Turkey Beards

[gregpr@att.net]

I seem to recall hearing, reading, seeing something that suggest you can remove a turkey beard by grabbing the beard at its base and , with a quick jerk, pull the beard off of the breast. Have you heard the same thing or is this foolish?

[spurman]

I never done it myself but have seen it done, friend just pulled it right out.

[captin_hook]

Even if it works, I wouldn't try it. I just use my knife.

[guesswho]

It's not what I do but it works.  And make sure the turkeys dead first.

[DoubleGobble123]

It can be done.  Pinch the skin at the base of the beard and work your fingers between the base of the beard and the breast.  Once your fingers are firmly gripped behind the root of the beard, you should be able to grab the beard where it meets the skin and pull it from the bird.

[drenalinld]

I do it a lot. Jerking may break strands or separate the top. Grasp it firmly at the base, pull it away from the turkey and tilt it toward the turkeys head or feet and give your wrist a twist it will come off without any meat. This is great because there is nothing to cure or stink while it dries, however it is not as durable as it would be if you cut off a little meat with it and cure the meat with salt to make the beard more durable.

[Hhayes6]

I was always told If you yank it off over the years they fall apart. I always leave the smallest piece of meat and let it cure in borax for several weeks.

[gregpr@att.net]

Thanx to everyone for your answers.

[jblackburn]

That's how I do it and I have never had a problem with one falling apart.  I cure mine in salt after I pull it out.

[TN Beard Buster]

I do it on every bird I harvest! The beard is nothing more than a modified feather! I take mine and put in the shotgun shell I shot it with and squirt hot glue in there! I have about a dozen beards in my truck that are still holding up very well!

[longbeard56]

That's the only way I do it. A firm pinch just behind the fleshy base of the beard and pull it. Comes right out.

[BrowningGuy88]

I personally cut mine off while I have the bird hung for skinning the breast out, but hey what ever works...

[Onpoint]

I used to just pull em out, and I had a lot of my beards rot and fall apart over time. Now I cut em out, leaving just a little meat on there and I cure it with borax. After the meat is cured I'll take a hot glue gun an put a little dab over the cured meat. This has worked well for me. The hot glue probably isn't necessary but after losing a bunch of beards I don't take any chances now. When letting your beards cure be sure and have them in a place where mice can't get to them, another lesson I had to learn the hard way.

[Gooserbat]

That's how I do it.  Then I cure with borax and dip it in epoxy. 

[archery1]

how long does it take to cure with borax ?