Duck cleaning question

[mrmoskillz]

So if I shoot a duck and keep it on ice how long will it stay good without out being gutted?  I know it should be done right away but will a duck still be good if it is kept whole on ice for a day or 2?

[Widgeondeke]

I've waited til the 2nd day of a weekend hunt to clean birds before.  All good. I know in Alaska they will leave the birds hanging for weeks: yes it is subzero.

[steeleywhopper]

I usually hang em on the front porch for a week before I clean em.

[duckmen1]

I won't let mine sit for more than a few hours, just my preference though.

[wrangler]

I've waited till the 2nd day of a hunt also, usually when out of town on a trip. I always pluck the breasts asap tho, even on a day hunt. again, as someone said, personal preference. some say it matters, some say it dont. my pepperoni always tastes best tho!   

[NW-GSP]

As long as you get the temp below 35 it will be fine, justake sure to cook to the right temp

[JLS]

I've gone up to a week with pheasants and never had an issue.  If it's warm I throw them in the fridge.  If it's 40 or below I hang them in the garage.  I just cleaned a pile of ducks that hung for 48 hours and they are fine.  If you're planning on plucking them, I wouldn't go much longer than that.

[xdog]

So if I shoot a duck and keep it on ice how long will it stay good without out being gutted?  I know it should be done right away but will a duck still be good if it is kept whole on ice for a day or 2?

Yes.

My preference is that they get cleaned in the first twelve hours, but I have cleaned and eaten ducks with good results 1-7 days later.  The temperatures that they are kept at will dictate how long they keep for good table results. 

Bon Appetit.

[ducksdogsdownriggers]

Here's a link to an article/blog written by a wild game chef on aging birds (like you age beef).  Bottom line, for ducks he suggests 1-3 days of aging, which is what I typically follow as well.  This is an excellent read: http://honest-food.net/2012/10/20/on-hanging-pheasants-2/

[mrmoskillz]

Great info thanks guys

[Tealer]

A long weekend is fine.

[Tight Spin]

I let mine go at least 3 days for both Ducks and Pheasants. The guy that got me hunting back in the 70's would not even think about cleaning his birds for at least 4 days. He had told me back then that the worst birds that he had even eaten were the birds that were cleaned the same day of kill

[KevinClimbs]

Here's a link to an article/blog written by a wild game chef on aging birds (like you age beef).  Bottom line, for ducks he suggests 1-3 days of aging, which is what I typically follow as well.  This is an excellent read: http://honest-food.net/2012/10/20/on-hanging-pheasants-2/

I second this.

I have been reading this blog for a number of years and have met Hank (the author) in person. His information has been extremely reliable for me. That site also has some great instructional resources for plucking, skinning and cooking waterfowl.   

[fisheral87]

Good info.

[WSU]

I often wait a day or two.  I will say that you are better off cleaning birds right away if the birds are shot up.  I've found that the meat around the damaged tissue gets nasty if left with a lot of blood, stomach juice, etc. on it.  I clean those birds ASAP.