Remember to take a moment to reflect on the purpose of Memorial Day. Honor for our military personnel who died in service.
Roasting large, wild Tom turkeys
-
Pitchman1968
- Cowhand
- Posts: 157
- Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 11:34 am
- Location: Central Massachusetts

Roasting large, wild Tom turkeys
Turkey flocks are huge this fall in central Massachusetts; and I plan to take one for Thanksgiving. In the past I have taken only the breast meat off a wild turkey no matter the bird's gender or size. This year I want to bag a large Tom in excess of 20 pounds. I plan to roast the entire bird just as if it were a store-bought commercial bird. Conventional wisdom is that is a bad idea because that large of a wild Tom will be old, tough, and dry. Nevertheless, i want to try it. Does anyone have tips or recipes on how to do this?
- Sir Henry
- Administrator / Owner
- Posts: 14274
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:58 pm
- Location: Price County Wisconsin

Re: Roasting large, wild Tom turkeys
Put a blanket of bacon over the breast meat. It seals in the natural juices and adds to it.
Hi, my name is Gene and I'm a Henryholic from Wisconsin.
Range Reporter: Henry Repeater
Range Reporter: Henry Repeater
- JEBar
- Town Marshal / Deputy Admin
- Posts: 20362
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:58 pm
- Location: central NC

Re: Roasting large, wild Tom turkeys
I'd recommend injecting it with a liquid like "I Can't Believe Its Not Butter" spray, as noted, covering with bacon, and slow cooking at a low temp
-
Ozarkwoodswalker
- Cowboy
- Posts: 1190
- Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2018 9:24 pm
- Location: Missouri

Re: Roasting large, wild Tom turkeys
Please let us know how the experiment turns out. Inquiring minds want to know.
- daytime dave
- Administrator / Owner
- Posts: 5895
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:27 pm
- Location: Upstate NY

Re: Roasting large, wild Tom turkeys
I applaud you. I hope it turns out great. That's a traditional Thanksgiving I'd say.
Some days I'm Andy, most days I'm Barney........
Eaglescout, NRA Life Endowment member, BCCI Life Member
Eaglescout, NRA Life Endowment member, BCCI Life Member
Re: Roasting large, wild Tom turkeys
That sounds very tempting. I don't know about turkeys in your neck of the woods, but the one I shot on the wing in Florida many years ago was very moist and tender. Even my dad who was not a fan of eating wild game said it was very good.