Need tips for Dove/Quail

[gunsup0331]

I have eaten breasts from both by frying and grilling...the dove didnt seem to respond well to grilling, stayed pretty tough and tasted very gamy.
 What are some tips for dove and quail breasts to make them nice and tender?

[kmac]

I have been told soaking them overnight in a salt and water solution helps.
Never tried it myself though.

[shadow]

When I marinade game bird I include lemon lime juice to the mix. For maximum tenderness cook slowly with moist heat or dry heat by broiling. Beer, wine, tom juice, lemon juice and Italian dressing all have acid's in them which help breakdown the meat for tender bird. Ed

[longislandhunter]

My favorite way to make dove or quail is to fry up some bacon  (of course),,,, season the birds with whatever spices you like  (I like a heavy dose of cajun seaoning along with some garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper) then fry them quickly on high heat (oil almost smoking) until the seasonings on both sides just start to get blackened and crunchy.  

The quick searing on high heat serves to seal the outside of the flesh thus keeping the all important juices on the inside.  Be careful not to pierce the flesh as you turn them,,,, if you do the juices will run out quicker than water out of a tap.  

The birds will be browned on the outside and nice and juicy on the inside...........

Works with pigeon as well, which can be dry and tough if not cooked properly....

Jeff

[Progun]

Hey Brandon, for Quail, I simply salt and pepper season and roll in flour. Fry in a covered skillet on low-medium heat 'till it looks like fried chicken.Most dryness or toughness issues are from OVER COOKING. For Mourning Doves, my favorite way is to : #1 Field dress to promote cooling by ripping the breast out  and placing in a cooler with ice.I try to do this while in the field between shots. #2 When you get home,drop your messy, feathered breasts in a bucket of cool water and one by one clean the breast of all skin, yellow fat and feathers. Dropping the breast in a bucket of water facillitates easy removal of all the feathers that want to stick to your hands.Wash the breasts well in cool water and soak in fridge overnite in a bowl of a little salty water. I marinate for an hour or two in any terriyake base marinade before wrapping each breast in a strip of bacon,secured with a toothpick and grilled.When the bacon is done the breast is done. The bacon fat will keep the breast meat basted and moist and juicy.My Tennesse Mourning Dove season opens tomorrow @ noon so if I have any luck this is how I'll do it.

[TCups]

Brandon:

Save only the breast meat of the dove.  If you freeze them, fill the zip lock bags with salty water before you freeze them, covering the meat.  Put only about 6 - 8 breasts in a bag before freezing.  I almost always grill my dove breasts.  Either fresh or thawed, marinade them over night in Italian salad dressing.  Season to taste with seasoned salt or perhaps a bit of garlic salt.  And then skewer the breasts with some Vidallia onion, bell pepper, whole mushrooms, and chunk pineapple.  Cook them on a gas grill, kabob style, low flame setting, turning frequently until the veggies look done .   You can make a pretty good meal for two that way with only 6 or 8 breasts and a salad.

PS:  As you know, dove are migratory birds and protected by Federal laws.  It is illegal in most states, I believe, to shoot them with an air rifle.  High brass #9 shot with a 20 ga. shotgun will throw a more effective pattern for dove than a 12 ga. *7.5 or # 8 shot as there will be more pellets per oz of shot in the pattern.  Unlike quail or pheasant, it doesn't take much to bring down a dove, if you hit 'em.  But most of the chain stores don't stock anything but #7.5 or #8 shot.  I would order a case of the #9 High-brass 20 ga. shells a month or two in advance from the local WalMart, but don't know if they will still do that.  I used to dove hunt quite a bit in MO, but it's just too darned hot to sit in a dove field in SC in early September.  Good hunting.

[shadow]

There's alway's the Viper Express LOL , one would be better off throwing the shooter at em.:) Ed

[PBJ]

Just a note that dove are a Federal bird, lots of them migrate. In California we can air gun hunt quail in season but never dove. My dove never leave the area, but the Feds do not care. Just a thought as we don't want anyone to get busted!!

[gunsup0331]

lol thx bob. I might have snuck one or two past the feds...but dove arent much of a challenge unless they are flying, they just sit there and let you wing pellets past their heads until you realize you need to holdunder....thanks for the cooking tips, keep em coming!