Wild turkey legs. Yes or No?

JimDO

JimDO

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Curious if anyone eats wild turkey legs or whether you just toss them?

I went out turkey hunting for the 1st time yesterday. Was a pretty cool adventure just listening to them as they woke up and started calling. My bud and I heard some in the distance but didnt see any nearby and we came up empty. A friend of his had better luck and got a nice 20lb Tom.
While cleaning his bird, it became obvious that the legs were going to be thrown away. Having never tasted wild turkey, I said Ill take them.

Are they worth keeping and cooking? Any ideas how to cook them?

Thx in advance.
 
Yes, keep them... a case could be made that it is against the law to allow them to spoil.

I roast a pair of legs in the oven with onion, garlic, sweet peppers, and salt & pepper... when cooked, I place the pot on the stove top and add water, chopped carrots, celery and chives... bring to a boil, add two cups of wild rice, lower heat and simmer for a couple hours... then fish out the leg bones and bone sinew... salt to taste... and enjoy your wild turkey soup.
 
I like hoytcanon's suggestion. Personally, I have not been hungry enough to eat them: too much work for little reward. Using them for a broth or soup (like the rest of the carcass) is very smart.
 
Unbeknownst to me, my wife already slow cooked them in a crock pot over night. Good gal. Turkey legs are her favourite part on domestic turkies.Now time to try out your tasty sounding soup recipe Hoyt! Thanks for the ideas!
 
We never waste the legs, we remove the breast meat and the rest of the animal goes to soup. It's got a strong smell when its cooking but it mellows and makes a really tasty broth. We usually pick through the legs and thighs for meat to add back to the soup. I've read a lot of people using a crock pot to prepare the legs and thighs haven't tried it yet. It's dark and a bit tough but why would you waste the meat of any animal you harvest.


I'm not a huge fan but my dad keeps the livers hearts and gizzards. He stews them slowly with a little wine and tomato and loves it with some good crusty bread.
 
turkey legs and backs go right in the soup pot ,jst use your chicken soup recipe ,,very good after a few hours of cooking Dutch
 
JimDO said:
Unbeknownst to me, my wife already slow cooked them in a crock pot over night. Good gal. Turkey legs are her favourite part on domestic turkies.Now time to try out your tasty sounding soup recipe Hoyt! Thanks for the ideas!
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I'm comin' over for dinner tonight Jim! lol :)

Glad you enjoyed the hunt even though you didn't bag a bird. Hopefully I'll be able to join you next year!
 
+1 on using them and other bits to make stock. Made carefully, can be some of the best stock you'll ever taste.

Also good for what's left from duck and goose. Wood duck stock - unbelievable.



TSPIRI said:
We never waste the legs, we remove the breast meat and the rest of the animal goes to soup. It's got a strong smell when its cooking but it mellows and makes a really tasty broth. We usually pick through the legs and thighs for meat to add back to the soup. I've read a lot of people using a crock pot to prepare the legs and thighs haven't tried it yet. It's dark and a bit tough but why would you waste the meat of any animal you harvest.


I'm not a huge fan but my dad keeps the livers hearts and gizzards. He stews them slowly with a little wine and tomato and loves it with some good crusty bread.
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I toss the legs and thighs in a pot on the wood stove when we have a cold snap in the winter. Take a couple days and make some soup. Whole house smells awesome and it's incredible cold weather food. Don't waste it!
 
you should try to put them in a brine solution and smoke them. I had turkey drumsticks at disneyworld and it was really something else. Almost tasted like a salt cured ham. If we had wild turkeys around here thats what I would be trying to do.
 
savagelh said:
you should try to put them in a brine solution and smoke them. I had turkey drumsticks at disneyworld and it was really something else. Almost tasted like a salt cured ham. If we had wild turkeys around here thats what I would be trying to do.
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We slice the breast meat and make turkey jerky... it is popular with the kids and doesn't last very long.
 
I either make a soup or stew with the legs and thighs or best is pepperettes. Bone it out and mix about 60% turkey to 40% regular beef hamburger and spice of your choice, it will make pepperettes that will surprise even the pickiest eaters. Turkey breast jerky with a mandarin/teryaki seasoning, in the smoker I don't add smoke just let the drippings flavour from burning. Stand back cause the line will form quickly
 
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