Discuss, share information, ask questions, and show off your expertise on Yoder Stick Burners.

Click the links below to go directly to available resources:
**Backyard** - Cheyenne, Wichita, Loaded Wichita, Kingman, Durango 20", Durango 24", Stockton
**Trailer Mounted** - Santa Fe, Chisholm, Frontiersman
**Competition** - Cimarron, Kingman, Frontiersman
**Custom Trailers, Combinations and Competition Cookers**
November 19th, 2015, 10:42 am
#1
* Abilene ** Abilene *
  • Joined: July 10th, 2015, 10:39 am
  • Posts: 4

Good morning to everyone!

I have a limited time to cook this year's turkey. I've had my Cheyenne for about six months, and have never attempted to keep the heat up at anything more than 250. Has anyone ever used a cheyenne or wichita to keep the temperature at around 350 for long enough to cook a turkey?

Was thinking of sptachcocking a 12-14 lb bird.

I've got plenty of wood... temperature looks like it will be in the mid 20's though. This will also be my first cook in cold weather.

I'm burning Cherry for what it's worth.

Any thoughts/Ideas/comments?

Thanks!

Stephen
Boise, Idaho

November 19th, 2015, 3:04 pm
#2
Site AdminSite Admin
User avatar
  • Joined: April 18th, 2014, 3:12 pm
  • Posts: 2408

You will need to use a slightly larger fire, and allow more air in through the firebox damper so that the fire burns hotter and drafts the heat through the cooker. By doing this, you will obviously need to use more wood, more often.

Yoder_Herb
November 19th, 2015, 5:34 pm
#3
* Abilene ** Abilene *
  • Joined: July 10th, 2015, 10:39 am
  • Posts: 4

Thank you Herb! Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!!

November 20th, 2015, 8:01 am
#4
* Kingman ** Kingman *
  • Joined: September 3rd, 2014, 11:04 pm
  • Posts: 422

And cheap welding blankets and moving blankets will help keep the temp up for the cook.

November 21st, 2015, 11:22 pm
#5
* Cheyenne ** Cheyenne *
  • Joined: May 18th, 2015, 9:25 pm
  • Posts: 62

First off.... Congats on taking on the challenge!! That can be an intimidating experience the first time. My only recommendation would be to start the smoker LONG before you want to put the bird on. You will want to get the smoker stable for a set time. You should have this feeling inside you that the temp has been stable too long! Once you're comfortable with a nice stable clean burning 350...... you can put the bird on and know that the final product will be killer.

With time you will know how to reach that stable temp, but don't be afraid to let that unit burn for a couple of hours to feel comfortable about putting the bird on.

Return to Stick Burners