Turkey hunting was one of our favorite pastimes and we used to spend a ridiculous amount of time and energy simply getting ready for the hunting season to finally open. When it did, we would bundle up and head out in search of the perfect tom to dress our table. While we dont get to go out too often anymore, we still highly recommend it.
In Ohio (as with many states) bag limits for wild turkey are ridiculously small, making this once-common game bird a delicacy each season. Even though this delicious meal is something we dont get to eat every day, knowing the health benefits, nutrition, and safe handling of wild turkey meat is good information that might even make your next delicious roasted wild turkey taste better than it already does.
Wild turkey is growing in popularity for its rich, complex flavor and impressive nutritional profile. But sourcing high-quality wild turkey meat can be tricky compared to finding farmed turkey at the grocery store. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about buying delicious wild turkey near you.
Why Choose Wild Turkey?
Wild turkeys forage on a diverse natural plant diet resulting in a darker richer tasting meat compared to domestic broad-breasted turkeys. Here are some of the main benefits of wild turkey
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Deeper, gamier flavor. The flavor is noticeably more intense and savory. The dark meat is especially full-bodied.
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Lower fat content. Wild turkeys are leaner with less excess fat thanks to their active lifestyle.
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Higher protein. Ounce for ounce, wild turkey packs in more satisfying protein than domestic turkey.
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Nutrient density. Wild turkeys have a more diverse vitamin and mineral profile from their wild diet.
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Sustainability Wild turkey populations are maintained at healthy levels for harvesting.
With its unique flavor and nutritional advantages, it’s easy to see why more home cooks are seeking out wild turkey.
Where to Buy Wild Turkey
Finding high-quality wild turkey can take some searching compared to regular turkey at the supermarket. Here are some of the best options for buying fresh or frozen wild turkey:
Local Butcher Shops
Visiting a local specialty butcher is one of the best ways to source genuine wild turkey. Qualified butchers have connections with local hunters and processors. Ask if they carry:
- Whole wild turkeys
- Boneless wild turkey breasts
- Wild turkey drumsticks, thighs, wings
- Ground or sausage using wild turkey
Local butchers may have limited seasonal inventory. But they can likely special order fresh wild turkey for you.
Online Specialty Retailers
Ordering wild turkey online from specialty purveyors opens up more options. Online retailers like Fossil Farms, D’Artagnan, and Game Sales International ship fresh or frozen wild turkey nationwide. Benefits include:
- Year-round availability of wild turkey cuts.
- More selection of parts like boneless breasts and sausage.
- Clear sourcing information and traceability.
- Insulated shipping with ice packs to ensure quality.
Check delivery costs and order minimums when pricing online wild turkey. Factor in shipping charges in your total cost.
Hunting Contacts
If you know any hunters, ask if they have extra wild turkey they’d be willing to sell. Or search hunting forums and groups for those willing to sell legally harvested wild turkeys. This approach takes networking but results in the best price on ultra-local wild turkey.
Specialty Farmer’s Markets
Some farmers markets may have vendors selling fresh wild turkey during hunting seasons. Ask your local farmers market which dates wild game purveyors will be attending. Fair-chase wild turkey from small providers is ideal.
Large Online Markets
Major retailers like Walmart, Instacart, and Amazon Fresh may carry frozen wild turkey, especially around the holidays. This option provides convenience, affordability, and home delivery. Just be aware it may lack the same traceability as small specialty sellers.
Tips for Selecting Your Wild Turkey
Once you’ve located a source, apply these tips for picking out high-quality wild turkey:
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Choose fair-chase birds. Opt for “free-range” wild turkeys over game farm raised birds when possible.
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Know the type. Eastern wild turkey is most common, but also look for Osceola, Merriam’s and Rio Grande wild turkey.
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Check the labeling. Look for descriptors like “all natural”, “minimally processed”, “no antibiotics or hormones”.
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Learn to judge size. Estimate about 10 lbs for a small turkey, 15 lbs for medium, and 20+ lbs for a large, mature bird.
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Inspect the color. Wild turkey meat is noticeably darker without the white striping seen in domestic turkey breasts.
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Consider the age. Older wild toms (male turkeys) have a stronger “gamey” flavor that some prefer over young juvenile birds.
Handy Tips for Cooking Wild Turkey
Wild turkey requires special handling compared to standard turkey. Here are some useful tips:
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Brine before cooking for added moisture, tenderness and to temper strong flavor. A saltwater brine of 1 cup salt per gallon of water for 6-12 hours works great.
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Cook to 165oF to eliminate bacteria and ensure safely cooked meat. Use a meat thermometer for accuracy.
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Cook thoroughly to tenderize – slow roasting, braising, or stewing works best. Avoid rare or medium-doneness.
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Watch the thickness when pan searing. Butterfly thick breasts before cooking to prevent drying out.
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Complement bold flavor with assertive herbs, spices, or tart ingredients like citrus, vinegar, or wine.
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Make flavorful stock from the carcass for soups, gravy and risotto.
With proper handling, wild turkey delivers incredible depth of flavor. It takes some effort to source and prepare but provides a truly memorable eating experience.
Enjoy Wild Turkey All Year Long
With its unique rich, savory taste, wild turkey isn’t just for holiday meals anymore. Seek out high-quality wild turkey from qualified local and online specialty sellers. Handle it properly in the kitchen for finger-licking results. Once you appreciate real wild turkey flavor, you may never go back to ordinary grocery store turkey again!
Just the Facts: Wild Turkey Meat vs Domestic Turkey
Wild turkeys feast on a varied diet that includes anything from seeds, acorns, and nuts to lizards, snails, and worms. This might not sound like the most appetizing feast to you and me, but for a turkey, the wild ones eat the best. Domestic turkey feed simply attempts to recreate the menu of wild turkey. The differences in diet are similar to what you find when looking at the nutrition of wild hogs vs domestic ones.
The biggest difference between wild turkey meat and domestic birds is in the fat content. Wild turkeys spend most of their lives moving from one place to another, flying up to roost in trees at night and avoid inevitable predators, giving these birds a more lean meat.
While domestic turkeys technically have more protein due to their controlled diet, they are also much higher in fat content because they dont get as much exercise as their wild cousins.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 100 grams of turkey breast meat contains 29 grams of protein and 7 grams of fat. The same portion of wild turkey breasts offers 25 grams of protein but just 1 gram of fat. Darker meat from thighs and legs has even less fat but slightly less protein.
Both wild turkey meat and domestic turkey meat contain many important vitamins and nutrients so dont worry about whether or not wild turkey is good for you. Its more important to focus on learning the optimal way to cook the perfect wild turkey.
Best Ways to Cook Wild Turkey
Here is a little secret – one of the main reasons that wild turkey and regular turkey taste different is because of how they are cooked. Domestic turkey that you buy in the store is typically injected with salt water which adds weight and increases the juiciness, helping to prevent the finished bird from being too dry. Wild turkey, already significantly lower in fat, doesnt have the benefit of brine injection and tends to dry out easily.
With that in mind, you will want to adjust how you cook wild turkey to get the best results. When done right, wild turkey is the most delicious of game birds.
The key to properly cooking wild turkey starts from the moment you kill the bird. It is important to field dress the bird as soon as possible. Start by removing the innards and crop. Dont forget to remove the gland at the base of the tail while you are at it. Pluck the feathers while the bird is still warm. Youll use short, swift tugs to remove the feathers a few at a time. If you wait until the bird has cooled, youll likely end up tearing the skin quite a bit and that is simply a waste. Thoroughly wash and dry the bird before putting it in the refrigerator. Like any game animal, you want to complete this process and get it in the cooler as quickly as possible.
Brining wild turkey is one common method to help prevent the bird from drying out while cooking. Brine allows you to add herbs and flavors that enhance the finished flavor. Cooking an unbrined wild turkey is a bit of a challenge, but the results are awesome. The trick is to use plenty of butter or olive oil to prevent drying out. As a bonus, butter and olive oil will help wild turkey taste good and finish tender. Make sure to check out our favorite brine recipe for smoked turkey.
Wild turkey can also be done in a slow cooker to help improve juiciness. It isnt our favorite way to do it, but using a slow cooker will give you predictable results, especially when cooking wild turkey breast or skinny birds with strong muscles that taste dry.
No matter the cooking method you use when cooking turkey, youll need to aim for an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. Take the measurement in the thickest part of the thighs. It is often best to separate the breasts from the whole bird when cooking because they will cook faster than other parts and can dry out. The cooking process you use should be carefully monitored to prevent overcooking.
WILD TURKEY VS STORE BOUGHT TURKEY (TASTE TEST)!!!!
FAQ
Can you purchase wild turkeys?
Is there any law against buying live wild turkeys inside California or outside the state and having them shipped here? Answer: There is nothing illegal about selling or purchasing domestic poultry sold as wild turkeys.
Is wild turkey better than store-bought?
So, you’re probably wondering how they each tasted. They tasted different from one another. Neither was better or worse — just different. The wild turkey was a finer texture and had darker meat overall. I will say I liked them equally, but I’d take the wild turkey over the domestic turkey any day of the week!
Is wild turkey meat any good?
Wild turkey is some of the best game meat in existence. It’s lean, flavorful, and absent of a traditional “gamey” taste. And unlike big game animals, it’s fairly easy to process on your own!
Where can you find wild turkeys?
Today, two wild turkey sub-species are well established in California. The Rio Grande subspecies, M. g. intermedia, has the widest range and is found throughout the state’s oak woodlands, urban areas, and agricultural lands.
Are eastern wild turkeys fresh?
Our Eastern Wild Turkeysare shipped fresh. Make Thanksgiving Dinner extra special this yearand serve your guests a flavor not tasted since the early days of America! Onetaste and you will never go back to a farm-raised bird again. A special treatfor drumstick fans, the entire wild turkey is dark, even the breast meat.
Does a wild turkey taste good?
Onetaste and you will never go back to a farm-raised bird again. A special treatfor drumstick fans, the entire wild turkey is dark, even the breast meat. I firmly believe that doing good, tastesgood!
Where are Merriam’s wild turkeys grown?
Merriam’s Wild Turkey Narragansett Heritage Turkey Organic Turkey Osceola Wild Turkey Rio Grande Wild Turkey Our Authentic Heritage andWild Turkeys are raised the old-world way with the freedom to fly allover our farm in Perris, California.
Where can I buy organic chicken & turkey?
The chickens are Cornish X and turkeys are red burbons (a heritage breed) or Broad Breasted White. Certified Organic Pork is available all year. We sell wholesale to stores (Wilton Village Market in Wilton, CT. and It’s All Good in Cherry Valley, NY) and restaurants.
Are my heritage & wild turkeys antibiotic free?
My Heritage and Wild Turkeys are freeof antibiotics, synthetic hormones, and pesticides. Our Eastern Wild Turkeysare shipped fresh. Make Thanksgiving Dinner extra special this yearand serve your guests a flavor not tasted since the early days of America! Onetaste and you will never go back to a farm-raised bird again.
Does Elmwood Stock Farm make ground turkey?
The ground turkey that you purchase from Elmwood Stock Farm is all breast and thigh meat from our organic, pasture-raised birds. On the other hand, the ground turkey that you purchase from the grocery store is the leftover meat that’s been “mechanically separated” from the turkey carcass—essentially the leftover bits after the turkey is deboned.