Once you have taken a gobbler, the next dilemma is what to do about it. Turkey, like all poultry meats, is fragile and prone to spoilage. This is particularly true in the warm temperatures of late spring turkey seasons. Field dress the bird immediately. Make a circular cut around the anal vent, being careful not to sever the intestine. Now the entire entrail system may be carefully pulled out. Next, enlarge the opening and reach up to pull out the liver, heart, gizzard and lungs. (The liver and heart are great eating; wild turkey gizzards are very tough.) Finally, cut the trachea and esophagus as high as you can reach. You are working by feel so be careful not to cut yourself. With the body cavity cleaned out, insert a sturdy, empty plastic bag. Next drop ice into the bag until the cavity is filled. This starts the cooling process from the inside out. The bird is now ready for the trip home.

For wild turkeys, the set-up or blind location is just as important as it is for trophy bucks. Basically the set-up must be where a gobbler is willing to come and with an acceptable travel route to it. Ideally, it should be in a place where the gobbler is accustomed to being. Turkeys can be called downhill, but they seem to prefer to stay on their same level or walk uphill in mountainous terrain. Hunter concealment is critical. Some carry pruning snips to set up a natural blind while others use commercial blinds. Either one is a good idea and decoys can be a great help. Being ready to shoot also is critical. Be prepared to shoot with a minimum of movement when the gobbler shows up. The "90-degree rule" is for right handers to point their left shoulder toward the area where the bird is expected. For bowhunters, a blind helps cover the necessary movement of drawing the bow.

The tremendous rebound of the wild turkey population, nationwide, is the result of good work by various state wildlife agencies and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). The result is that today we enjoy excellent wild turkey populations and have turkey hunting in 49 of the 50 states. Another result is that many people have become devoted gobbler chasers. The downside is that there are lots of turkey hunters out there and the hunting can be quite competitive. The wise turkey hunter doesn't fight the crowd. To avoid hard-hunted, call-shy gobblers, avoid the most popular public lands, well-known counties or other publicized wild turkey hotspots. Remember, it only takes one hot gobbler to have a great hunt and low density turkey populations can offer quality hunting experiences. Wild turkeys are great wanderers and pioneers of new country. Concentrate on the "fringe" areas, adjacent to established turkey range but not yet well known. Get ahead of the crowd to enjoy undisturbed turkey hunting for undisturbed wild gobblers.

When asked what type of call they use for turkey hunting, most experienced hunters will tell you that they prefer the one that works! Each type of call has its own advantages. The diaphragm is the leading contest call and very popular for hunting. A well-practiced caller, with the proper diaphragm, can make any sound a turkey can make -- usually better than the turkey. Plus the diaphragm can be used in any type of weather. However, the other call types have a lot going for them. The traditional box call is easy to use and has great volume but is easy to use softly as well. Plus turkeys really like the box. The slate, glass, crystal and aluminum calls can "do it all". Their strong point is that they are unexcelled at purrs and clucks. The tube call is really just an external diaphragm and can do about anything a diaphragm can. The old-time wingbone type is a bit hard to use but works great on call-shy gobblers.

Bowhunters who take on wild turkeys face a lot of hunting challenges. One is recovering the turkey after the shot. Unlike deer, turkeys don't succumb immediately to shock and they don't leave good blood trails. Proper point selection is a great help. There are two schools of thought on arrows for gobblers. Some hunters use traditional broadhead types. Often they might increase the number of blades to increase cutting surface or they might include some type of "shock stopping" device to prevent over-penetration. Others opt for the "trick" mechanical heads that fly open, offering great cutting surface and reduced penetration. These require a rather powerful bow to drive them in at a proper velocity for their best operation. Either way, the goal is to deliver devastating initial impact into the gobbler's vital area. Even so, the turkey hunting bowhunter should wait for the very vital shot and carefully watch the bird after the shot for the best chance of recovery.