Turkey breast

[Hikebike]

I got into this big argument with a friend of the family over the weekend. He was talking about turkey hunting. Ok – I’m all for hunting for food, I love turkey too. He then went on to say that when he kills them he basically just rips out the turkey breast and then ditches the rest of the bird. That is a lot of meat to be wasting. I think that is terrible, your thoughts?

[WillaMarie]

I think it is terrible also. It is kind of like hunting deer and just cutting out the back strap and leaving the rest. Which, by the way they caught someone doing around here not long ago which was illegal too because it wasn't deer season yet.

[Lamebeaver]

Wild turkeys are not quite the same as the birds you find at the supermarket. He's losing a couple of drumsticks, but all in all, he's not wasting that much meat.

Those of us who fillet smaller trout (under about 10") probably waste about as much meat.

I won't throw any stones at him.

[Scotty]

There is a school of thought out there that the breast of the wild turkey is the only thing worth eating. I don't see it though. I do use the dark meat as well as the white. It's rather tough and wild tasting, but I like it.

[SweetiePie]

I think that if you are going to kill an animal, then you should use all viable parts. My mom uses the gizzards, heart, kidneys and all when we have turkey.

[Lamebeaver]

Pass on the gizzard and kidneys. Love the heart and liver.

Don't particularly care much for tongue either.

[rayne]

I understand what you are saying Lamebeaver about not wasting much but the drumsticks. However, I was raised not to waste any part. This may sound crazy but after the Thanksgiving bird is about gone, I strip the meat from the bones, boil the bones for the broth to be used in soup later on. Like I said, I was taught not to waste anything.

[Barney]

I don't like to waste food. I'd rather give my dog food or to people in need than dumping it into trash. That is just my point of view.

[Bojib]

There are some programs in my area, that if you hunt you can take the game to certain butchers. Pay them for the meat you want. Then the butchers take the rest of the meat and donate it to the needy.

Or, you can cut out what you want, and donate the rest, you don't have to pay the butchers for anything.

I think it's a good idea, especially since Deer and Elk can provide a lot of meat for people who may be in need. I disagree with it on one issue though, it seems to encourage "trophy" hunting, but at least that meat is going to someone if they will take it to the processing centers to be donated. It really bugs me when people trophy hunt, and will take the antlers, horns, etc of an animal and leave the rest.

[Grandpa]

Wasting game meat is illegal in Idaho and Wyoming.