How To Hunt, Clean, and Cook Your Own Thanksgiving Turkey

Many hunters believe spring is the only time turkey hunting should take place. However, establishing the tradition of harvesting a turkey, or two, for your family this holiday season is well worth it. 

Today, we talk about how to hunt and harvest gobbler, then clean and prepare it for a Thanksgiving meal your family will enjoy! 

Keep reading for four steps to dining on wild turkey. 

Why You Should Hunt and Eat Wild Turkey

In case you haven't tried your hand at turkey hunting yet, there are good reasons to add it to your wild game harvesting. 

First, the nutrition profile of a wild turkey is outstanding. These animals are packed with protein and remain relatively low in both fat and cholesterol. 

One serving of turkey at 3.5 ounces is: 

• 163 calories 
• 26 grams of protein 
• 1 gram of fat 
• 55 milligrams of cholesterol 

Additionally, considering your wild turkey is from the field – not the grocery store – there is no need to worry about chemicals or hormones, making this Thanksgiving turkey truly a natural, organic, and healthy meat. 

Now that you understand why a wild turkey should be on your table this Thanksgiving, here are a few tips on hunting, cleaning, and cooking your own wild turkey.

Step 1: Hunt

To harvest that fall turkey, you must have the right strategies. 

Hunting a fall turkey is vastly different than hunting during the spring mating season. In the fall, turkey families flock and roam together, looking for food rather than a mate. So, you must evaluate where you plan to hunt. 

If you are in a heavily wooded area, the "scatter" technique might be best for you. However, if you are in an open area, "stalking" will be your best bet.  

What Is Scattering?

Scattering entails locating your flock and then doing your best to scatter them in all directions to boost your odds of success. When using the "scatter" technique, break them up enough that they go in all directions. Then, you can sneak into the middle of the breaking point. 

After the birds scatter, let the woods settle for several minutes, and then start your call. In 10 or 15 minutes, turkeys will surround you. You can begin to chime in with kee kees or lost yelps of your own. This will help to get the birds in range.  

What Is Turkey Stalking?

If your hunting area is not designed for scattering, you can always use the traditional stalking method. 

In an area with many wide-open spaces, figure out where the flock is heading. Until the temperature drops below freezing, many turkeys feed on grasshoppers and leaves. 

If you can locate the roosts, you can almost predict their every move. Once you locate them, watch the group and almost try to "think like a turkey." If you can plan a route to intercept their path by stalking the turkeys (i.e., moving quickly and quietly), you will surely see success.

Step 2: Clean

Now that you have harvested a tasty, wild turkey, it is time to clean it. This can be a long, tiresome process, but it is well worth it. 

Before you start, gather the right gear, including a clean, flat surface, a sharp knife, a big pot of boiling water, and garbage bags to collect and throw out the feathers and other pieces you don't keep.

Our friend John Dudley demonstrates the steps in the video below! He covers the essential steps to remove the beard, spurs, and beard, then pluck and remove the meat. 

Step 3: Cook

Now, it's finally time to prepare your wild turkey. 

At HuntWise, we love roasting these birds. However, there are many different ways to prepare. To roast a delicious bird, try the recipe we borrowed and adjusted from Taste of Home! 

Ingredients: 

• 1 wild turkey (10 to 15 pounds) 
• 2 large apples, quartered 
• 6 to 8 medium red potatoes, quartered 
• 2-pound baby carrots 
• 2 medium onions, sliced 
• 2 cups water 
• 1-1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt 
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 1 teaspoon pepper 
• 1/2 cup maple syrup 
• 1/4 cup French salad dressing 
• 1/4 cup barbecue sauce 
• 2 tablespoons ketchup 
• 2 tablespoons steak sauce 
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice 

Directions: First, preheat your oven to 325°. Then, place the turkey on a rack in a roasting pan. 

Next, we like to place apples within the turkey cavity. After placing the apples, put the potatoes, carrots, and onions around the outside of the turkey. Then, pour water over the vegetables. Finally, combine seasoned salt, salt, and pepper to create a dry rub, then rub that over the turkey. Combine the remaining ingredients (steak sauce, ketchup, BBQ, maple syrup, lemon juice, and French dressing) and spoon it over the turkey. 

You do not have to add these extra dry rub ingredients; it works fine with a standard rub and stuffing. However, the dry rub is a tasty alternative! Cover the pan and bake the turkey at 325° for 3-1/2 hours or until a thermometer reads 180°.

Step 4: Eat

This step is by far the best step in the whole process. After the bird cooks to the appropriate temperature, it's time to enjoy your well-deserved, juicy, tender meat and have a good time with friends and family. 

We hope that these steps are something you enjoy and will continue to do year after year. There is no better feeling than successfully harvesting a gobbler and enjoying your hard-earned meat with your loved ones.

What's the Best Way to Make Sure You Get a Bird This Season?

The "hunt" step is only successful if you have the right tools and insight to find public or private hunting land that can deliver a bird! Before taking on any of these steps, make sure you have the HuntWise app and spend some time e-scouting the best land for your hunt. 

With the best app for hunting turkey, you can: 

• Get mapping for all 50 states 
• Know when and how turkeys move through a property 
• See contact information for property owners 
• Use different map layers (including satellite imagery) to find turkey habitats and plan a successful hunt

You gain a competitive edge in the field with the HuntWise app! Users also have access to exclusive discounts on gear to make sure you have everything you need in the field – from calls to blinds and more.  

Put a Turkey On Your Thanksgiving Table With HuntWise

While we can't guarantee a happy Thanksgiving for everyone around your table, we can help you be the hero of the holiday with a turkey that impresses everyone you feed this season. HuntWise helps hunters know where to find turkeys, understand their movements, and improve their success in the field. 

Whether you hope to bring home your first turkey (or next turkey) this season, plan your hunt with HuntWise! Download and try the app for free! 

Content updated January 30, 2024