What to do with downed birds?

[code3]

OK, so you will know that I am going out on my first grouse hunt.

What do I do with the birds during the hunt? Just leave them in a backpack? Breast them (with a wing attached) in a backpack? or????

Any ideas would be great!!

Thanks :-D

[Steeleco]

We usually hunt them on the way into and out of our hunting spots, they go in the back of the truck till we hit camp, the seldom get to come home as we eat them as we hunt them. Do you know the easiest way to breast them?

Place it on it's back and stand on the wings then follow the clip. IF they're real big like Blues and such we'll do up the whole bird, but usually this is how we do things!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/steeleco/My%20Videos/th_MVI_1123.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v305/steeleco/My%20Videos/?action=view&current=MVI_1123.mp4)

[Mikey Rafiki]

^ Great tutorial there. I usually have an extra cooler in the back for birds and bunnies. Doesn't need ice, just keep bugs and camp dogs away from them.

[835]

Bring a cooler and some medium ziplock bags and do Steelcos method LEAVE WING ATTACHED. place breast and legs in bag and toss in cooler. do this when you find a creek to clean them in. The standum on wingum thing only works on warm birds that havent been rolling around the floor boards of the truck. If you dont do it within a hour or 2 you will just rip out the legs.

[Steeleco]

It won't work if they're all shot to hell either!!!!

[sarg]

we clean them rite a way it easyer that way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbmeRpQjnjE

[nolan-sawka]

little tip on the vid when you stand on the wings...hold the legs together not apart like that guy did..then theres no chance of one of the legs ripping out iv done it a few times

[1/2 slam]

we clean them rite a way it easyer that way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbmeRpQjnjE

Nasty Spruce grouse :-D Soak them in milk before cooking....awesome !

[BigfishCanada]

bring ziplock bags, I always have them on me, pull the breasts a quick rinse and ziplocked for the cooler

[seanps]

Might as well chime in. I hike a lot and spend most of my time specifically hunting for grouse.

I keep a few ZipLocks in my backpack. Generally, there's one for cleaned birds, one for whole ones. I always clean within an hour of shooting.

If it's a decent sized bird and in good shape, I'll skin it (rather than breast it out) and use the offal for soup stock.

[Morel]

Might as well chime in. I hike a lot and spend most of my time specifically hunting for grouse.

I keep a few ZipLocks in my backpack. Generally, there's one for cleaned birds, one for whole ones. I always clean within an hour of shooting.

If it's a decent sized bird and in good shape, I'll skin it (rather than breast it out) and use the offal for soup stock.

I am planning on some blue grouse hunting this year and was wondering if anyone plucks or skins the birds? Do you have any tips on plucking/skinning? I don't want to waste meat and want as many tasty bits for the table as possible but have been wondering if it is worth the effort.

[Downwind]

If you get a big blue it is definitely worth the effort to pluck/skin it out. They are about the size of one of the rotisserie chickens you see at the grocery store. Hopefully I can run into one or two tomorrow while out looking for deer.

[Singleshotneeded]

Other grouse, step on wings, legs together, pull legs, breast pops up, leave one wing attached, rinse, put in ziploc, in cooler if possible..do it right away. Blues, gut them and pluck them right away, as plucking is much easier when they're still warm.