Tips on pheasant plucking anyone?

[PpPete]

Bunked off at lunchtime today and went for a spin around Braishfield & Farley Mount. Coming down towards Hursley I startled a cock pheasant.
(Oh alright it startled me more !)
Flew so close alongside me for a while I could have reached out and wrung it's neck in flight - If only I hadnt been controlling a panicked wobble at the time!

Next time I'll be ready for the beggar, but I shall want to know what to do with thereafter.
Do you hang it first or pluck it fresh? Does boiling water help to loosen the feathers? Any other tips?

 

[spandex]

Start at the neck and work your way down do not take to much of at once or you can rip the skin. Do not for get to hang it for two or three weeks it will be so much nicer.

 

[Amanda P]

Plucking's easy.

It's drawing that's a bit grizzly.

After three weeks hanging (if it's not right cold weather) a pheasant can be a bit green and smelly. Some like them that way. If you don't fancy that, eat it fresh.

 

[Soltydog]

The skin is very easy to tear when plucking, so be careful.

the last ones i had got skined cause it's a damm sight easier, then just cover the bird with bacon if roasting it If you do a search on youtube there will be a video on how to 'dress' a phesant.

The drawing isn't as bad as i thought it would be

 

[Saddle bum]

Just skin them, it's quicker and just as effective.

Legs off where the feathers start. Wings off close the the body. Knife up breastbone and work the skin off like a jacket. Head off at the crop. Tail assembly pulled off.

Small sandwich bag over hand, incision under breast bone, in with bagged hand, grab guts and remove in the bag. Wash out and make sure it is clean.

Enjoy.

 

[jimboalee]

The sweetest thing that has ever happened to me, was on my ride home from work one evening earlier this year.

It was a quiet country single track lane and there hadn't been the sound of a car for miles.

Along a straight stretch of road I caught a glimpse of something in the air to my left. It was a bird and I was cycling faster than it because it disapeared out of view behind me.

The next thing I know there is something in the corner of my eye to my right. It was a Sparrowhawk. Blueish grey hood, upper body and wing; and a brown face looking at me.

It glided beside me, giving the occasional wing beat. We eyed each other up, several times between checking our forward path.
He looked at me, I looked at him, directly into his wide amber eye.

Then he winged over to the right and was gone.

Five seconds of total and extreme privelege to see such beauty.

 

[papercorn2000]

Impressed!

 

[spandex]

Just skin them, it's quicker and just as effective.

Legs off where the feathers start. Wings off close the the body. Knife up breastbone and work the skin off like a jacket. Head off at the crop. Tail assembly pulled off.

Small sandwich bag over hand, incision under breast bone, in with bagged hand, grab guts and remove in the bag. Wash out and make sure it is clean.

Enjoy.

Have you done that before

 

[Saddle bum]

Have you done that before

Many, many times.

 

[Crackle]

At the risk of repeating another post, I can't help because

I'm not the Pheasant Plucker
I'm the Pheasant plucker's mate
I'm only plucking Pheasants
Because the Pheasant Pluckers late