Game birds..

[Yazza54]

Always wanted to try something more gamey (don't think that's a word, but hope it makes sense!?) such as pheasant or partridge. Can it be difficult to cook and get right compared to your usual chicken and duck etc?

Anyone regularly eat this kind of meat? Biggest question... Where on earth can you buy it?? I live in Manchester so going and shooting a few myself is out the window, but there must be somewhere that sells it surely.

[escargot]

Most supermarkets have a limited stock of game but your best bet would be a farm shop / butcher.

The meat tends to be leaner than chicken/duck and therefore you have to adapt your cooking methods to avoid it drying out.

[mattdaniels]

Google a local game dealer and they will sort you out. Our local Sainsburys stocks Gressingham pheasant breasts so it might be worth checking the chiller cabinets in your local supermarket just in case.

I get mine from a local game dealer or a chap over the road who goes out shooting - one advantage of living in the country.

I usually have partridge or pheasant. Something to watch if roasting, the meat will dry out very quickly so be careful. Pheasant is nice in stews or in cider or guinness

Get googling and get cooking!

[Johnnytheboy]

Decent butchers will usually have it.

My favourite game bird (does it count) is guinea fowl.

Pheasant can be too dry and partridge are too fiddly.

Guinea fowl tastes like a cross between chicken and duck I guess.

[TheMobileChicane]

My favourite are partridges - by a mile. They're gamey, but sweet, if that makes any sense.

They don't need anything else other than a rub with butter and 15 minutes in the oven as hot as it will go, fan off if possible.

Partridge season started 1 September, pheasant starts 1 October. Proper game butchers are the place to go. Waitrose sometimes have game, but it's not particularly good.

[Yazza54]

Sounds good

[Wadeski]

pheasant curry - the taste of visiting posh friends in the country

[Cheese Mechanic]

Another partridge fan here, although, have to say have never tried grouse, something to be sorted in time.

As to sourcing such, the farm shop would be a good place, or just a good butcher.

[Yazza54]

doogz said:

I've never tried pheasant, but there are a bunch of them that live in my garden/field.

What are the rules on shooting them and eating them, if they're on my land?

Get them shot.

[TheMobileChicane]

Yazza54 said:

doogz said:

I've never tried pheasant, but there are a bunch of them that live in my garden/field.

What are the rules on shooting them and eating them, if they're on my land?

Get them shot.

After 1 October, of course

An air rifle will do the job with a good head shot, and a miss is likely to be a clean one. Hitting it anywhere on the body will just injure it.

A tip I've heard (but not tried) is to put out raisins soaked in brandy. 'Apparently' the birds are easier to hit when they're pissed.

[Yazza54]

TheMobileChicane said:

Yazza54 said:

doogz said:

I've never tried pheasant, but there are a bunch of them that live in my garden/field.

What are the rules on shooting them and eating them, if they're on my land?

Get them shot.

After 1 October, of course

An air rifle will do the job with a good head shot, and a miss is likely to be a clean one. Hitting it anywhere on the body will just injure it.

A tip I've heard (but not tried) is to put out raisins soaked in brandy. 'Apparently' the birds are easier to hit when they're pissed.

Wouldnt be the first time id shot a drunk bird in the face.

Edited by Yazza54 on Wednesday 4th September 18:41

[Jonnas]

My fecking garden is full of them at the moment. I could probably walk out there right now and grab you a pheasant, they're not too sharp. Partridges on the other hand are a bit too quick for me, you'd need a gun for them. Shame because they are nicer to eat......!

[NorthDave]

OP Try Axons the butchers in Didsbury. They normally have them when in season.

I wouldn't be trying to roast one though. As they are so small getting the timing right is a nightmare. I prefer the pot roast approach or curry like someone said above.

[devnull]

You should go to Swansea, plenty of the birds there are game

[Mustang Baz]

Also try Woodpigeon - super simple to prepare, incredibly nice to eat, and sold in breasted format in Waitrose most of the time. No season either. If you want to be more adventurous, wait until November time when early woodcock should be available; or you can see if you can source some younger grouse presently from a good butcher - a real treat and superb to eat.

[Mobile Chicane]

Mustang Baz said:

Also try Woodpigeon - super simple to prepare, incredibly nice to eat, and sold in breasted format in Waitrose most of the time. No season either. If you want to be more adventurous, wait until November time when early woodcock should be available; or you can see if you can source some younger grouse presently from a good butcher - a real treat and superb to eat.

Woodies are easy to shoot (just re-seed your lawn ) and make a lovely salad from the breasts with a bit of redcurrant jelly to de-glaze the pan:

[mattdaniels]

Mobile Chicane said:

Mustang Baz said:

Also try Woodpigeon - super simple to prepare, incredibly nice to eat, and sold in breasted format in Waitrose most of the time. No season either. If you want to be more adventurous, wait until November time when early woodcock should be available; or you can see if you can source some younger grouse presently from a good butcher - a real treat and superb to eat.

Woodies are easy to shoot (just re-seed your lawn ) and make a lovely salad from the breasts with a bit of redcurrant jelly to de-glaze the pan:

That looks amazingly delicious.

So what are the rules on air rifles then? What do I need to know?

[Sway]

Yazza54 said:

TheMobileChicane said:

Yazza54 said:

doogz said:

I've never tried pheasant, but there are a bunch of them that live in my garden/field.

What are the rules on shooting them and eating them, if they're on my land?

Get them shot.

After 1 October, of course

An air rifle will do the job with a good head shot, and a miss is likely to be a clean one. Hitting it anywhere on the body will just injure it.

A tip I've heard (but not tried) is to put out raisins soaked in brandy. 'Apparently' the birds are easier to hit when they're pissed.

Wouldnt be the first time id shot a drunk bird in the face.

Edited by Yazza54 on Wednesday 4th September 18:41

Or you could try a paper cone, rimmed with glue, and raisin dropped in.

Lastly, it is allegedly the best to cut raisins with a scalpel, fill with crushed sleeping pills, and see back up.

At least, that's what worked for Danny, Champion of the World...

[Riff Raff]

mattdaniels said:

So what are the rules on air rifles then? What do I need to know?

The first thing you need to know is how to clean what you shoot

[Mobile Chicane]

A job for outside.

I can't stand the feeling of fur or feathers on my hands, so I wimp out and use vinyl examination gloves (£5 or so for 100 from Amazon).

Plus these are wild creatures and might have mites, lice, etc.

Gutting, skinning and plucking all take place outside by the garden tap with a carrier bag at hand. All oddments go into that, then tied up and into the bin.

Incidentally, for woodies I just pluck the breast feathers off, remove the breast meat, and sling the rest of the carcass.