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Wild Turkey?

Posted By: Average Joe

Wild Turkey? - 09/04/21 02:54 AM

The bird, not the drink.
Long time reader, first time poster.
I had a freezer conk out this summer, left me with some wild turkey meat that is unsafe for human consumption.
I’m in the process of turning it into a bait base - some as is, some as is with Dobbins bait solution, some currently festering and will add Dobbins solution later.
Seems like a “no brainer” bait for coyote & fox but in reviewing numerous posts and archives I’m not finding anything about turkey for bait. Is this a decent idea or am I missing something? Obviously I’d rather have eaten it myself, but in this case I’m trying to make lemonade from my lemons.
Thanks for any and all advice.
Posted By: Dragger

Re: Wild Turkey? - 09/04/21 03:40 PM

I was out calling once and this coyote came in from the left side and jumped up on a stump. Not once did he even look my way while I was blowing the call. I looked to the right and saw a half a dozen turkeys.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure they like turkeys! lol

Easiest shot ever I had at a coyote and I missed.
Posted By: Yes sir

Re: Wild Turkey? - 09/04/21 07:46 PM

My opinion is just cause a coyote eats it doesn't make it a great base compared to other bases. Some just have more attraction than others. Testing the base by itself against other bases especially bases you have found that have really good attraction is the only way to know how good it is. With that said you could take any good bait solution like Dobbins and mix with something that doesn't have any attraction like cattail fluff and still have a good attractor. I do prefer a base that adds as much attraction to the formulation as I can find and isn't just a filler in it. My guess (because I've never tested it) is that turkey meat wouldn't test to great compared to some others.
Posted By: Average Joe

Re: Wild Turkey? - 09/05/21 12:24 AM

From post above ^^^^. “My guess (because I've never tested it) is that turkey meat wouldn't test to great compared to some others.”

You may very well be correct, but I’m curious why you “guess” this while admitting to never have tried?
Certainly a coyote is more likely to eat a turkey then it is to eat a bobcat or beaver - a couple of the more traditional bases.
My thinking is match-the-hatch, or at least offer something different relative to traditional baits, maybe something not in every other dirt hole.
We shall see come fall, if nothing else it will be fun to learn.

My intent of posting this was to find out if anyone had good reason (experience) why turkey was a bad idea. For instance, I was surprised to learn in this forum that moles generally are NOT good bait.
Agreed it might not be the BEST, but seems like a viable option, change-up from the ordinary?
Posted By: Dragger

Re: Wild Turkey? - 09/05/21 01:14 AM

I bait test on my property year round. The turkey entails and scraps in a hole I drilled were hit immediately. Chicken and rib bones sit for weeks sometimes.


For what it's worth.
Posted By: Yes sir

Re: Wild Turkey? - 09/05/21 01:32 AM

About 4 years and 100 hundreds of test holes is what I based my guess on.

I see alot of people on the internet making assumptions and guesses while setting on the couch thinking. I've tested bases that coyotes eat a lot of THINKING they would be good, more fail than pass.
You questioned my guess but turn around use the words" my thinking ", "we shall see" and " but seems".

I'm probably done sharing my experience playing with lures too many internet trappers that probably haven't put 10 test holes in the ground in their lives, catch 5 coyotes on a bait and think it's good and just want sunshine blown were its normally doesn't go.

One last thing the reason I started testing so much is because there wss plenty of advise you get on here that didn't add up and still didn't after testing. I'm sure you can find guys on here that will tell it will work great that never tested it and then you can be happy with that.

Still thankful for any and all advice
Posted By: Average Joe

Re: Wild Turkey? - 09/05/21 02:25 AM

But no holes with turkey, eh? So really you don’t know, just a guess.
In God we trust, everyone else must have data.

Seems I touched a nerve. Or did I stumble on your secret?

I admitted I was testing a theory, trying something different. I didn’t make any claims.
Posted By: Average Joe

Re: Wild Turkey? - 09/09/21 02:33 AM

Update:

The non-tainted turkey and venison with dobbins both smell “good” but are distinctly different. The venny has a hint of fish oil smell while the turkey has a gamey bird smell with some sweetness.
The stuff tainting went from gag-inducing to tolerable, will probably preserve this weekend.
Looking forward to putting it all to the test in a couple of months.

Side note - is it just me or does the Dobbins solution smell a little bit like Copenhagen? Not in a bad way. Almost looks like chew spit too. I chuckled to myself when I pictured Paul with a spittoon making this years batch.
Posted By: bearcat2

Re: Wild Turkey? - 09/09/21 02:45 PM

As a guy who chewed Copenhagen for years, nothing smells like Copenhagen in a bad way. That smell still gets the juices flowing in my mouth, so it ought to work on critters too wink
Posted By: MuddyMike

Re: Wild Turkey? - 09/09/21 03:17 PM

X2 bearcat2 im still chewing the stuff though i need to and want to quit but dang nabit it sure it great nothing else like it! anyway carry on
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