Hello everyone, I'm going on a 6 day Rio hunt in april on public land 5 hours from home and i was wondering, what do you guys do with your turkey carcasses after you kill one away from home? There's 4 of us going, so carrying the whole bird back home in a cooler could be a problem if we all tag out. At home, i just remove all meat, fan, beard, and spurs and bury the body on my private property but i'm not sure what to do in this case. And i'm guessing it's probably illegal to leave the body on the WMA. Any thoughts? State is Oklahoma.
Find a farmer with a dog? Just a thought
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I have always just thrown mine in a ditch or thick fencerow after I removed the meat, beard and spurs. Coyotes, coons , possum or magnets will take care of the rest.
I'm not sure what Oklahoma requires for transporting birds, but I usually bag up the leftover parts and toss 'em in a dumpster.
I've done both of the above
Quote from: Blong on March 07, 2017, 06:06:52 PM
I have always just thrown mine in a ditch or thick fencerow after I removed the meat, beard and spurs. Coyotes, coons , possum or magnets will take care of the rest.
This right here. Other critters gotta eat.
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Ditch, creek, brush pile or dumpster. Depending on where I clean it.
I used to toss them in the woods on private family land, but I think it's rare that disposal on a WMA is legal regardless if the critters will clean it up. Allowing it turns into a pile of birds by every public land hunting spot. WMAs are typically used by more folks than just hunters and a pile of carcasses for Fido to get into isn't the best message to send. I know it's illegal in CO and MT.
I'd suggest bagging it, as mentioned above, and tossing it in the hotel or campground dumpster where you are staying.
Also, make sure of the state's wanton waist laws. In many states you are required to keep legs, thighs, and breast. MT requires wings be kept also and at least one leg naturally attached to the carcass until at your permanent residence.
Reading the post, I assumed he is more concerned about legally transporting birds.
In California, all birds must have a wing attached to the meat for transport... Breasting a bird is really not an option, and I would guess that carrying whole picked birds with the wings would be space consuming on such a trip...
Currently with my ducks, I have figured out a way to pick them, cut the meat off the breast bone, and cut at the wing-joints, so that the wings are still attached. Without that breast bone in the bird, they take up far less space.
Quote from: Blong on March 07, 2017, 06:06:52 PM
I have always just thrown mine in a ditch or thick fencerow after I removed the meat, beard and spurs. Coyotes, coons , possum or magnets will take care of the rest.
X2
Like others I've always just thrown the carcass in an out-of-the way brushy area. That is legal most of where I hunt. When traveling in other places I have bagged and thrown in dumpster.
Trust me there's enough yotes and they are very happy to clean up your mess. Find a ravine and ditch it preferably away from a road.
Copied from Iowa dnr web page.
Dumping a game carcass in a road ditch or other public property lot creates a nuisance and is subject to enforcement under the littering laws.
I would contact Oklahoma Game dept. and find out the regs., better to know from the rulemakers.
You could just pluck them, and split them down the middle at the breastbone to make them fit in a cooler better. Lotta wasted meat when their breasted out, I use as much of a turkey as I can now (breasted out my share of birds), leg meat is great when braised or taken off the bone and ground up with the thigh meat it makes great burgers or sausage. Bones can be roasted and used to make stock. Just some thoughts.
the fine is super high in NC due to people dumping deer carcasses. Just use good common sense don't toss it beside the parking areas get away from trails and let the yotes do their thing
Quote from: 2eagles on March 08, 2017, 08:59:42 AM
Copied from Iowa dnr web page.
Dumping a game carcass in a road ditch or other public property lot creates a nuisance and is subject to enforcement under the littering laws.
Many states have similar language as does Natinal Forest and BLM.
Just take a shovel along and bury the carcass if legal worms got to eat...pack the rest away in zip lock bags under ice. Just check on line for the game laws before you go...
Quote from: Blong on March 07, 2017, 06:06:52 PM
I have always just thrown mine in a ditch or thick fencerow after I removed the meat, beard and spurs. Coyotes, coons , possum or magnets will take care of the rest.
x2
When in Missouri, our camp members clean the bird, taking breast meat, legs, and sometimes giblets. Usually that takes two large ziplock bags. We label each bag with hunter's name, permit number, confirmation number, bird number(one or two), and bag number. The carcasses are then bagged and put in the campground garbage cans. Tags are left on the cut off lower leg, and kept in camp.
The regs are where you need to look...........Straight from the OK regs:
Identification
Evidence of sex (one leg with foot) or beard
must remain on the bird until it has been checked.
Beards on hens must remain intact and not
removed from the turkey until the bird has
reached its final destination.
Carcass Disposal
No person may dump the carcass of any dead
animal in any well, spring, pond, or stream of
water or leave it within 1/4 mile of any occupied
dwelling or public highway without burying the
carcass in an appropriate manner where it is not
liable to become exposed through erosion of the
soil or where such land is subject to overflow.
I suspect that a shovel for digging won't be allowed on a WMA.