How many birds

[High plains drifter]

Okay, I will ask the obvious question that comes to my mind about those folks that kill outlandish numbers of turkeys.  What do you do with all those birds? 
Are you utilizing all of the meat of those birds yourself? 
Are you just breasting out those birds rather than keeping all of the edible portions? (if not, that is what we around here call "wanton waste",...and is illegal). 
If you are not consuming all those turkeys yourself, are you making sure that each and every one of them is taken care of and consumed,...and if so, how are you confirming that?
If you are jumping from state to state hunting, explain how you take care of the meat of each of those turkeys such that they do not end up being wasted?  Do you constantly eat turkey? 

Now, I'm not condemning anybody that loves to turkey hunt and travel to different places to do it.  However, doing that  also requires an ethical foundation of ensuring that every one of those turkeys killed is properly cared for and consumed.  If you can't definitively state that that is happening, you need to take a close look in the mirror and contemplate what your real motives are for what you are doing.  There reaches a point where the "I'm a great turkey hunter" attitude becomes nothing more than undisciplined bloodlust. 

Again, that is the view from here....

Hey GobbleNut,

In my case most of those birds are other people's tags that they fill when they're with me hunting.


Looked at my "Pre-Covid Year" and put 14 birds down, 6 of those were mine and 8 with others.

The first a Learn to Hunt / That was part of a Chairity Fundraiser Hunt for the Badger Camp #1 & #2

Then our Youth Season I had 3 girls out that weekend and are daughters of my friends. #3, #4, #5

Next was my friend Jen and her 1st Season Bow Bird. #6

I called a bird in for another friend Tad 1 15/16" Spurred Gobbler!! #7

Traveled to another friends farm and he and I doubled up. #8

Then there are the 6 I killed that year.



I "use" most every part of my turkeys!

Yes I do eat a lot of turkey, legs are either made into BBQ "pulled" turkey or I have a friend who makes up Turkey Sausage Sticks

My breasts are smoked, seasoned and bacon wrapped. Grilled and seasoned, or cut up batter dipped and deep fried. Always trying new recipes, this years will be Turkey Smash Burgers

Turkey Tenderloins are on the grill!!

I do also grind up some turkey, add some bacon and package for bbq's, taco, burgers, meat balls (mixed in with venison)

My neighbor loves the heart and gizzard, he gets all of those and I keep hunting his place.



Then of course there is my display/decoy work, I keep all the heads, fans, wings, beards and spurs. I also work out some deals with friends on their turkey parts in trade for display work I do with them.

I keep some feathers for a friend who trout/fly fishes that he wants hackle for.

I lady friend of mine is a traditional archery and she wants any primaries I don't use on displays or decoys and she gets all my secondaries

The I have 2 guys making wing bone calls that I save the Humerus, Ulna & Radius for.

(This year has been rough for me, was plagued with misses & mess ups... Getting better though I tagged my 1st tag have 3 down for the year, should/could have been 7 as of today but that's how some seasons go...)

I agree. There us no good reason to shoot more than 5 per year. Those people will get a karma injection.

MK M GOBL