-
- Species
- Whitetails
- Big Game
- Small Game
- Birds
- Special Methods
- Bow Hunting
-
- Species
- Bass
- Trout
- More Freshwater
- Saltwater
- Special Methods
- Fly Fishing
AnswersASK YOUR QUESTION
Print
Email
Share
Answers
Browse By
Top Users
Q:
does anyone leave the pheasants to hang after they shoot it?
is it safe?
are there any benefits?
Question by jhope. Uploaded on August 29, 2009
Answer QuestionADVERTISEMENT
Today on Field & Stream
Loading...
Visit Our Sister Sites at Bonnier Corporation
| Enthusiast | Kiteboarding | QUAD | SKI | Skiing | Scuba Diving | Sport Diver | TransWorld Ride BMX | TransWorld Business | TransWorld Motocross | TransWorld SKATEboarding, | TransWorld SNOWboarding | TransWorld SURF | WakeBoarding | WaterSki | Warren Miller Entertainment | WindSurfing |
|---|---|
| Travel | Caribbean Travel & Life | Destination Weddings & Honeymoon | Islands | Meeting Traveler | Resorts & Great Hotels |
| Lifestyle & Shelter | Florida Travel & Life | Garden Design | Home Ft. Lauderdale | Home Miami |
| Luxury | SNOW | Spa |
| Marine | Boating Life | Cruising World | Fly Fishing in Salt Waters | Power Cruising | Marlin | Motor Boating | Sailing World | Salt Water Sportsman | Sport Fishing | Yachting | NewBoats.com | UsedBoats.com | YachtBroker.com |
| Outdoor | Field & Stream | Outdoor Life | SHOT Business |
| Parenting | Babytalk | Parenting |
| Science | Popular Science | Science Illustrated |
| Saveur | Saveur |
| Working Mother Media | Working Mother |
| Entertainment / Events | World Entertainment Services | World Sports & Marketing |
FieldandStream.com is part of the Bonnier Outdoor Group Network
Copyright © 2009 Bonnier Corp. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Answers (12)
I have never left one to hang before they are much easier to clean warm and fresh
I would not let them hang. I would dress them off as soon as I got home.
The question of whether or not it is safe to leave them hanging depends on the outdoor temperature too. Bacteria and parasites grow much quicker as the temperature goes up.
You could probably get some information on the internet regarding food spoiling by looking up how long it takes chicken to spoil when left out on the counter, for example. That would give you a timeline (and a temperature) to use as a reference.
At the Borough market in London last November I saw many pheasants for sale hanging dead. Not sure how they were killed or how long they hung but they were in full plumage. The place looks pretty much like our farmer's market with more variety. We enjoyed shopping for exotic Olive oils and coffee beans among other things. Never knew there was so many kinds of Olives.
I clean my birds as soon as I get home.
it does show there is no hurry.
According to the LL Bean cookbook of years ago by Angus Cameron, hanging them improves the flavor of birds in general, but young pheasants in particular. The temperature should be cold, tho, if it is going to be warm weather for the fall, be sure to remove the guts. Apparently it is OK to hang them thus "drawn" but surely not as long. He also says to draw badly shot up birds. It is disputed how long to hang them, apparently the French hang them by the head until they drop of their own weight! Camreron says he hangs them maybe 3-5 days, by the feet unless drawn, by the head if drawn.
I have never hung birds myself, but don't shoot much quail and never pheasant, and to me this is something for those kind of birds.
Clean them warm and fresh so much easier and i dont like to let meat hang around. Then faster it is cleaned and either eatin or frozen hte better it will taste.
Clean them and Cool them quickly too much risk of bacteria otherwise you don't need the RISKS!
It is just not true that this poses any risk, as long as some common sense is being used esp. about the outside temperature being monitored [they are not to be hung indoors!] . BTW most refrigerators are set to about 42-45 degrees, so it is no safer there unless, well, you are not paying attention to the outside temp. The Safety Nazis have gotten to you folks!
My copy of the Joy of Cooking from the 70s has advice similar to the LL Bean book cited above. I'll try to post it tomorrow.
Don't hang them... clean them as soon as possible after harvesting. They will keep as long as 8 hours or so but hanging would do nothing to add value.
I grew up hunting pheasants in IL, IA, SD and hunted with some pretty seasoned hunters. Not once did I every see or hear of hanging up birds. I guess the fact was that when we finished a day of hunting, we were just so dang tired that we wanted to get the cleaning over with. Many times we just wanted to eat 'em anyway so any additional process would prolong the hunger.
Post an Answer
The question of whether or not it is safe to leave them hanging depends on the outdoor temperature too. Bacteria and parasites grow much quicker as the temperature goes up.
You could probably get some information on the internet regarding food spoiling by looking up how long it takes chicken to spoil when left out on the counter, for example. That would give you a timeline (and a temperature) to use as a reference.
At the Borough market in London last November I saw many pheasants for sale hanging dead. Not sure how they were killed or how long they hung but they were in full plumage. The place looks pretty much like our farmer's market with more variety. We enjoyed shopping for exotic Olive oils and coffee beans among other things. Never knew there was so many kinds of Olives.
it does show there is no hurry.
According to the LL Bean cookbook of years ago by Angus Cameron, hanging them improves the flavor of birds in general, but young pheasants in particular. The temperature should be cold, tho, if it is going to be warm weather for the fall, be sure to remove the guts. Apparently it is OK to hang them thus "drawn" but surely not as long. He also says to draw badly shot up birds. It is disputed how long to hang them, apparently the French hang them by the head until they drop of their own weight! Camreron says he hangs them maybe 3-5 days, by the feet unless drawn, by the head if drawn.
I have never hung birds myself, but don't shoot much quail and never pheasant, and to me this is something for those kind of birds.
I have never left one to hang before they are much easier to clean warm and fresh
I would not let them hang. I would dress them off as soon as I got home.
I clean my birds as soon as I get home.
My copy of the Joy of Cooking from the 70s has advice similar to the LL Bean book cited above. I'll try to post it tomorrow.
Clean them warm and fresh so much easier and i dont like to let meat hang around. Then faster it is cleaned and either eatin or frozen hte better it will taste.
Clean them and Cool them quickly too much risk of bacteria otherwise you don't need the RISKS!
It is just not true that this poses any risk, as long as some common sense is being used esp. about the outside temperature being monitored [they are not to be hung indoors!] . BTW most refrigerators are set to about 42-45 degrees, so it is no safer there unless, well, you are not paying attention to the outside temp. The Safety Nazis have gotten to you folks!
Don't hang them... clean them as soon as possible after harvesting. They will keep as long as 8 hours or so but hanging would do nothing to add value.
I grew up hunting pheasants in IL, IA, SD and hunted with some pretty seasoned hunters. Not once did I every see or hear of hanging up birds. I guess the fact was that when we finished a day of hunting, we were just so dang tired that we wanted to get the cleaning over with. Many times we just wanted to eat 'em anyway so any additional process would prolong the hunger.
Post an Answer