Final Exam

What I enjoyed most about Will Gilmer's lecture was that he used social media to get his farms name out there and talks about all the stuff they do on their dairy farm.  I did not know that social media was so involved in agriculture like he was talking about.

Turkey Hunting on Public Lands

When it comes to hunting turkeys on public land, the "challenging" aspect of the hunt gets kicked up a notch. Mississippi has over 27 different Wildlife Management Areas all across the state and they are home to some of the best turkey hunting the state has to offer.  There is some great turkey hunting on public land in Mississippi if you want to get out and do some scouting, do some walking, get some exercise, and get away from the roads where you have easy access. 

Top Predators In Mississippi on Wild Turkeys

Wild turkeys are hunted by almost everything in the woods, including us.  They are so cautious because everything in the woods is out to get them they feel like.  The main predators in Mississippi are racoons, bobcats, coyotes, fire ants and people.  Proper predator management is a must if you expect to keep a large turkey population on your place.

Tips on How to Make Turkey Poppers

The five main things you will need to make turkey poppers are wild turkey breasts, jalapeno peppers, bacon,  
cream cheese, and tooth picks.  You should have about a dozen jalapenos and gut them before preparing the
meal.  The first thing you need to do is marinate your wild turkey breast in your favorite brand of Italian dressing for about a day.  Cut turkey breast into pieces that will fit inside the pepper halves.  The next thing you will need to do is spread the cream cheese inside the pepper and place the turkey strips inside that.  The next thing you should do is wrap a piece of bacon around the pepper and secure it with a tooth pick.  After you have done this you are ready to throw them on the grill.  After you let them cook for about fifteen to twenty minutes you will be ready to eat and enjoy.

Tips on How to Kill a Turkey on public land

When hunting turkeys on public land it is way different then hunting on a private place.  When hunting public birds remember that rain is your friend.  Most hunters are fair weather hunters, which means they normally arent going to be out pressuring the birds in the rain.  You will have a better chance at bagging a bird because you will be the only one out there.  Another major tip is get in early and stay late.  Pressured birds usually arent very vocal but if you wait it out and dont over call eventually that bird will come find you.

Turkeys and Agriculture

With an increased population of wild turkeys in agricultural regions, the number of perceived conflicts between wild turkey and agricultural producer over crop damages has increased dramatically.  They have made studies on how much damage wild turkeys had on crop damage.  The studies came back and said they have minimal damage and is usually caused by other animals such as deer.  Researchers have put tracking devices on turkeys and they generally they in wooded areas.

How to cook a wild turkey

One of the best meals in the woods is the breast of a wild turkey. Many people think of a Thanksgiving turkey when they think turkey but this is not the same as a wild bird. Wild turkey can be prepared many different ways but my personal favorite is frying. To do this you must cut the breast out of the turkey one half at a time. After you cut out the brest cut them into 1 inch wide pieces while the breast is still vertical. These strips can then be cut into however long strips  you want to make. After all the cutting is done, soak the strips in milk overnight. The next night you will be ready for a feast. Flour the strips and add your favorite seasonings. The final step is to fry the pieces until they are golden brown. Let the strips rest on a paper towel after they come out of the grease for five minutes then enjoy.