Do you eat pigeons and squirrels?

The_Minister

It's me again, the guy who wanted to know about eating foxes:).

Now I want to know if you eat squirrels and pigeons (squab).

I was looking at this link : How do you clean and cook a squirrel
and this one: Pigeons: The Next Step in Local Eating (No, Really)

I know that you guys probably eat wood pigeons rather than city pigeons, but I was just wondering what they taste like, how much meat you get off them, and how difficult is it to butcher them?

EDIT: Just saw the recipe thread. Will read through that to get some answers.

It wasn't me!

Pigeon is absolutely delicious, one of the nicest meats there is in my opinion. very simple to butcher as well. The breasts come off very handily, being the only obvious source of meat, and the carcass can then be frozen for use as a decoy on another day's shooting or disposed of. Can't speak for squirrels personally, and not too enthused by the idea, but that's just me. There's a lovely recipe in the recipes thread for a lovely pigeon salad if you want to try it. A good butcher could tell you where to lay your hands on some.

The_Minister

I would like to try, but I think I'd be a bit squeamish digging around in a bird.

It's funny, I think that I could butcher a deer, but things like crabs, where you have to dig your fingers in and rip it to pieces, might be beyond me. I would imagine a bird is the same.

View Profile

A tad off topic here but just curious as to what you guys who hunt do with the foxes,rabbits, birds etc that you shoot?

riflehunter77

Pigeon is lovely meat you cant beat it as for squirrel I hear its good skrewed with satay sauce

It wasn't me!

The_Minister wrote: »

I would like to try, but I think I'd be a bit squeamish digging around in a bird.

It's funny, I think that I could butcher a deer, but things like crabs, where you have to dig your fingers in and rip it to pieces, might be beyond me. I would imagine a bird is the same.

Buying pigeon yourself, you'll be buying breasts by the pack. The ones I get generally have about a half dozen in them, and cost about six euro I think, very good value for the quality of the meat.

View Profile wrote: »

A tad off topic here but just curious as to what you guys who hunt do with the foxes,rabbits, birds etc that you shoot?

Anything that can be eaten generally is and goes to good use, can't speak for foxes and the like, never shot them, have wondered myself. It'd be a shame to have to dump them, but can't see anything else for it.

The_Minister

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Buying pigeon yourself, you'll be buying breasts by the pack. The ones I get generally have about a half dozen in them, and cost about six euro I think, very good value for the quality of the meat.

I never realise that you could buy pigeon. I've never seen it for sale anywhere.

/Heads to butchers

It wasn't me!

You might not get it at your local butchers, but he might source it for you or know someone who'd sell it. Try that salad though, it's tasty stuff.

mayordenis

View Profile wrote: »

A tad off topic here but just curious as to what you guys who hunt do with the foxes,rabbits, birds etc that you shoot?

only really shoot rabbits and we always eat, they're stupid for being so delicious.

meathstevie

Woodies indeed are delicious. If you're fortunate enough to live in a tillage farming area that has a bit of woodland the only limit on your supply is how good a shot you or your friends are. Ate grey squirrel once and it's fine to say the least. A furry creature that's not in Ireland but fairly easily trapped or shot on the continent is muskrat, extremely tasty. Ok it's called a rat but they're extremely choosy when it comes to their diet. Only the finest plant shoots for them boys if they get their way.

PeakOutput

there is a hotel on o'connel street cant remember its name but its not small and they have pidgeon on the menu it was nice iirc maybe not nice enough to go there just for that

greenpeter

There was a butcher on moore st in town selling woodies

fathersymes

Sawyers used to sell them and lots of other game, you could try the Butcher in Terenure and there is a place in Donnybrook that sells pheasant, so they should have pigeon too.

cavan shooter

Wood pigeon and rabbit together in a game pie or game stew is absolutely scrumptious... My sister is handy in the kitchen and if I supply she will cook it, Her game pie comes from a cook book she picked up in a second hand shop date 1927

I also eat wood pigeon breast with pepper sauce mmmmmmmmm

try any of the above with a chilled bottle of chateau clonmel from the little maison ms magners:D

whitser

yeah,i eat both.

Vegeta

I eat pigeon, it is very nice indded

Have never shot a squirrel but would definitely eat them if I did. They look perfect fodder for the bbq.

bunny shooter

Eat pigeon lovely in a stew

stevoman

i make curry from my woodpigeons.

pullandbang

Hard to beat a pan fried breast of wood pigeon. Cook it quick like liver and its delicious.

It wasn't me!

pullandbang wrote: »

Hard to beat a pan fried breast of wood pigeon. Cook it quick like liver and its delicious.

Hot sesame oil, quick fried, some black pepper, dash of worcestershire sauce, splash of red wine, served in big piles on toasted buttery soda farls. If someone finds a better ten minute meal than that, there's a very good pint in it for them. (coincidentally, the ideal accompaniment. )

Grizzly 45

Piegon is very tasty indeed,and belive it or not so is it's city bethern!Consider all the crisps,bread, biscuts,and silo grain that they eat. A good cull of feral piegons is needed and should be done as they can carry diseases and are messy birds in general.Called over in the US "squab" or "poor mans chicken."
Squirrel is also good eating.Somthing like a cross of rabbit and chicken in taste. Deep fat fried rolled in bread crumbs and flour.Apprently it was Elvis's favourite nosh,and proably helped in offing him as well.It is high in cholerstol,and cooking it like that doesnt help either.:eek: