Ok,
1st I got lucky Saturday and bagged a gobbler. Not very big, but had a 5-1/2 inch beard along with a 2nd 2" beard which I didn't know it had until after the fact. Being almost end of season, I took him.
Anyways, he was about 10-12 yards away when I got a clear shot. Too close, almost missed him. Pattern didn't open up much yet, so I think I just got him on the fringe of the pattern. His head was bobbing and weaving. Bird went down with what looked like multiple head hits to the head when I approached. A direct hit, should have "taken his head off". He then proceeded with flopping and flipping, obviously not going anywhere, but I was prepared should he "revive".
Took at least 3-4 minutes for him to expire. I really didn't like seeing him flopping around for so long, didn't want to shoot again, knew he was "dead", but prefer my shot animals to succumb quickly.
I've seen lots of videos of this, with most people just picking up the flopping bird and waiting for him to expire.
This is the only part of the hunt I didn't like. What would be the ethical and proper thing to do in this situation? I really don't want to club him to death with repeated blows to the head.
Thanks,
Harold
Just take your foot and place it over his head to pin him down until he expires ...
If his head isn't up and looking around, i just let him flop. He's dead.
Congratulations on a late season bird! What you witnessed is not uncommon. As you probably know a decapitated chicken may appear to be alive for a couple of minutes, large birds must have a nervous system very different from mammals. Be mindful of the spurs first and foremost. Personally in that situation I step firmly on its neck, close to the body so that the gobbler can not contact me with its spurs. It may be unaware but still could do damage with its hooks. Certainly there is no need to shoot again in the situation that you described. Again, congratulations. jperch
While I've stood on the head while it is still flopping, I'm not sure this has speeded up the process to stop it. I'm of the opinion that the bird is really dead and it's muscle contractions that are at work in making the turkey flop. I've seen a chicken with it's head cut off running around the yard, so I can understand that a dead bird can still be doing things that makes it appear that it's still alive. Now, while the bird is still flopping, I gather up my decoys, etc. and usually when I'm done with that, the gobbler is motionless.
Quote from: stinkpickle on May 26, 2015, 08:54:28 AM
If his head isn't up and looking around, i just let him flop. He's dead.
^^^
I agree with this. I sometimes step on their head if I feel it's necessary but usually let them flop it out if I know for sure they are dead. Grabbing them is too risky with those Sharp spurs flying around.
Quote from: stinkpickle on May 26, 2015, 08:54:28 AM
If his head isn't up and looking around, i just let him flop. He's dead.
:agreed:
Quote from: Greg Massey on May 26, 2015, 08:53:32 AM
Just take your foot and place it over his head to pin him down until he expires ...
I get that big ole #12 boot right on his neck, get down on him and hold his wings next to his body real tight. Never know which one you want to mount, keeps em nice for that.
If his eyes aren't open and blinking, he's more than likely dead. They appear to be alive due to leftover nervous/muscle contractions.
If his eyes are open and blinking or his head is up, I do whatever I can to help him along. I'll get a hold on BOTH legs. If you can control BOTH legs, they can't get at ya' with those hooks. A quick rap to the head with a stout stick will send him on his way...
I HATE to see an animal suffer, esp. if I'm the one who caused it so I take my chances with the spurs. That said, I've killed a lot of chickens and domestic turkeys so I have a fair idea how to handle them...
If you don't feel confident of avoiding the spurs, get a rock or a stick, whatever to keep him from suffering.
As others have said, just leave him alone...he's dead and it's due to a bird's nervous system being different. A lot of times he won't go to wing flapping but you'll observe his legs just twitching. Don't grab them because then he'll go to thrashing and wing flapping! Good way to get spur cuts.
If I do anything it is stand on the neck being sure to cut off air.
I pin em down get a boot on their neck all that flapping can mess the feathers up or break a bunch in the tail fan.
foot on da head everytime. im not taking a chance on letting him recover. I have seen birds flip and flop , recover and take off like a scalded cat.
A friend and long time turkey hunter once told me and I quote " the game is not over until you have your foot on his neck."
Congrats on your bird. I used to just do the "foot on the head" thing, but over the past several years I have started with that and then moved on to getting his wings under control and getting the bird on his breast or better yet getting the bird on his side where I can then get a knee on him and use my weight to control him. Using your knee and your weight takes the fight out of them fairly quickly - imagine something 8 or 10 times your weight on your chest. Once you get him in this situation it doesn't take long and it gives you a few seconds to get yourself composed and give thanks for all that just occurred.
Flopping around typically results in feathers everywhere and a really wet bird if shot early in the morning. Makes for much better pictures after the harvest if you can get the bird controlled.
about 5 years ago I shot a nice tom in Nebraska in the head. No doubt he wasn't going to go anywhere, - but he was doing the post - mortem floppage routine when another tom sounded off a couple hundred yards off. My buddy wanted to move on that bird, so I told him to go for it. He wanted me to come along and decided he was going to try to wring the flopper's neck. He picked him up, and gave him a good swing and that tom gave another good kick, landing it square in my buddy's groin. Dropped him to his knees and landed on top of the bird who kept kicking, landing several more shots to the sensitive parts.
Still the funniest thing I have ever seen while turkey hunting.
Needless to say, I let 'em flop.
Grab them by both legs and hold on, boot to the head while doing that and he won't mess up to many feathers.
Put the foot on the head.
I agree with stink, if his head's down he's dead , just nervous system don't know it yet. If it makes you feel better step on his head. When you feel the skull pop you know its done.
I wouldn't worry about the flopping. Have you ever butchered chickens? As a kid, we would go to my grandfathers to butcher chickens every year. We'd cut the heads off and toss em in the yard to flop. Can't get much deader than with no head. But they still flopped for a few minutes.
I usually grab them by the neck and hold them off of the ground. They don't flop like that. There have been times I have put my foot on there head but they tend to flop a while...
If a gobbler is for-sure dead and motionless when I shoot him, I leave him alone. Often if you grab a motionless bird right after shooting him, his reflexes will kick in and he will then flop like crazy.
I hate flopping birds because they can lose or damage a bunch of feathers. I try to minimize that by grabbing them as quickly as possible and pinning them firmly to the ground until they stop.
If you are possibly going to mount a gobbler, you need to do whatever it takes to subdue a flopping bird, but you don't want to step on the neck below the feather line. Doing that will usually result in some serious damage to the feathers in that area.
If he is dead and you don't care about any of that stuff, then just let him flop.
Quote from: Greg Massey on May 26, 2015, 08:53:32 AM
Just take your foot and place it over his head to pin him down until he expires ...
I concur. I also grab the legs while his head is under my foot and give a good tug to break the neck in order to speed up the expiration process.
Don't let your buddy run up and step on the tail fan! I shot a nice double beard that probably would've gone to the taxidermist had that not happened.
I just stand on there head as well .there head breaks very easy under foot ,Dutch
Quote from: CT Spur Collector on May 26, 2015, 09:39:50 AM
Quote from: Greg Massey on May 26, 2015, 08:53:32 AM
Just take your foot and place it over his head to pin him down until he expires ...
I get that big ole #12 boot right on his neck, get down on him and hold his wings next to his body real tight. Never know which one you want to mount, keeps em nice for that.
That's what I do...learned that from CT. Last thing you want is that guy getting up and running down through the woods...been there done that!!!
Quote from: HFultzjr on May 26, 2015, 08:41:10 AM
Ok,
1st I got lucky Saturday and bagged a gobbler. Not very big, but had a 5-1/2 inch beard along with a 2nd 2" beard which I didn't know it had until after the fact. Being almost end of season, I took him.
Anyways, he was about 10-12 yards away when I got a clear shot. Too close, almost missed him. Pattern didn't open up much yet, so I think I just got him on the fringe of the pattern. His head was bobbing and weaving. Bird went down with what looked like multiple head hits to the head when I approached. A direct hit, should have "taken his head off". He then proceeded with flopping and flipping, obviously not going anywhere, but I was prepared should he "revive".
Took at least 3-4 minutes for him to expire. I really didn't like seeing him flopping around for so long, didn't want to shoot again, knew he was "dead", but prefer my shot animals to succumb quickly.
I've seen lots of videos of this, with most people just picking up the flopping bird and waiting for him to expire.
This is the only part of the hunt I didn't like. What would be the ethical and proper thing to do in this situation? I really don't want to club him to death with repeated blows to the head.
Thanks,
Harold
Pick em up by the neck and throw em over my shoulder to they're done
If a bird is a trophy to me, I shoot it. If not, I don't. If it flops after I shoot it, I stand on its head until it stops. If it blinks at me, I say, "Thanks." and interrupt operation of its CNS with blade or butt stroke as seems fitting.
Next time one gets in close, aim lower or let him walk further away.
Step on his neck till he stops flapping, usually over quickly. Would never shoot him again unless he was up and running faster than me.
I usually put a LaCrosse bootheel to the head...or a chokehold to the neck if it's personal!!! :goofball:
Hill country, grab him by the head til he gets the flop out of him, flat country, don't touch him unless he starts to flop. If he does, just pick him up by the head and carry on. Just hold his back towards you if he has some hooks.
I have always enjoyed the flop. If one doesn't flop, I will touch him to get him started unless gravity is likely to flop him into water. I hate a wet turkey.
If hes flopping I grab both of this legs and pick him up while trying to step on his head. Not becuase I'm worried about him going any where but becuase I dont want him messing up his feathers.