The taste of wild turkey ?

S

snowhunter

CGN frequent flyer
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Being completely new to turkey hunting, I am told that wild turkey, althought very tasty when cooked, is often very difficult to chew ?

I am also adviced to go for the younger jakes instead of the older toms which are, most of the time, very tough to eat ?

The same experienced turkey hunter also told me, that because wild turkey spend so much time running and flying, that there is very little meat on those critters, and it is hard to find a wild turkey over 10 pounds, and often they are just skind and bone ?

How is the best way to cook and eat those birds ?
 
I find it tangy

wildturkey.jpg
 
Wild Turkey are not chewy atleast non that i've had. Your average jake is around 15lbs, toms go up to 28lbs. I never have turkey in my freezer I eat them the next day, tasty birds they are.
 
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Like a commercial turkey without any fat and meat only on the breast and legs. The breast meat is excellent but the legs are tough. I roast mine breast side down in liquid so not to dry out, dont overcook.
 
We like to cube the breasts for kabobs..
Last year I bought a deep fryer, we just may try that, some say that bird was bred for the deep fryer.
 
Thanks for your relpy's and advice on how to cook and eat wild turkey. You gave me a reason to live at kill again :)
 
Nothing beats wild turkey breast in the deep fryer!!!!!! I only do the breast in the fryer and I marinade the legs (cut into strips) in vinegar and spices for a day or two and they make a killer stir fry
Slayer
 
Snowhunter, whoever told you that BS obviously isn't a wild turkey hunter. Most jakes are in the 14 to 16 lbs category, & make ideal table fare. Mature toms will be over 20 lbs. I find the taste not that different than commercial birds, just fresher tasting. If it is a very mature tom the legs will be tough. If you are lucky enough to bag one, don't over-cook it.
 
I brined mine over night, stuffed the cavity with onions,covered it in layers of Sorano ham and BBQ'd it over whole willow and hickory chunks. It probably went a 1/2 hour too long but still a great feed.
 
The same experienced turkey hunter also told me, that because wild turkey spend so much time running and flying, that there is very little meat on those critters, and it is hard to find a wild turkey over 10 pounds, and often they are just skind and bone ?

Them must a bin turkey vultures:D:D. I've shot quite a few over 20lbs. The one's with the longer spurrs do take longer to chew. A two year old makes a nice compromise. He has a full tail fan weighs around 18 to 20 lbs and is quite tasty. I shot one once with a 1 11/16 spur and my he was tufff. I used to roast the whole bird but now I separate the breast for me and the thighs go to a couple of old European guys that are all ready asking me when the season opens
 
mmmm, my mouth is starting to water!!!! i've never been turkey hunting, but now i want to go give it a try. what's the best way to clean and prep these birds? guess you can't do it like grouse, where you step on the wings and pull on the legs?
 
i have shot lots of birds over 20 lbs .my kids love them cut in to cubes and batterd then deep fryed for about three minutes for a 1 inch cube .we turn the legs and wings as well as the back in to soup stock .ad some onions and carrots cellery potatos and some bullion oh ya oh at the end add egge noodels DUTCH
 
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