Wild Turkey & Feral Hogs..

[nodak7mm]

Okay Guys,

Gotta ask a couple of questions that may seem silly, but you must consider I was raised on a farm and all our foods came from what we grew/raised. And I mean all foods with exception of salt, sugar, flour, cheeses and butter.. Then again, scandanavians dont eat much outside of meat, potatoes, butter & cream with salt, sugar and ketchup being the spices.

But, what does wild turkey taste like? Feral hogs? Growing up, wild turkeys didnt exsist where I lived and wild hawgs were the cantankerous old boar hog you watch out for in the hog barn....

It may sound odd, but I dont like fishy tasting fish (when you have walleyes, is there anything else?) and gamey tasting wild game. To me, if an animal tastes gamey, it was not properly dressed and processed.. The deer we shoot, live in our soybeans & corn fields. If a fish taste fishy, it came from warm muddy water...... I think the guys from the northern agricultural parts can understand what I am saying the best

But off my stump, I think it would be super to go hog hunting, but if I wont like eating it, I dont want to shoot one.. Same with turkeys..

 

[DrMike]

Can't speak for wild turkey (other than bourbon from my misspent days of youth), but European boar taste a log like pork! :shock: Not necessarily as flavourful since it is not as marbled as domestic pigs. but certainly not gamey. Go shoot a hog, the farmers will thank you.

 

[Guest]

The primary differences in wild hog or turkey and domestic versions of the same, is the leanness of the meat. If you shoot a wild turkey, brine it before you cook it, and cook it fairly slowly and with basting (even if you're smoking it - and keep that water pan full if you smoke it). Wild hog is going to taste like pork, but with less fat, and thus it's a bit less flavorful, juicy, and tender. When I've killed wild hog we've always smoked whole quarters after rubbing them with spices, or cut up everything and then kept the tenderloin and chops, and ground everything else into sausage.

Take a smaller hog and try it out - you'll probably like it. If you don't, you won't have done any harm - hogs are getting to be more like coyotes and prairie dogs than game animals. They are able to wipe out deer forage in a night that would last a deer herd a year, so taking out hogs is a service to the rest of the game population.

 

[Greg Nolan]

As said they are dryer with much less fat. Also!
The wild boars get rank as they get older.
The feed makes a huge difference just like deer. Since hogs are omniveros they will eat anything at hand.
The best bet is to shoot a sow under 160# or a boar under 130#. I usually go in July/Aug because the hogs here have been eating barley and taste great.
Most hogs are domestic/european crosses. Pick out the one that looks the most like domestic. Round, white,brown or red with large hams rather than razor back with slim hips.
Now on the good side.
A wild pig won't be fatty and shrink near as much and is better for you. The greatest chili in the world is made of venison and wild hog. It's not greasy! It's won several chili cook offs for me :grin:
Greg

 

[DrMike]

The greatest chili in the world is made of venison and wild hog. It's not greasy! It's won several chili cook offs for me

And has the recipe been printed in the recipe section?

 

[ScreaminEagle]

The best way to eat a wild turkey is the cut out the breast meat, let it soak in marinade or inject it, then cook on the grill. The legs are too tuff to be worth eating.

 

[Hegland]

I think the guys from the northern agricultural parts can understand what I am saying the best

I hear you, man. Corn-fed anything is always the best. 8)

Never had a wild hog, but I have had a few turkeys. As others have mentioned a good brine is a definite plus, whether grilling, smoking or any other method. A friend of mine tried a deep frier a couple years ago, after he injected the bird, and it was terrific! Absolutely shattered my expectations.

 

[SJB358]

Cant speak to hogs, but wild turkey is excellent. I usually smoke mine with an apple, cherry or other fruit wood! Great food. I would like to try it fried, but I haven't had as much luck this year with the birds! Scotty

 

[Scott Spencer]

I usually smoke mine with an apple, cherry or other fruit wood!

I plan to marinate mine in something like teriyaki sauce and then smoke it over apple and see what happens.

 

[nodak7mm]

I travel to the south a several times a yr and always entertan the thought of doing a hog hunt, but only if I got soem tasty pork outta the deal.. Cant go wrong a small porker and I would think it would make for some killer sausage mixings...

Since my Grandma passed away and I moved from the area, I pretty much quit bird hunting. I had it made, shoot ducks, geese, ruffs & sharpies, Grandma love to pluck em or breast em and fix em for me.. They sure as hell aint as palatable with out Grandma pan frying em up in gravy and shrooms... I'll stick with my corn-fed deer that waddle.....

But I bet I could come up with some epicurian delight with a "Wilbur"..

Thanks Guys...

Rod