Turkey hunting report

Ottoshot

Ottoshot

Joined
Sep 13, 2007
Messages
479
After 3 days of scouting, spotting, calling and one close call I finally bagged my first bird here in Southern Ontario. Ive been out to several different 100 acre lots that my family owns and farms and ive seen or heard birds every time. Funny thing is, the jakes will come running but the toms have been gobbling at me from far away and I cant seem to bring them in.

I think its still early in the season, and the big birds really havent been out strutting yet. I havent seen any big birds strutting in my travels yet this season from my truck or on foot.

This one was a Jake, a Beautiful bird. I almost didnt shoot him, really.




Anyone got any turkey cooking recipes or tips they want to share? Im pretty good in the kitchen but I would love to hear how everyone else cooks these birds.



Try and spot me in this picture. Im in full camo so you will have to look really hard. :D

 
Nice job, young man.

Those older toms are just following their natural patterns. The hens are supposed to come to them, not the other way around. Let 'em get desperate enough though, and they'll come in.

I like to cut the breast into strips, batter, and deep fry. Or I'll marinate the strips overnight and grill them.
 
If you plucked him, put him in a roaster. Lots of water, lower heat than you'd use to cook a domestic turkey. Don't cook him too hot or too fast, and make sure to keep plenty of moisture on it. That will keep it from getting tough and nasty. Remember, meat from wild game tends to be much leaner and have more connective tissue than domestic counterparts. Moist heat and slower cooking will help keep the meat tender. Those tips come straight from my mom, who cooks a great wild turkey.

And just remembered, I had some deep-fried turkey last night that was pretty good as well. I prefer it cooked in the roaster, but a lot of people like deep frying them nowadays.

Great job on the hunt, too! Looks like a great time. I've scarcely had time to get out for the past two years, and I really enjoy hunting turkeys. Probably won't get out at all this year.
 
i have injected the breasts with cajun butter marinade and coated the outside of the breast with the same and had great results smoking them.

btw-- killing any turkey is an accomplishment, be proud!!!

gl the rest of the season

mine is dwindling down, i did get 2 in TN
 
after plucking and gutting ive realized i got a few pellets in the body, Is this going to be a problem?
 
Not as long as you don't break a tooth or eat too many of them! :p

Seriously, just cut on into the meat and extricate the shot. Wash the meat well before you cook it.
 
You can usually tell pretty well where a pellet is. Chew carefully, biting a pellet isn't fun. Get them out the best you can before cooking, and look the meat over carefully after it's cooked while you're cutting it.
 
I like to put the breasts in a crockpot with 2 cans of condensed cream of mushroom soup, 2 soup cans of water, and a pack of dry onion soup mix (I like the Lipton onion soup mix, but you really cant tell the difference of off-brand when you cook it like this.) Turn it onto the "low" setting and let it cook for about 8 hours. It'll be the most tender, moist, delicious turkey breast you'll ever eat. :thumbup:
 
Congrats on the hunt.

I rub olive oil on the bird, cut up an onion and stuff into the cavity, and poke holes into various areas then insert garlic clove pieces. Cook at 450 covered, then uncover and finish at 375 to give it a nice golden brown. Check with meat thermometer.
 
great bird, here's an easy one......stuff apples, onions, and celery inside the cavity, put it in a turkey bag, add a half cup of water to it and bake it for a hour and half!!!!!!!!!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top