410001661
Well-known member
Anyone going turkey hunting this weekend? I usually drop one early season then wait until my buddy comes up from PA then we chase them the first week in May.
Anyone turkey hunting this weekend
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410001661
Well-known member
You are correct. What I typically do, especially with larger tom's, is breast the bird out and then cut out the legs and thighs. As far as deer goes I hunt down in Niagara so all the deer are corn, soy bean and wheat fed so they are delicious.
Breasts
I typically cut the breasts into 1" medallions then coat with flour and a special spice mix. Then I brown them in a hot cast iron skillet with olive oil removing pieces when done. Once everything is browned I return the turkey to the skillet and add a cup of dry white wine, fresh chives, and sliced portobello mushrooms (make sure to scraps all the goodness that stuck to the pan during the browning process). Once it thickens remove from heat and let it sit covered for 5-7 minutes and serve it on a bed of wild rice and a glass of nice Pinot Noir.
Legs and Thighs
I put them in a crock put or slow cooker with veggie off cuts that I keep on my freezer to be used for veggie broth (usually celery, potato, carrots and onions). I fill with water until legs are submerged then cook for 6hrs. After they are done I remove the legs and set them aside, and strain the broth into a container. In a stock pot I add olive oil and then add fresh cut onions, celery, carrots, diced cabbage and some fresh garlic. I cook until tender then add mushrooms and corn (both optional) then add the turkey broth and simmer for 20 min then add turkey, salt and pepper to taste and some soup noodles (just a palm full) and simmer for another 20 min and viola. Best served with a nice hard crust sourdough and a nice IPA.
.......I am definitely the guy that hunts to eat!
Deer and turkey walk through my yard a few feet from my windows every day. Turkeys walk through both morning and evening and no longer care if we're on the deck with music on. Our cat has chased turkeys on the lawn more than once (he chased a cow at our last house).
I want to, but I have no friends or relatives with property I can hunt on, or any that hunt.
Crown land is scares around here, and I need a mentor to show me how to find the birds' track ahead of time so I'll know where to setup.
I spend $40 on a tag a couple years ago after picking up a crossbow and spending some time at a range to get comfortable with it, and zero it in. I stupidly setup on a random piece of crown land hoping to draw something in with a turkey call. I'm sure you can guess how that ended.
It's apparently something you need to be brought into by experienced hunters. Also, it seems to be a cash cow for the government. The tag system is criminal.
Deer is what I'd really like to hunt, but I've pretty much given up on the idea now. I also picked up a shotgun last fall, and I've never even pulled the trigger on it.
Crown land is scares around here, and I need a mentor to show me how to find the birds' track ahead of time so I'll know where to setup.
I spend $40 on a tag a couple years ago after picking up a crossbow and spending some time at a range to get comfortable with it, and zero it in. I stupidly setup on a random piece of crown land hoping to draw something in with a turkey call. I'm sure you can guess how that ended.
It's apparently something you need to be brought into by experienced hunters. Also, it seems to be a cash cow for the government. The tag system is criminal.
Deer is what I'd really like to hunt, but I've pretty much given up on the idea now. I also picked up a shotgun last fall, and I've never even pulled the trigger on it.
Dirty Frank
Well-known member
Just a suggestion but if the crown land is somewhat local slightly preseason visit the area and take a bit of a hike around to get a feel for the spot and look for sign of game.
Best done early or late in the day.
Worse case you burn some gas getting there but get some exercise outdoors.
Sounds simple enough. I'll take my son and dog out for a hike. The crown land isn't large, but should have plenty of game. If you're in Southeastern Ontario, you're likely familiar with it. It's the one on Safari Road.
Funny story: I sat in a blind from early morning till mid afternoon a couple years ago. I saw nothing at all until around 1-2pm. A couple guys, one very big and tall, the other very short. Made me think of Yogi and Boo-Boom (or Fred and Barney). They were hiking quite a ways off, maybe 100 meters, and it looked like the big guy had his shirt of, which I though was strange because of the bugs in the woods. They were talking loud, but I couldn't make out what they were saying, when the big guy seemed to look my way and stopped. Then he points and his buddy looks my way and they have a few words, then turn and walk in my direction. I thought, "Great. Don't come here. I'm not gonna catch anything, but I'm relaxing at least."
As they get closer, I see I was right, the big guy has no shirt on. Then they get a little closer still, and... "Is he not wearing any pants?!" Nope. The guy's bush-wacking completely naked, and coming my way.
I'm not a small guy, and I can handle myself, so I wasn't worried about any Deliverance thing happening, but I did make should I had a razor-tipped arrow close by just in case, since there's two of them, then I pulled out my phone to get proof because my wife might not have believe it.
When they got about 35-40 feet away, the guy must have been able to make out my phone as I was holding it up close to the mesh because he stopped and quietly said to his friend, "There's someone in there!". I figured that was my cue. I said, "Yup, it's occupied." Without another word they turned and doubled back the way they came, and I had a good laugh. They looked to be in there 50's.
410001661
Well-known member
I'm not a small guy, and I can handle myself - I assume you are armed with a shotgun or a bow? That should be enough to stop any threat from a reasonable naked guy in the woods. Plus I could not image taking a #6 turkey load off the twig and berries
Mad Mike
Well-known member
Where I am this week it’s Goose hunting. They take it seriously on the James Bay coast, schools closed, all govt offices closed for 2 weeks. Helicopters ferrying hunters to remote bush camps non stop.
It’s quite a spectacle to see the migration, a week of non stop honking from the sky, day and night as thousand of geese fly by on their northern migration.
It’s quite a spectacle to see the migration, a week of non stop honking from the sky, day and night as thousand of geese fly by on their northern migration.
Mad Mike
Well-known member
Game that needs a culinary miracle to make it to the plate isn’t enjoyable for me. When I see recipe’s like that, all I see is a long way of saying ‘not very good’.
Wild turkey, beaver, squirrels, turtles… save your crockpot and spice rack — just make dog food. Your best friend will honestly enjoy it more than you and your buddies.
It reminds me of trout from a trout pond. Someone told me to soak the fish in salt water for a day. Hmmm tasted like salty mud.
410001661
Well-known member
That is Goose for me.........sky carp. I have hunted them in northern Alberta and they tasted the exact same - greasy ***
I hate trout. The only freshwater fish I like is pickerel and I’d rather have an ocean fish instead of that. Don’t mind venison and I had caribou which was ok. As far as birds go duck above all else. Duck confit is probably the tastiest most unhealthy thing on the planet.
Except fries done in the fat from the roast
Hooray hooray the first of May. Outdoor.....oh not yet!
sburns
Well-known member
I have deer in my backyard all the time. In the winter they pass through and eat the cedars, even in the front yard. East end Toronto
This was last week, besides the bad photo this guy was looking a bit rough.
410001661
Well-known member
Trout, pickerel, perch, but my favorite is pike (but you need to know how to take the Y bone out of it). I am in agreement about Duck Confit..........I get it every time I am in Quebec!!
Lac Brome sells prepackaged duck confit. It’s available across Ontario at various places but harder to find than the duck breasts.. Costco sells the duck breasts which are the best value in a multipack.
Delicious stuff.
Peking duck is another favourite but no one sells that near me.
Edit: now I’m just hungry.
