Cleaning Birds

[TrapperReady]

My typical method to cleaning gamebirds has been as follows:

1) cut the wings off close to the body
2) fold the head back and hold it in place
3) make a small slit at the top of the breastbone
4) peel the skin and such back until the breast meat is exposed
5) insert thumb in hole above breast bone and pull forward

This will give you all of the breast meat, with the rib-cage still attached. On some birds, I may follow steps 1-4, and then use a filet-knife to remove the breast meat.

However, I've read recently about a more straightforward method, which involves simply extending the wings, standing on them and pulling slowly but firmly on the legs. This is supposed to leave you with the breast meat attached to the wings, and only take a few seconds.

Has anyone tried this method? If so, how effective is it? Is there any trick or problem to be aware of when doing it? What size birds can it be done with? I'm particularly interested to know if it works well for dove, grouse and pheasant.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

BTW, PETAs got to hate stuff like this.

 

[DigMe]

I read about that recently in Field and Stream as well. Sounds a lot easier. I'm guessing ducks would be too big but I might try it anyway this season.

brad cook

 

[Smoke]

I think I'd heard of that...but forgotten it.

Never tried it. I will be sure to try it in 8 days.

If someone has more details or a link, be sure to post it here.

I always did it thus:

Twist of wings.
Insert thumb and breast the bird.
Peel of skin.
Done.

My maternal granddad always cleaned the birds so you ended up with the legs and wings intact. He thought my paternal granddad that breasted birds was wasting the best meat.

Pop spent 5 minutes cleaning a bird for 2 extra small bites of meat. I breast them.

Smoke

 

[dakotasin]

that's the way i clean pheasants. i've posted on it several times in the past. works very well as long as you don't wring the bird's neck.

put your boots in tight to the body on either wing, grab the legs, and pull slow and steady keeping constant pressure. the pheasant comes unglued in a hurry, and is very clean. takes just a few seconds... quicker and easier than getting a knife involved.

 

[TrapperReady]

dakotasin - What happens if you've wrung the bird's neck? I can't quite picture why that would be a problem.

 

[12 Volt Man]

This method works fantastic. I have used it on chukars and pheasants many times. I learned it at a hunt club where they dress birds every day. I was amazed the first time I saw it.

 

[dakotasin]

trapper- if you've wrung his neck, it is usually broken bad enough that it won't come through the cavity... and depending on where it is broken, it may not take all the insides out. not a real big deal, but not as clean or quick, either.

it is an extremely efficient method of dressing birds out. you will also get a feel for how old your bird is. young birds come unglued w/ almost zero effort. old birds take some time, and need a slow, steady pull. they all come unglued, some just do it easier than others. kind of gives you something to correlate spur size w/ age...

btw, you will always get funny looks from guys in your hunting party who have never seen it done before. but, you'll make believers out of them when you are done dressing 3 birds before the fastest of the knife wielders even gets thru one.

my brother and myself have ceased carrying knives for pheasant hunting.

 

[dakotasin]

btw- my brother and i have experimented w/ other 'no-knife' methods, and some of them work quite well, but the leg-pull method is the best way to get the least mess on you, and the cleanest bird. probably is the 2nd fastest method we found, but is far and away the best.

 

[TrapperReady]

Thanks again!

I agree that it sounds fast and easy. With any luck, I'll be giving it a try within a couple weeks.

BTW, the first method I outlined works well even if you don't have a knife. On a bigger bird, like a pheasant, the wings can be a little tough to twist off, but not too bad. Then, you can just pluck a few feathers from above the breast bone and jam your thumb in there. If I've got a knife or pair of scissors handy, I'll use them. But if not, it's still quick and easy.

 

[sm]

Normally I breast out birds as TR described in original post - and others shared.- especially Doves.

Now Quail - I pick them careful, similar to what Smoke's Granddad did. Special - deserve the whole special treatment from hunting , cleaning, to preparation, cooking and eating . Reverence

Trash Ducks get breasted, A Nice big old fat Greenhead....etc, I may take my time - have a spl way I like to fix these - think baking hen / small turkey - oven or slow cook on grill.

I have heard of the "pulling method" - don't recall ever seeing it done proper.

I'm going to ask , since it comes up ever so many years, for the sake of new folks If I May?

Anyone Use / How to use the Gut hook on the bird knife.

All mine are gone - pre "choke blade models" * grin* . I used the gut hook to hang the knife , either while washing my hands or to keep handy - you know, hang it on the side of the cardbord box on the picnic table to open stuff, stir the beans or spread the mustard with the other blade.

 

[TrapperReady]

Steve - I've heard of using the little hook to snare the innards and pull them out through a small slit. Some (McIntosh perhaps) advocates stuffing the cavity with grass or some such, so as to help cool the bird down as quickly as possible.

Sounds too much like work to me.

Cleaning birds is like cleaning a gun. I don't want to do it. I know I have to do it. If this "stand and pull" method works well, I may have to see if I can get my kid to do it. He's stong... and gullible.

 

[sm]

Trapper-
I have to agree with you. My mentors kept things simple and basically felt like too many things on the market for sale to Hunters and Fisherman " designed to catch a wallet - not a critter".

Back then , we had fixed choked bbls. The Orvis, LLBean, Shrade "Bird knives" were handy and thoughtful gifts - "what one did". Beautiful wood handles, Sharp carbon steel ,that took and held an edge. That blade design was great for skinning, or whittlin' .

Keeping birds cool - Burlap as I have spoke of before. Free, dunk it in a creek, lake, stream ....if too dirty, bloody, messy to clean up - toss it when done with the hunt and grab another.

Quail - revered.

The only "gadget" we / I like are the game shears. Safer to use, especially when hands cold and wet. Works great to cut a big bad of Jerkey half into to share. [ try that with a fancy high dollar knife] .

On the Pulling Method - I can see the merit , I can visualize it ...like I said, never actually been around someone to see it done. I would imagine it would be easy to "peel " the skin and feathers all in one step, instead of having to pick feathers.

Good topic and thanks for bringing it up - folks thanks for sharing.

 

[TrapperReady]

Steve - I don't need game shears to share jerky. My dog doesn't mind if I bite it in half first, and I don't mind if he bites it in half first. As long as we both end up with some, we're happy.

 

[wintermute76]

I use the step on the wings/ pull legs method on ruffed grouse ever since my buddy showed me. Works pretty slick.


I first did it like my father, I think it was , grab it by the neck, and stick your thumb in above and behind the breast, and pull the breast out. Been a while since I've done it that way tho. Don't exactly remember.

 

[TrapperReady]

Wintermute - The method you describe is basically the quick and dirty version I outlined in the first post of this thread. Cutting the wings off seems to make it a little easier, and if I've already got a knife or pair of scissors in my hand, then I'll make a small cut above the breast-bone.

However, if I'm cleaning a bunch, sometimes I'll just jab and pull.

 

[MarineTech]

I've used the "Standing on the wings" methed for partridge (ruffled grouse) here in Maine since I was a boy.

Works great, is very quick, and leaves the entire breast intact around the rib cage of the bird.

Never been a pheasant or duck hunter, so I'm not sure how well it would work on them. Woodcock can be hit or miss though. The smaller wings and body make it hard to get your feet on well.

Just make sure when using this method that the sides of your feet are right up against the sides of the bird before you start pulling. Also, make sure you pull with a slow, even pressure. Otherwise you're going to wind up with a body and legs detached from the wings.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Steve - I've heard of using the little hook to snare the innards and pull them out through a small slit.

I've heard that the "gut hook" was originally put on knives to use the knife for picking up the handle of a hot pan on a fire.

I've been successful using the step on the wings and pull the feet method on ruffed Grouse for a number of years. You get a nice hunk of breast meat and keep a wing attached as required here in MN.

 

[Smoke]

I tried this "stand on the wings and pull their toes" method....I can't make it work.

Interent hoax or bad technique? Some one got video or pics?

Smoke

 

[TrapperReady]

Tried it with a couple doves and wasn't happy.

I'll try it again in a couple weeks after I put my dog over some preserve pheasants. If that doesn't work out better, then I'll just stay with the method I've been using.

BTW, I think I first saw this recommended in a Field & Stream magazine.

 

[TJC]

OK, I shoot a number of pheasants every year and I'm always up for new ways to clean them. This standing and pulling method sounds pretty good.

Question (I think I know the answer but what the hey): The bird is on it's back when you step and pull or is the back facing you?

Thanks

 

[TrapperReady]

The way I've seen it described has the bird on its back.

 

[SkunkApe]

I've heard of using the little hook to snare the innards and pull them out through a small slit.

Actually, you insert it through the ????. Snag a loop of intestine, and pull them all out. You're supposed to do this right after you shoot the bird, to keep it from spoiling in warm weather if you're a long way from cleaning it properly.

Edit: I guess the anatomical word I used is censored, hence the question marks. I guess I should have said "the body orifice at the opposite end from the mouth".

I don't use a gut hook, anyway. I seldom hunt far from the truck. If it's hot, I just go back to clean the birds.

 

[TJC]

OK, thanks Trapper.

 

[SpiderJohn]

I tried it several times Saturday. Ended up with several pairs of dove drumsticks.

 

[TrapperReady]

Yup. I'm of the opinion that doves are just too small. I'm hoping to try it on grouse or pheasant pretty soon.