Wild turkey legs are one of the toughest cuts of wild game I’ve ever cooked. These 20-pound birds spend all day running around looking for food, fighting, and avoiding all types of predators. It’s no wonder their skinny little legs are densely muscled and full of hard tendons.

You can braise or confit turkey legs to render the meat tender, or debone and grind them for use in sausage or any ground meat dish. But another great way to utilize these substantial legs is to keep them whole and smoke the heck out of them.

Smoked turkey legs are similar to smoked ham hocks or neck bones. They make a great addition to any stew or braise that needs some salty and smoky flavors. Braised collards, split pea soup, or any bean dish benefits from the addition of this smoky supplement.

The smoked legs add flavor to anything you’re simmering and add body to the final dish. All the tough connective tissue and tendons, which usually make the legs less enjoyable to eat, break down and give a collagen-rich mouthfeel that defines a good pot of braised greens or beans. This slow-and-low cooking also makes the legs themselves tender, so you’ll end up with shreddable bits of smoky turkey in whatever you are cooking.

This recipe is simple to make: brine then smoke. It’s an easy way to make use of an otherwise tough-to-cook piece of meat. This can be done with skin-on or skinless legs. You can also use the wings and neck.