Target Practice Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 Hi all, I had a successful day over the rape stubble yesterday where I shot 32 pigeon. It was a long day, shooting all day in the heat/sunshine. So lots of flies about. When I returned home with my bag, I left them overnight in a box to cool and now, only 1 day after shooting them, I have breasted them but when doing so I have noticed that on at least 10 of the birds there was a lot of flybrow. I threw away the 10 or so birds that had 'loads' of flybrow on them. The rest had either 'none' or 'some' flybrow on them, so I have breasted them to eat for myself, the breast meat was unaffected and in good condition, and is now in the freezer. Is this ok to eat?? All very unpleasant. What do other people do...? Thanks a lot guys....!! (In future I will breast them as I shoot on hot days.... gross) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deny essex Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 I just used to get the fly blow off ASAP after shooting and check again before storing them in the cooler or freezer, flies can lay as soon as the bird is dropped, wing to body joint is a common place for them. As long as its not in pellet wounds and left for a long period the meat is fine. A well wet hessian sack to put shot birds in as dropped and kept in the shade helps keep the flies off, dont seal them in plastic carrier bags hoping to keep the flies off it can make the meat tainted as turns to cook in a bag pigeon. Use a cooler box if you can get one to your hide , it will keep the birds fresh with cooler blocks and the flies off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Essex Hunter Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 Any thing that is dead will be targeted buy blowflies! This problem is very hard to solve as you will spend more time trying to keep the flies at bay than shooting, the only way is to manage the problem. To stop the flies then you need to retrieve the shot birds and cover them up, however that is counter productive as running in and out of the hide will cause you to be seen and break your rhythm. They need to cool down so a wet sack will work but if you pile them up on top of each other then they will sweat! 1 wet sack is not enough too cover up a good bag. I use a 3 mtr stealth net and cover the birds up with it, also I rip open 2/3 birds and put them 4/6 yards away as a target for the flies. The birds go to the game dealer the next morning so I pick off any eggs as I tray them up. In the morning I help the the game dealer staff tray them up as we count them out and check again... It is next to impossible to stop flies so you have to do your best and work out your own method... TEH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead eye alan Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 Carp sack keeps fly's off no problem keep it in the shade and spread body,s to allow air flow. Cheap to buy of flea bay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet1747 Posted August 26, 2013 Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 Makes me wonder how the bloody things find them straight away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted August 26, 2013 Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 They always seem to target the mouth, nostrils and backside too. How do you clean them out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Target Practice Posted August 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2013 Thanks chaps. I've just purchased some hessian sacks from amazon. ....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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