Hunting with shotgun newbee question

[Katitmail]

I never hunted before, so this question will be lame, but I'm curious and want to know

I was patterning shotgun and checked number of pellets... How do you eat game after you shoot it? It will be packed with lead...

I just don't understand processing part of it. If I do manage hit game, how do I clean it so there is no pellets inside?

 

[rcmodel]

After dressing, you can see any entry holes in the meat.

I use a small pair of medical forceps down the holes and pull them out.

With birds, there is often a 'feather ball' around the shot too.

But sometimes after your best efforts, there is still a shot or two in the meat after cooking it.

So you spit them out in your napkin!

rc

 

[Katitmail]

If steel shot used, maybe some kind of powerful magnet can be used?

 

[Doc7]

My shotgun with birdshot patterns tight inside 25 yards. I've only ever picked out 2 or 3 pellets from a squirrel though and they are usually flush to the skin on opposite side of body.

 

[oneounceload]

I have a nice pocket knife with a sharp pointed end that works well (talking aout birds, not deer). You will know if you bite down on a lead pellet

 

[Katitmail]

Well. My goal it to learn how to avoid this

 

[243winxb]

A high velocity load of #5 shot will pass clean thru small game. A few will be found that hit bone and stopped.

 

[gspn]

If I do manage hit game, how do I clean it so there is no pellets inside?

Do your best...there are no guarantees. Anytime I'm eating something that's been shot will pellets I go into the meal knowing that i need to chew gently.

You can do a pretty thorough job using the techniques that others have mentioned...but the minute you think you've got them all you're going to bite down on one. It just kind of comes with the territory. It's not going to be as bad as you're probably thinking right now.

 

[Katitmail]

I'm OK with it myself. I'm just worrying that my wife and kids will be eating game last time when they bite on pellet. Or they won't at all if I tell them there might be something

 

[Doc7]

I'm OK with it myself. I'm just worrying that my wife and kids will be eating game last time when they bite on pellet. Or they won't at all if I tell them there might be something

More for you

 

[steve564]

Birds have a bunch up of feathers surrounding the shot. Easy to find.

 

[oneounceload]

Larger shot is easier to see, cutting the birds up in smaller pieces exposes more potential spots where shot might might be. Whiter meat birds like quail contrast dark shot more readily in many cases than darker species like chukar

 

[Sunray]

Shot in birds is very rarely an issue for eating or cooking 'em. You take any shot left in the meat out when you clean 'em.

 

[d2wing]

When I am cleaning birds I look for the pellet holes and dig them out. Like RC said they will have feathers around them. I use heavier shot so there will be fewer and larger pellets. And chew softly, shot is hard on dental works, especially if you have to use steel.