Post by: ICEMAN on September 08, 2009, 04:36:01 AM
1. Trim head, feet and wings at first joint.
2. Reverse the skin and feathers over the bird, starting at the neck and ending at the vent.
3. With pruners, or scissors, or game shears....starting at the neck, cut a 1 inch path thru the back and ribs to the vent.
4. Pull neck, vertebrae, and entrails all towards the vent until all hang from the vent, trim it all off.
5. Wash bird and toss on ice.
Post by: gasman on September 08, 2009, 05:14:17 AM
I like the idea of cutting the back bone.
should cme in handy next week. I saw 5 grouse behind ur camp durring scouting ;)
Post by: robodad on September 08, 2009, 05:43:49 AM
Post by: boneaddict on September 08, 2009, 06:16:05 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on September 08, 2009, 06:22:24 AM
Forgot to add....it helps to have a great firewood round to clean them on.. :chuckle: We have been cleaning grouse on that round for years at our favorite ridge top grouse camp site, probably atleast 80 grouse cleaned on it over the years.... Every year we return and use it, and not a single feather can be found from the previous year....
Post by: GWP4Me on September 08, 2009, 03:59:55 PM
Post by: dontgetcrabs on September 08, 2009, 04:06:05 PM
Post by: cummingsa on September 08, 2009, 04:07:03 PM
Post by: Ironhead on September 08, 2009, 06:20:03 PM
Post by: coasty on September 08, 2009, 06:29:54 PM
Post by: alecvg on September 08, 2009, 06:56:15 PM
Post by: Sportfury on September 08, 2009, 08:06:00 PM
That is a much better way than I have been doing it. Thanks ICE.
Post by: batsquatch on September 08, 2009, 08:09:46 PM
Post by: robodad on September 08, 2009, 08:32:17 PM
Just to clarify, you first cut one inch down the back before cutting from the neck to the vent?
That is a much better way than I have been doing it. Thanks ICE.
I gathered that you cut a half inch on each side of the backbone (with a shears)from the neck to the vent the full length of the bird so all the insides stay intact and remove the entire spine along with the innerds ?? :dunno: sounds like a very clean way of doing it compared to what I have been doing !!! :chuckle:
Post by: ICEMAN on September 08, 2009, 09:16:41 PM
Hey you guys who like stomping on the birds and yanking the wings/legs....lets see some pictures! :chuckle:
Are they all pretty lookin when done? :IBCOOL:
Post by: Bearhunter on September 08, 2009, 09:27:55 PM
Post by: Thehowler on September 08, 2009, 09:33:40 PM
Post by: Armadillo on September 08, 2009, 10:36:32 PM
Post by: robodad on September 09, 2009, 07:30:32 AM
Stomping and pulling works great as well and is very clean if you prune the wing bones as well. Nice tutorial!
I had heard of this method years ago and attempted it on several occasions, the only problem I ran into is when I stood up I had both legs and nothing else, they just seperated from the bird and I had to skin and pluck anyhow. Since the bird has to have it's head still attached while in the field, it's almost impossible to use this method while the bird is still warm unless you get it right at the end of your day in the field and hunt close to home !!! :dunno:
Post by: CP on September 09, 2009, 07:44:03 AM
Post by: Armadillo on September 09, 2009, 08:28:36 PM
Don’t you have to the head on the bird until you get it home?
I thought that you only need to leave the head on turkeys to verify the beard :dunno:
Post by: cabin308 on September 10, 2009, 11:43:18 AM
Don’t you have to the head on the bird until you get it home?
You are correct.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/mwug2009.pdf
Page 21,
"IT IS UNLAWFUL TO:
• Possess in the field or transport game birds
unless a feathered head is left attached to each
carcass, except falconry-caught birds."
Post by: ICEMAN on September 10, 2009, 07:13:52 PM
Similar to keeping the testes, or doe/cowhole attached to a quarter until it was processed. Never seen it.
Post by: Alchase on September 14, 2009, 08:27:16 AM
Don’t you have to the head on the bird until you get it home?
You are correct.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/mwug2009.pdf
Page 21,
"IT IS UNLAWFUL TO:
• Possess in the field or transport game birds
unless a feathered head is left attached to each
carcass, except falconry-caught birds."
:o uhm.......that is good to know,
Post by: hornhunter on September 15, 2009, 12:16:33 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on September 15, 2009, 06:28:49 AM
Post by: goody31 on September 16, 2009, 09:20:26 PM
How do you get the skin to start coming off? Do you cut a little of the neck so it slides over the whole bird? Thanks for the tip can't wait to try on some ducks this year.
Goody
Post by: ICEMAN on September 17, 2009, 05:45:25 AM
Post by: Balladeer on September 28, 2009, 08:46:46 PM
Post by: whacker1 on September 29, 2009, 01:15:10 PM
Thanks ICE
Post by: ICEMAN on September 29, 2009, 03:22:43 PM
Post by: Sportfury on September 29, 2009, 07:57:53 PM
Got to use this method this weekend. My son got his first grouse, a blue, and I used this method to clean it. It worked great.
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on September 29, 2009, 08:36:46 PM
I'm with Ice, I want every bit of meat on grouse, pheasants, quail, chukars. I will confess I just breast out waterfowl.
Post by: gooeydruid on September 30, 2009, 03:11:25 PM
Used your instructions on my first grouse this afternoon.
Post by: ICEMAN on August 23, 2010, 08:44:14 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on September 10, 2013, 06:38:31 PM
Post by: akirkland on September 11, 2013, 11:00:23 PM
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on September 11, 2013, 11:24:05 PM
Post by: R4n6er on October 06, 2013, 11:02:42 AM
Post by: Atroxus on October 20, 2013, 07:01:37 PM
Post by: irishevox on January 14, 2014, 07:26:39 AM
Post by: sakoshooter on January 14, 2014, 06:06:04 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on January 14, 2014, 07:16:40 PM
Iceman, Great idea for upland birds. Do you do this for your ducks too?
Yes, I do....
Post by: pd on August 31, 2014, 11:44:28 AM
Question for you. After you trim off or snap off the head, do you peel the skin back from the neck to the vent? Your instructions and photo seem to show the skin/feathers in one mass, but how do you get the whole skin to come over the breast and wings? Do you have to peel it like an orange, or does it tend to come off in one single motion?
Post by: birddogdad on September 02, 2014, 10:17:53 AM
Thanks Ice!
Used your instructions on my first grouse this afternoon.
Never came in from spine side, great trick~
Great find! thanks Ice~~~
Post by: Hunterman on September 02, 2014, 11:09:42 AM
Don’t you have to the head on the bird until you get it home?
You are correct.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/mwug2009.pdf (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/mwug2009.pdf)
Page 21,
"IT IS UNLAWFUL TO:
• Possess in the field or transport game birds
unless a feathered head is left attached to each
carcass, except falconry-caught birds."
Look on the "Definitions" page (pg. 16) under "Upland Game Birds" . "Grouse are not upland birds", the fether head rule does not apply to grouse.
Great info Ice. I wonder if a person could do this method on chickens?
Hunterman(Tony)
Post by: CP on September 02, 2014, 12:39:17 PM
Don’t you have to the head on the bird until you get it home?
You are correct.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/mwug2009.pdf (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/mwug2009.pdf)
Page 21,
"IT IS UNLAWFUL TO:
• Possess in the field or transport game birds
unless a feathered head is left attached to each
carcass, except falconry-caught birds."
Look on the "Definitions" page (pg. 16) under "Upland Game Birds" . "Grouse are not upland birds", the fether head rule does not apply to grouse.
Great info Ice. I wonder if a person could do this method on chickens?
Hunterman(Tony)
Page 18 in this year’s regs:
IT IS UNLAWFUL TO:
… Possess in the field or transport game birds unless a feathered head is left attached to each carcass, except falconry-caught birds.
Note the word “upland” does not appear in that. Grouse are not an upland game bird but they are a game bird per WAC 232-12-004. Maybe the regulation is not enforced but it is illegal to possess grouse in the field without a fully feathered head.