Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: Yooper on May 06, 2012, 08:46:46 AM

Title: Weighing a turkey
Post by: Yooper on May 06, 2012, 08:46:46 AM
If you field dress a turkey and then weigh it when you get home, how much did the turkey weigh in the field?  Is there a formula to determine this?
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: BOFF on May 06, 2012, 09:01:52 AM
It weighs as much as you want.  ;)


Seriously though, I'm not sure if there is a formula, or approximation like deer or not.

God Bless,
David B.
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: snapper1982 on May 06, 2012, 09:05:31 AM
why even guess. if you want to know the weight just carry a scale in your vest.
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: Hognutz on May 06, 2012, 10:31:17 AM
Did you get a bird, Larry? PM me with the details..
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: budtripp on May 06, 2012, 11:20:10 AM
I just carry a fish scale in the backseat of my truck. Never really felt the need to field dress a bird so not sure how much the guts weigh.
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: Turkeyman on May 06, 2012, 06:19:01 PM
Two to two and a half pounds depending on the size of the gobbler.
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: Swamprunner on May 06, 2012, 06:42:30 PM
Turkeys are about two things:
1) the experience

2) the spurs

Leave the scales to the biggest losers
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: gotcha on May 06, 2012, 07:20:44 PM
Worst thing you can do is weigh one unless you are just plain curious.Most 20# birds weigh between 17 and 18# once on the scale.Unless you got one of those midwest giants pushing the 30# mark,guess the weight,tell a good story and keep a great memory.I am to the point I dont even like to weigh fish,and I take people fishing for a living.Once weighed they stop growing.
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: catdaddy on May 07, 2012, 11:29:51 AM
Quote from: gotcha on May 06, 2012, 07:20:44 PM
Worst thing you can do is weigh one unless you are just plain curious.Most 20# birds weigh between 17 and 18# once on the scale.Unless you got one of those midwest giants pushing the 30# mark,guess the weight,tell a good story and keep a great memory.I am to the point I dont even like to weigh fish,and I take people fishing for a living.Once weighed they stop growing.

I could not agree more. I never weighted a turkey in my life until two years ago when I was on a team. I dont even measure the beard and spurs unless they are very obviously exceptional.
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: mnturkey on May 07, 2012, 11:40:14 AM
I weigh the bird for my hunting jouranl and the Turkey contest.  I also weigh the bird after it is plucked and dressed so I know how long to cook him.
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: learn2hide on May 07, 2012, 12:02:15 PM
it's not a bad management tool to have record of the weights, beards, and spurs...just don't know that it means much.  I've killed a few 25lb birds but my oldest, smartest, and best bird weighed under 20 and he still had a 12 inch beard and nearly 1 1/2" spurs, we hunted him 8 days, only gobbled once, I finally figured him out and intercepted him bringing his ladies back to the river bluff...it was a good day :-)  The experience was worth 30lbs and 14" beard LOL
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: gobblergls on May 07, 2012, 12:58:28 PM
Why would you want to weigh a bird?  It deprives them of the benefit of gaining weight after death. 
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: BOFF on May 07, 2012, 09:34:57 PM
Quote from: 2ounce6s on May 07, 2012, 02:36:02 PM
You guys crack me up. Glad I'm wearing knee boots. It's getting deep here.

Wader are often required.  :angel9:


God Bless,
David B.
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: mudhen on May 08, 2012, 12:17:38 AM
We weigh them whenever possible.

No reason not to.  We measure beards, spurs, etc.

I figger since I kilt him for no real good reason, the least I can do it take his stats.....

mudhen
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: budtripp on May 08, 2012, 02:09:48 AM
Quote from: mudhen on May 08, 2012, 12:17:38 AM
We weigh them whenever possible.

No reason not to.  We measure beards, spurs, etc.

I figger since I kilt him for no real good reason, the least I can do it take his stats.....

mudhen

Exactly, it doesn't really make a difference what he weighs, but Its good to know and it satisfies my curiosity
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: learn2hide on May 08, 2012, 11:09:47 PM
 :fud: I like the weight so I can plan out meals for the next 4 - 5 days :-)
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: whiskey on May 08, 2012, 11:15:03 PM
I weigh all mine. My buddies never weigh, they don't need to. Every turkey they kill weighs 25 pounds. I am guessing they never measure a beard or spurs either, since all those 25 pound bids has 12 inch beards and 1.5" spurs.  ::) ::)
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: mudhen on May 08, 2012, 11:56:28 PM
Quote from: Lovtofly on May 08, 2012, 11:44:35 PM
Quote from: whiskey on May 08, 2012, 11:15:03 PM
I weigh all mine. My buddies never weigh, they don't need to. Every turkey they kill weighs 25 pounds. I am guessing they never measure a beard or spurs either, since all those 25 pound bids has 12 inch beards and 1.5" spurs.  ::) ::)

YEP,... you must have the same Bud's as me,....lol

Amazing!  I have the same friends  :o

mudhen
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: gobblergls on May 09, 2012, 02:03:15 PM
Quote from: 2ounce6s on May 09, 2012, 07:44:12 AM
Tell it.  :TooFunny: I figure they measure spurs from the front of the leg to the spur tip.

I thought it was from the tip of the beak....
Title: Re: Weighing a turkey
Post by: budtripp on May 10, 2012, 12:56:12 PM
I have similar friends, every turkey they see out strutting in a field is a solid "30 pounder"  :TooFunny: