Follow-Worthy Wild Turkey Chefs

Wild game meat is arguably the best in the world. Cooking it isn’t difficult, either. And don’t be mistaken, while fried nuggets are great, that isn’t the only option for your hard-earned bird. Check out these incredible wild game chefs and follow them for mouth-watering recipes.

JH: Why do you love to cook wild game?

TC: I love to eat. I’m not much for drinking, dipping or smoking. My vice is eating. That’s pretty much how it all started. I love hunting and want to use all the meat. So, 20 years ago, I got into cooking to enjoy the meat I was harvesting.

JH: What is your favorite way to cook wild turkey?

TC: I love plucking the whole bird and brining and roasting it. I pluck the birds, break them down and use them for different things. I love to do long, slow cooks with the legs. I also love to stuff the breasts with the skin on and smoke them.

JH: What will people gain by following your cooking advice, tips and recipes?

TC: I think people will learn to appreciate and enjoy their wild game, but not just occasionally. I want people to explore wild game.

JH: Why do you love to cook wild game?

JD: It’s the art of doing what our ancestors have done. I like bringing it back to that local mindset of knowing where your food comes from versus going to the grocery and grabbing a piece of beef or chicken that you know nothing about.

JH: What is your favorite way to cook wild turkey?

JD: My favorite way is smoked — the legs, thighs and breast cooked low and slow on a smoker. That really pairs well, even though it doesn’t have fat. By adding liquids, it really elevates that dish.

JH: What will people gain by following your cooking advice, tips and recipes?

JD: What most people will gain is a better understanding of how to do it better yourself, to feel confident and excited, and to realize there aren’t mistakes — just advances.

JH: Why do you love to cook wild game?

DD: When I first took up wild game, it was the challenge from others. People would always say duck tastes horrible, or turkey meat is dry. I’ve always been like, there must be a way to fix this. That’s why I started cooking wild game — to prove people wrong.

JH: What is your favorite way to cook wild turkey?

DD: I’m a sucker for Mexican food. I always have been. I do this with upland birds as well, but it works great with turkey. You poach the meat, shred it and use it a lot of different ways. But I like to use it in enchiladas or a turkey salad sandwich.

JH: What will people gain by following your cooking advice, tips and recipes?

DD: I hope they gain a few pounds. That’s the goal. Get out there and experiment with wild game. It isn’t as intimidating as the world makes it. People are figuring out that wild game is a great ingredient. Treated right, it works well. If you follow me, I’m not a fancy recipe guy. I’m a home country cook. I want something that tastes delicious.

JH: Why do you love to cook wild game?

SL: It’s a passion I’ve had for the past 40-50 years. I hunt, fish, and I love to eat what I catch.

JH: What is your favorite way to cook wild turkey?

SL: I love to butterfly and stuff them with fresh herbs. Maybe a little garlic and some decent cheese. But I don’t want to overpower the turkey. I want my turkey to taste like turkey. I’m not one of those who wraps it in bacon and jalapeños and soaks it. But stuffing it, roasting it and cutting it into medallions is one of my favorite ways to do it.

JH: What will people gain by following your cooking advice, tips and recipes?

SL: I’ve cooked more turkeys than most. I use all parts of the turkey. I consider my recipes very easy to follow. There are no obscure ingredients. And I never cook a whole bird. It’s different parts cooked differently. One of the things that bothers me most about turkey hunters is they breast out and throw the rest away. I show people how to use the whole bird.

JH: Why do you love to cook wild game?

JD: The main reason we hunted when I was growing up was for deer meat. But ever since I started hunting wild turkeys, it became my favorite game meat. Cooking gives me a lot of motivation and to hunt as many turkeys as I can every spring.

JH: What is your favorite way to cook wild turkey?

JD: There is a lot of fancy stuff you can do with wild turkey meat, whether it be a breast, legs or full body. But it’s hard to beat deep-fried wild turkey nuggets. My favorite variation of that is soaking them in a pickle juice and marinating it for at least four hours before I bread and fry them.

JH: What will people gain by following your cooking advice, tips and recipes?

JD: I like to provide recipes with table appeal, and wow people and impress them. But at the same time, I don’t make anything too difficult.

JH: Why do you love to cook wild game?

MP: I grew up on it. We started out cooking wild game. We always ate deer and rabbits. These were always a part of family dinners. In college, my roommates and I lived off wild game. It’s just something I’ve always done.

JH: What is your favorite way to cook wild turkey?

MP: Everyone says fried, but I love Asian-inspired wild turkey dishes. Stir-fry with broccoli, or something along those lines. I think the wild turkey breast meat especially lends itself well to these dishes.

JH: What will people gain by following your cooking advice, tips and recipes?

MP: You can find out there’s more to it than the same two or three recipes that everyone always uses. One of the things I like to do is introduce people to the fact that you can use wild game in any number of recipes. If you go out to eat, and get a meal you really like, recreate it with wild game.