cleaning - NOT the gun

Dove season is almost here.  I'm sure there will be one perched off the ground somewhere within range of my Gamo behind my house.  And...we're doing a little clay target practice with shotguns in preparation for visiting some dove fields, but that's a post for a different forum.

I've never hunted dove before, airgun or otherwise.  Does anyone know of a good internet site that describes how you clean them?  I've heard its very easy to pop the breast meat out, but I have not seen a description of exactly how you do it.

Also, I notice that around my house, the bunnies tend to come out into the yard about an hour or so before dark.  You would think that they would do the same thing on the cultivated game lands dove fields, since its a pasture-like area, surrounded by tree line.  At that time of year, there may be fresh sprouts out of the ground.  The rabbits probably come out into the dove field to feed, sort of like they do my yard.  They might provide something to sneak up on within range with the Gamo.  

Has anyone ever tried that?  The only time I've ever hunted rabbits was the traditional way with a friend who has beagles.  But the dove field way seems like it would work with airguns and no dogs.  Some of the game land dove fields span for as much as 20 or 30 acres, with different plots surrounded by trees or thick growth separating the plots.  Around the latter part of rabbit season, it seems like it would work, especially if they hop out into the open near dusk.  

NewbieAir

[leftcoast1]

Since the birds are to small to pluck just get a good pair of scissors. Remove the head take the scissors cut the legs at the what would be the knee on us. Then cut the skin at the top of the breast in the middle .Take both pieces of skin and pull them down pushing the body up with your thumbs. The breast will pop out. OOOppps forgot cut the wings off as well. Clean out the internals. The meat is dark in color and may look gray after being cooked. The last time I had dove ( loooooonnnng time ago) they were lightly breaded deep fried quickly then baked the rest of the time. Served with pole beans cooked with potatoes and bacon. Damn they were good. Our dove season is too early here. Usually in the 90's still during the first season no birds then.

[tat2dman]

What leftcoast said,but I throw mine in a crockpot for a couple of hrs. then add your fav. BBQ for about another hr. then enjoy...............

[longislandhunter]

I've cleaned many a dove that exact same way, works well.  I've also found doves to be one of the easiest birds to pluck if you want to have a whole bird to cook.  Cut off the legs, head and wings first  then start plucking. Whether you pluck them immediately after killing, while still warm, or at the end of the hunt, when the carcass is cool, the feathers come off easily and very cleanly simply by grabbing tufts of feathers between your thumb and index finger.  Then it's a simple matter of making an incision from the base of the breast bone to the tail and cleaning out the cavity with your fingers.  It's really amazing how easily and cleanly they pluck.  I'll admit that there's only a little bit of meat on both of those tiny legs, but there is some meat there.  Many times I'll place the plucked whole birds in the crock pot and cook em nice and slow.  A great meal.  Either way, breasted out or whole, they are some good eatin for sure.  

As for the rabbits, if you slowly still hunt around the available cover in those fields late in the day you stand a good chance of sneaking up on a bunny within range.  My favorite time to stalk bunnies with the airguns is late in the day during the last couple hours of legal shooting light.  That's when they are most active and if you move slowly and are VERY observant you can spot them long before they spot you.  One of the best times to stalk bunnies is the first nice sunny day after a heavy rain.  Concentrate on areas facing the sun,,,, the bunnies like to come out after wet weather and sun themselves to dry out and warm up.  

Jeff

[shadow]

Sunup and Sunset and I've always hunted rabbit's without the hound's. Sound's like you got some good area's to checkout and you might want to find yourself a sniperhide before they get active and take em as they arrive for dinner too. Here in my South Dakota hunting ground's I know their hangout's so I just arrive alittle early, get settled in at my hide and wait for the Rabbit's to show up. If there's a water soarce around with cover next to it, they'll be nearby too. Good luck.Ed

[shadow]

Simple and work's for me. Getting the breast meat... Hold the bird on it's back in one hand. Grasp the outside wing with the other hand and give a good twist; the wing will snap off. Repeat with the other. Lay the bird again on it's back in one hand and poke your free thumb into the body cavity just below and up under the breastbone. All in the same motion, pry the bird apart by moving your two hand's apart. A quick jerk will separate the breast from the rest of the bird. Pluck the feather's off the breast or peel off the skin. Wash them throughly before freezing. Cookem and injoy. Ed

[dw33]

I don't know where you are located, but here in California, dove can not be hunted with an airgun.  I don't know why, but that's the law.  Quail can be taken with an airgun, as well as turkey.  I wish they would also include dove.

[shadow]

I'm located in South Dakota and you can hunt the dove here, lot's of em around the grain silo's. Ed

I pluck them as well and just pull the breast out and pitch the rest. i like to marinate them in garlic herb marinade or wishbone itallian dressing for a few hours or overnight then take a lb of bacon and wrap the breast like a filet mignon. stick a toothpick through to hold it all together and throw them on the grill mmmmmmmmmmm yummy.

[tat2dman]

No restrictions in Indiana either.

[NMCA_Ron]

I have always just split the skin over the breast with my thumbs and pulled the breast meat out. I like to soak the meat in ice cold salt water for about an hour after I clean the birds.

Here in Kansas, only crows, rabbits and squirrels may be taken legally with an airgun. In my neck of the woods, we like to wait until after the first hard freeze to hunt wabbits. Cold weather will kill off the sick ones and I am not too fond of the idea of eating sick rabbits. Just my opinion.

Ron