How to Field Dress a Turkey

Wild Turkey

Turkey hunting can provide both a recreational activity and a tasty meal. Unfortunately, meat can spoil or develop a bad taste if not cared for properly. If you plan on eating your turkey, proper field dressing is essential. Field dressing a bird prevents the meat from spoiling or being contaminated by wounds potentially sustained during the kill.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp field knife
• Rags
• Fresh, clean water
• Cooler full of ice
• 2 Large plastic bags

Instructions

1. Place the turkey on its back. Using your fingers, locate the tip of the turkey's breast plate. This will be in between the birds legs where the breast narrows. Insert the knife just below this tip and cut to the anal vent. This cut should go through the bird's skin only.

2. Carefully pull the opening you made apart until you can slip your hand in between the turkey's intestines and back. Hold the large intestine with one hand while cutting a complete circle around the vent with your other hand. This will free the large intestine from the bird. Care should be taken not to rupture the intestines, stomach, or crop as this can foul the meat.

3. Place your hand inside the turkey and grab the lungs, liver, and heart. As you gently pull these organs out of the body, the intestines should come out also. If organs or intestines are left in the bird after you pull out the organs, simply re-insert your hand into the bird and remove them. Again, care should be taken not to rupture the intestines, stomach, or crop.

4. After the organs have been successfully removed, lift the turkey by the neck. Hold the turkey's neck where the skin meets the feathers and make a vertical cut along the neck. Reach a finger into the cut to remove the windpipe, esophagus, and crop of the bird.

5. Pick up the turkey and allow any remaining blood to drain from the bird. Use a clean rag to wipe out any excess blood inside the body cavity, and rinse the cavity with fresh, clean water.

6. Finally, in order to preserve the meat, be sure to fill the turkey's body cavity with ice. Place the ice-filled turkey in a large plastic bag to transport.

Tips & Warnings

• Although skinning is faster and less messy than plucking, some hunters prefer to cook a turkey with the skin on. If you prefer this cooking method, you should pluck the bird prior to dressing.

• When field dressing a turkey or any other game, please do not leave the organs and other waste behind for other hunters to find. Place waste in a plastic bag and dispose of it properly.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Turkey Hunting Supplies
• Turkey Hunting Tips
• Turkey Hunting Safety Tips