ernyha Posted July 22, 2003 Report Share Posted July 22, 2003 :< What do you shooters recommend as the best way to keep shot birds overnight before taking them to the gamedealer? I took over 100 pigeons today that had been left outside on a concrete floor and he rejected half of them as having gone off. He showed me the reason for the rejection as being blue colouring on the back at the rear and on the area around the vent. I had to admit that they didn,t look very tempting even though we had checked them thoroughly for fly blow before laying them out. Just wondered how other people store their pigeons prior to taking them to the dealer, other than freezing them of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted July 22, 2003 Report Share Posted July 22, 2003 I lay them on concrete and then lay a old wet sack on them.Always lay them on their back.Did the game dealer offer to dispose of them,i used to work for a game dealer.You would be surprised of some of the scams that go on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elma Fud Posted July 22, 2003 Report Share Posted July 22, 2003 ernyha Like you, I took some birds to my local gamedealer, after cooling the birds on my garage floor overnight. His first question was," When did you shoot them". I replied, "Yesterday afternoon". He then informed me that he didn't want them as he needs to get the shot birds the Same Day. He then went on to show the vents on some of the birds. Which I must admit were starting to turn. I wonder how many people will make the effort to take their birds to the gamedealer the same day, after a tiring day out in the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted July 22, 2003 Report Share Posted July 22, 2003 I use to lay mine on a concrete floor ,breast up, to cool. But, I still got the dark patches on the backs. Now, I just put them in a large plastic sack, straight into the freezer. Even when they are only going to be in there overnight. I agree with RobG on the Dealer trying it on. One rejected about 50 birds from me and when I went to put them back in the car, he offered to "take them for ferret food". I ended up selling them to him for 75% of the normal price, but I never went back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted July 22, 2003 Report Share Posted July 22, 2003 The reason you lay them on there back is the bodys juices will all go in the back due to gravity.Doesnt look good on the counter if the breast meat is dis-coloured.I have dressed pheasants that are as green as grass,put them in black bags to speed up process and there intestines have been mush.When you take a partridge to the game dealer he will grade it young or old by looking at the last flight feather or trying to crush head.A lot of birds will appear old,if you pull the vent away from the tail feathers tearing the skin slightly there is a sex gland if they have this they are young.We were always told that if we were caught doing this infront of a keeper we faced the sack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 ern: If you were to empty the beverages out of the fridge that you keep in the Garage, add some extra clips for additional shelving, then you would have a thermatically control cooler for storing them in. All kidding aside I have used this method for ducks and pheasants, placing the birds on the racks breast up, and when cleaned (sometimes 2 days later) the birds have shown no blemishes at all. The only draw back is I usually have to drink the beverages that are stored in there so that they dont go bad..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M ROBSON Posted August 8, 2003 Report Share Posted August 8, 2003 Last week my dad asked my sister to make up some breathable sacks for him to store shot pigeons in. She went to a fabric shop and bought some heavy net curtain material, he's been using them for a few days now and says they work a treat. The fabric is pretty strong and totally breathable, it stops the birds from being blown and allows them to cool off at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markadams Posted August 8, 2003 Report Share Posted August 8, 2003 After shooting a lot of pigeons, I take them home and lay them on a towl damp with cold water, I then cover the birds with other damp towls. I normally leave them in this over night as it can be to late to to pluck them when I get home. Do you think they would be OK over night? Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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