop calling. Otherwise, the turkey may notice the caller and flee.

Not Dressing in Layers

Not wearing the suitable clothes for a turkey hunt can certainly cause a problem. Many turkey hunters tend to under-dress for the hunt. This is a mistake. Prepare yourself for the elements and you will be more apt to experience a successful hunt. The general guideline here is to dress in layers, and don’t forget the rain gear.

There are numerous ways to pluck wild fowl, and nearly every experienced hunter has his or her own preferred method. One of the most popular methods of plucking wild fowl involves cleaning the wild turkey by plucking all the feathers off, and the gutting the bird afterwards. This method allows for the skin to remain on the turkey, which many preparers prefer because they say it gives the turkey more moisture and flavor when it is cooked. This method also allows you to save the giblets—the gizzard, heart and liver—of the bird and use these to make a traditional turkey graver after it has been cooked.

Why it is Preferable to Pluck the Turkey Before Removing the Entrails

The main reason why you want to remove the feathers from the turkey before removing the entrails is that it helps to keep the inside of the bird cavity clean. In general, the entire process is cleaner if you do it this way. However, if you are accustomed to field dressing your wild fowl kill, you should not worry about plucking the feathers. Instead, be certain to rinse out the bird cavity in order to remove any feathers that may have gotten inside during the plucking process.

Tips and Hints for Plucking Your Wild Fowl

Did you know that wild turkeys have over 5,000 feathers on them? In general, wild fowls are often prized for their plumage. One of the easiest and most treasured ways of plucking wild fowl is to dip the bird in hot water. There are many thoughts on the ideal temperature for using this method. Many people swear that dipping the bird in water at a temperature of exactly 140 degrees is the most efficacious way to remove its plumage. Others believe that any level of boiling water will work just as well. Whatever method you choose, it has been proven that the bird’s feathers will be removed much easier if you dip the bird in hot water. Wild fowl also becomes much easier to handle if the feathers are damp. Otherwise, plumage has been known to fly and drift around the room. The best method for dipping a bird in hot water is to use a large washtub where you can fit the entirety of the bird. There are certain areas of the bird where the plumage is more difficult to remove. The primary wing feathers, which are quite large, often pose a problem for people. Many people opt for removing the wing in order to avoid problems with those large feathers. You can remove the primary wing by moving it past the first joint at the shoulder.

Removing the Legs from the Bird

One of the most important steps in preparing wild fowl comes when it is time to remove the legs. The final step is to remove the entrails. You do this by gutting the bird after removing the feathers. This process is similar to what you would do while field dressing. However, this process is more complete as you often remove the head as well, using a hatchet, cleaver or large knife. However, some people follow tradition and save the neck, which can be cooked in a stockpot. Other parts that are often saved include the giblets, which include the heart, gizzard and liver. Most everyone knows what the heart and liver accomplish, but the gizzard is less well understood. The gizzard is the part of the bird that allows it to grind up its food. In order to use the gizzard, you will want to open it up and clean it out thoroughly. Once clean, you can cook or freeze your wild fowl.