Sprocket Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 (edited) 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.... I have a local Game keeper that does "Deer Management" -needless to say he gets sick and tired of venison (but loves pigeon) - so we swap meat on a regular basis. We both work off the the old sayings of "Fair exchange is no robbery" and " What goes around comes around". That way we can support and help each other by exchanging food and passing on Land -without treading on each others toes and also enjoying the produce of our shooting. Edited August 13, 2011 by Sprocket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 Varies really, I keep some nice fresh breasts for pan frying at home I often crown the pigeons for speed (I have a machine for this - takes a few seconds per bird) then pop them in the pressure cooker, 30minute wizz on full then open up the P/cooker, let them cool and debone into nice chunks for freezing or curries Some are used to make clear game soups I never pluck them now I swap some for Honey - local family I swap some for other meat (local producers of pork and lamb) - they want variety as well!! Some I give away to people who appreciate them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lspencer Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 offer a local butcher some, either for money or in return for some meat. Offer the landowners who you shoot for some. Also if you know of anybody with birds of prey or ferrets. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kelly Posted August 14, 2011 Report Share Posted August 14, 2011 I breast the birds then mince them with a hand mincer. 15-20 birds breasts mixed with a pound of fatty belly pork mince makes a superb amount of mince for cooking with. Chilli, shepherds(?) pie, lasagne etc Sorted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloudwalker Posted August 14, 2011 Report Share Posted August 14, 2011 Look in the Shooting Times etc. There are usually adverts from Gamedealers looking for game and they will collect from your home. Get yourself a freezer and fill it and then give the dealer a call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humperdingle Posted August 14, 2011 Report Share Posted August 14, 2011 I've started to take any excess pigeons to the raptor centre. It's on the way home from my shoot anyway, and they're glad of any food I can provide for their hawks. Only issue is that I need to use steel shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted August 15, 2011 Report Share Posted August 15, 2011 If they are going to go to waste then I do not shoot them, and I view feeding them to dogs/cats/hawks/ocelots/leopard seals or whatever as going to waste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humperdingle Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 If they are going to go to waste then I do not shoot them, and I view feeding them to dogs/cats/hawks/ocelots/leopard seals or whatever as going to waste. Really? I kind of feel i'm helping a local business save a bit of money, and helping the farmer get rid of some pest birds. Add a bit of shooting for myself, and i'd regard that as a win, win, win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 ebay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humperdingle Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 ebay? funkypigeon.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
semiautolee Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 no matter how many i shoot they always come home with me and go in the freezer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jez28 Posted August 17, 2011 Report Share Posted August 17, 2011 Get an old freezer and stock pile them. Just one trip to the game dealer then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canis Posted August 17, 2011 Report Share Posted August 17, 2011 If they are going to go to waste then I do not shoot them, and I view feeding them to dogs/cats/hawks/ocelots/leopard seals or whatever as going to waste. I'm a firm believer that anything shot or caught should enter the food chain if possible/ suitable -I draw the line at eating rat! I fail to see how feeding a dog, hawk, snake or velociraptor would be "meat going to waste" though -either to feed your own animal or donated to dogs and cats home, a birds of prey rescue centre or Jurassic Park Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bang 666 Posted August 17, 2011 Report Share Posted August 17, 2011 Game dealer? Get some ferrets. My wife and I will eat what we want and freeze some but we have ferrets for rabbiting and they take care of anything we have left. Or take them to the pub I don't think you can sell them to them but you should be able to come to an understanding a free meal or a few pints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redpoll Posted August 19, 2011 Report Share Posted August 19, 2011 Hi,what i do is take the breasts off,the bits that are damaged with the shot are fed to my two springers,the clean ones are cut into srips and packed into little plastic food containers,you can buy these at the pound shop for a pack of ten!labled with the date it was shot,presentation is the key for selling! I take a lot of time and pride in preparing the meat as i dont like to waste birds that iv shot! cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salopian Posted August 20, 2011 Report Share Posted August 20, 2011 Have you tried contacting Will Oakley at Will O' Game at Lydbury North, Shropshire? Also local butchers & farm shops will take them. I only use the breast meat fried with garlic butter, onions & mushrooms, bacon and eggs. My breakfasts are very popular especially on Saturday mornings for non-working friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted August 20, 2011 Report Share Posted August 20, 2011 Get an old freezer and stock pile them. Just one trip to the game dealer then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulABF Posted August 20, 2011 Report Share Posted August 20, 2011 I use an old chest freezer which is kept in the garage, bought for £30 10 years ago. Holds about 80-100 birds. After each session I normally remove the breasts from 6 birds or so, cut into strips and marinade in different sauces, chilli, BBQ etc for a day before freezing. These I use for barbies and the whole birds either as decoys on future trips or give to friends and neighbours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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