Field dressing a turkey

Turkeys are some of the best tasting game birds we hunt. The key to eliminating any “gaminess” in the meat is to take proper care of it in the field.

After your shot, you’ll want to field dress your bird as quickly as possible. The goal is to cool the bird down by removing its internal organs and allowing air to circulate in the body cavity.

Gutting a turkey

All you need to gut a turkey is a simple pocket knife. Cut through the thin skin of the stomach from the bottom of the breastbone to the anus. Keep your cut shallow to avoid cutting into the internal organs. Open the body cavity by pulling the legs and thighs back and away from the breast muscles.

Next, grab the gizzard and remove it followed by a handful of other organs. Be sure to remove every bit of the lungs. They sit against the back, beneath a subcutaneous tissue that holds them tightly against the ribs and spine. You’ll need to use your fingertip or fingernail to get between the ribs and under the lungs, so you can fully remove them.

Remove the heart and lower intestinal tract. If you want to save the heart, liver and gizzard put it them a sealable bag and get them in a cooler. Last, remove the trachea and esophagus. You might need to give them a good yank.

Once the body cavity is empty, let it air dry. Don’t rinse it with water as that will promote bacteria growth. If you need to rinse away some blood, be sure to blot the turkey dry when you’re done.

If you want to do any further butchering in the field, remember Oregon bird hunting regulations require at least the head or one fully-feathered wing remain attached to the turkey while in field or during transport.

Getting your turkey back home or to camp

When carrying your turkey to your car or camp, avoid dropping or tossing the bird – this can bruise the meat and compromise its quality. If you’re not going directly home but will continue hunting with a partner, hang your gutted and tagged bird by the neck in a cool, shady area.

Have a cooler and ice in your car to keep the turkey cool on the drive home. It takes a big cooler to hold a tom turkey, so plan ahead. Put a bag of ice inside the body cavity to help cool it down. Don’t pack loose ice in or around the bird. The melting ice will get wet the bird you’re trying to keep dry.