Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid (or, why am I disappointed?)

[IR2dum]

Don, I agree with Hub and Cliff and Mike and everybody else when they say that the reddish color next to the bones is normal. My chickens and turkeys are smoked on a pellet pooper and they all have that reddish color next to the bones and I take the temps way up to the 190's sometimes (when I step away for a while and kinda forget to take them off in a timely manner...happens more often than I would like to admit). Your turkey looks delicious and I think that you did everything right. Keep experimenting because those experiments taste great.

[TentHunteR]

If you've got 165-170 degrees at the thickest point of the thigh, you've got a done bird.  Reddish coloring to the meat, especially near the bones and joints is a normal result of smoking, a chemical reaction.  If the juices run clear, not bloody, its done.

Hub

Good point Hub.  You can't forget the chemical reaction in a wood-fired, charcoal or gas cooker (I.E. the smoke ring).


One clarification I would add is that the dark pinkish reddish color around the bones is actually hemoglobin from the marrow seeping through the soft porous bones. This is because many modern breeds of poultry (both chickens and turkeys) grow so quickly and are slaughtered at such a young age that their bones aren't fully developed.



Here's are a couple articles with more details: 

► From the USDA (scroll down and read sections 13, 14. 15 & 16):  USDA/FSIS - Color of Meat and Poultry

►From Amazing ribs:  amazingribs.com - Mythbusting when chicken is done



This is a good discussion, especially with Thanksgiving just a few days away.

[order66]

Keep at it Don.
Don't give up.
I put 7 hours into a good but not great boston butt yesterday.
This hobby is all about practice. There is so much knowled and experience here. Just gotta keep trying. It felt strange not to chase temps and fiddle with dampers, wonder what the barrel temp,was when I first got my PBC now after a few dozen cooks,  I have it mostly sorted out, I love the freedom that the PBC offers. Drink beer watch the game, entertain guests all without obsessing about what the cooker is doing...
Barrel-On Don!!!

[smokeasaurus]

My buddy in High School joined the Professional Bowlers Assc. after we graduated. I watched him bowl a 300 right handed and years later he rolled a 300 left handed much to my amazement. The next game he threw two gutter balls. He told me bowling is a sport where anyone can do it but nobody can master it.

I think Queing is kinda like bowling......

[Las Vegan Cajun]

Keep at it Don.
Don't give up.
I put 7 hours into a good but not great boston butt yesterday.
This hobby is all about practice. There is so much knowled and experience here. Just gotta keep trying. It felt strange not to chase temps and fiddle with dampers, wonder what the barrel temp,was when I first got my PBC now after a few dozen cooks,  I have it mostly sorted out, I love the freedom that the PBC offers. Drink beer watch the game, entertain guests all without obsessing about what the cooker is doing...
Barrel-On Don!!!

That's what I'm talking about, this year I'm doing two turkeys, one in the BEESR, which I've done before, and the other in the PBC, my first in the PBC.  Both cookers are set it and forget it cookers and I plan to indulge in some adult beverages while the birds are roasting away. 

[Pam Gould]

My buddy in High School joined the Professional Bowlers Assc. after we graduated. I watched him bowl a 300 right handed and years later he rolled a 300 left handed much to my amazement. The next game he threw two gutter balls. He told me bowling is a sport where anyone can do it but nobody can master it.

I think Queing is kinda like bowling......

The only reason I like bowling is because the ball comes back to you.  .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ.

[smokeasaurus]

My buddy in High School joined the Professional Bowlers Assc. after we graduated. I watched him bowl a 300 right handed and years later he rolled a 300 left handed much to my amazement. The next game he threw two gutter balls. He told me bowling is a sport where anyone can do it but nobody can master it.

I think Queing is kinda like bowling......

The only reason I like bowling is because the ball comes back to you.  .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ.

 

[Las Vegan Cajun]

My buddy in High School joined the Professional Bowlers Assc. after we graduated. I watched him bowl a 300 right handed and years later he rolled a 300 left handed much to my amazement. The next game he threw two gutter balls. He told me bowling is a sport where anyone can do it but nobody can master it.

I think Queing is kinda like bowling......

The only reason I like bowling is because the ball comes back to you.  .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ.