Mike525steel Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 I shoot pigeons at least once a week at the moment and generally come home with at least 30/40 birds ive got a couple of people that ask for a few but when i say a few i mean 4 or 5 birds a year. one bloke i shoot with will fill his freezer with around a hundred dressed birds a year as he will feed them cooked as dog food/ my dad will also feed them as dog food but will not stock pile them. but apart from that thats about it. we provide a vital roll in our area in protecting the crops for our local farm estates and it seems a shame that these birds can go to waste. id be interested to hear from PW members to see what they do with there surplus and also if anyone in the cheshire east area wanted to take any off my hands. i look forward to your replies.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Game dealer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forest079 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Sell to local pubs or restaurants ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Pluck them, keep the feathers. During the cold winter evenings make yourself a giant pigeon costume. YOU can be the decoy. They will see you from far away. It's what all the professionals do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weejase Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 I really enjoy shooting rabbit / pigeons and deer but I find the gutting / breasting and skinning part of It a real pain In the butt I`d have a day on the crows over pigeons any day of the week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike525steel Posted August 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Game dealer? Ive looked into this one and cant find one on the net local if i could find one id be happy to drop them off for free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike525steel Posted August 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Pluck them, keep the feathers. During the cold winter evenings make yourself a giant pigeon costume. YOU can be the decoy. They will see you from far away. It's what all the professionals do i hadnt thought of that one Wicked im making one !!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike525steel Posted August 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Sell to local pubs or restaurants ? i think thats against the law without a licence? quote me if im wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forest079 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 I'm sure you can sell them to pubs and restaurants as long as they prepare it all on their premises. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 (edited) Freeze the breasts, make pigeon pies, feed them to the dog etc. I have 3 children so pigeon always goes quickly could you make sausages maybe or mince them ? If I Remember mark Gilchrist said on one of his programs that he needs about 8 pigeons to one pie ?? some people actually smoke the breasts also ?? Edited August 13, 2011 by mpk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 I'm sure you can sell them to pubs and restaurants as long as they prepare it all on their premises. Could you give give them as a "gift" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 The problem with pubs and restaurants is that they would want a consistent and reliable supply and it's difficult for a shooter to be able to do that. I end up feeding them to the mother in laws cats or give them away, even to people I don't particularly like :blink:, just to see them used up. I must get hold of an old freezer ready for next year and make a trip to the game dealer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 You can legally sell them to pubs and restaurants in the feather, you'll also get a better price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 Surely it saves lots of room in the freezer if you breast them rather than dressing them and freezing them whole mate as there are so many ways of cooking pigeon breasts that are extremely tasty! There is a game dealer around our way that is crying out for shot wood pigeons and will take any amount - I can send you his contact details if you want as he might be able to help you out on advice on storing them too! If you were close enough I would happily take them off your hands as I don't get many woodies around here and I love eating stir fried wood pigeon breasts. Who knows we might be able to work something out as I live in a block of flats for the elderly and the residents often have shot rabbits etc from me which I give to them ready to cook and free of charge! You might like to PM me if you are really stuck for somewhere to get rid ot them where they will not go to waste - There's something wrong with wasting good meat in my opinion - It kind of makes it too much like killing for the sake of killing even though I honestly do realise that these pests (Just like rabbits) have to be shot to protect the crops! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docholiday Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 we have a couple of pubs around the farms we shoot, I drop all the pigeons I dont want off with them in exchange for a beer or two, They are very happy as its cheap for them and I am happy not to waist the birds and get a pint at the end of a days shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proTOM1 Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 Sell all mine to the game dealer he comes and picks them up every sunday he will come even if there is just 1 as he goes around a few places ,but he normal gets to take over 250 a week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenBhoy Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 pub, butcher, sell at work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney86 Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 You can supply them to pubs/butchers as long as they are 'in-feather', and no more than a certain number (I think it is a few thousand a year, cant remember). More info on the food standards website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 Ive looked into this one and cant find one on the net local if i could find one id be happy to drop them off for free The Net and the phonebook are not the best places to look. Look for adverts in Gunshops and ask over the counter, check with any Gamekeepers in your area and even Claygrounds sometimes have an Ad on the wall. Ask other local shooters, Farmers and even your Butcher (if he is a real one). Be prepared to invest in a decent sized freezer, because Game Dealers may not want the birds 12 months a year and they normally require a minimum number (usually at least 100). Like most things in life, seek and ye shall find. If you are not shooting that many, then look to pool your birds with one, or a few other shooters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 Are there any birds of prey santuary's in your area. I used to give pigeons to one close to me, and he would remove the breasts, check for lead shot, then feed them to the birds. He was always glad of them, as it saved him buying food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vampire Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 I really enjoy shooting rabbit / pigeons and deer but I find the gutting / breasting and skinning part of It a real pain In the butt What are you doing to get a pain in the butt whilst breasting. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve w Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 during the summer i freeze mine till i get get 50 or 100 then take them to the game dealer 20p per bird. if i shoot more than 50 in one go or over the weekend i take them straight away 25p per bird.i have an old chest frezzer in the garage.it works for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 Personally I think it's crazy giving them to the dog!? I shoot 25-50 a week up here at the moment but that will dry up soon when the stubbles ploughed. I breast them all give a few to friends but most go in the freezer and get eaten what with that and pheasants and duck and greese we never really buy any meat at all here. I hate breasting them but I believe if you shoot it you should butcher and eat it. Draw the line a crows though!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 i have just made up 20 pigeon & ale pastys, used up 30 pigeons and i then freeze them or give them to people. Otherwise i bag them up into portions of about 8-10 breasts and freeze Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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