Turkey Hunting Basics: What Thanksgiving Means to Hunters

Thanksgiving is the time of the year when families throughout the country dust off their good dinnerware in preparation for another round of holiday traditions. Unlike most people, however, the hunting community has had Thanksgiving on its mind since the spring turkey season.

For us, Thanksgiving is a true celebration of our labor in the field, and it's an opportunity to share our gifts with those around us.

As we are reminded of this, it's only fitting to share what Thanksgiving means to hunters.

Hunters Still Do It the Old Way

"I told Bill we were having another old-fashioned meal using only the food we had raised or acquired ourselves. Just think: apple pie from our apple tree, squash casserole and sliced tomatoes from our garden, Idaho bakers from our neighbor's field, homemade rolls, venison roast, and grilled salmon. What a blessing."

Not everyone has the pleasure of catching, killing, growing, and cooking an entire Thanksgiving meal. However, we love to hear from hunters who make that a priority and tradition every year.

Whether you can pull together some (or all) of your Thanksgiving feast from your garden and hunts, it's a treat to be able to do so.

National Wild Turkey Federation Members Pass the Turkey

Hunting to put food on your family's table is a special kind of achievement, but for the members of the Sioux Falls chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), it's not quite enough.

For several years, the group has donated turkeys to The Banquet, a ministry dedicated to providing food to people in need. With the 32 turkeys NWTF delivered one year, the organization served 350 to 375 people for Thanksgiving. It's a tradition for them that goes beyond the individual hunting experience and highlights what the season is truly about.

The Sioux Falls NWTF group isn't the only organization offering a helping hand either. Hunters across the country help fight hunger every Thanksgiving.

Work and Play Collide, and It's Delicious

There's great joy in sharing your passion for hunting with someone else — especially if you're exposing them to something new. The fastest and easiest way to do this is with food. So bring on the jerky, goose chili, bacon-wrapped dove poppers, and whatever else!

Many companies take time at Thanksgiving to share a meal of employee favorites.

Creating New Traditions

Jeremy Elbert of Wildlife Pursuit decided a couple of years ago that his family needed a new tradition.

When you hunt as much as Jeremy does, changing things up is always acceptable. So now, once a year, his mother and brother meet up for an out-of-state long-distance hunt in Montana.

Remember, traditions have to start somewhere. Could this be the year you start a new one?

A Different Kind of Dish

Once you've got meat in the fridge, you're only about halfway done.

Everyone has their go-to recipes for venison in particular, but most reserve the best ones for the holidays. It's also a chance to do something different.

If you're ready to move beyond your tried-and-true ways of cooking venison and wow your guests, this recipe for grilled Cajun venison bites will be something your Thanksgiving guests will talk about.

Turkey Hunting Basics: The Big Bird Still Rules the Table

Somewhere in America, a hunter and his family will enjoy a wild turkey for Thanksgiving, the harvest from a spring hunt. We hope that whatever you're serving this year, you're with friends and family.

If you're planning a late-season hunt, remember to prioritize safety! You'll only enjoy more Thanksgiving meals if you return home safely from every hunt.

Hunter-Ed wants to keep every hunter safe in the field, so we encourage you and everyone you hunt with to take a hunter safety course. Our courses are online – you can even get started after you wake up from your after-turkey-dinner nap.

Find the course for your state, and Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Hunter-Ed!

Originally published November 28, 2013. Latest content update June 4, 2024.