No Fish Stew

[podge]

At the moment here in the UK the viz is like gravy and the sea is cold with as many fish in it as I’ve got left in my freezer (that’ll be none then).
So with this in mind and the need for non-reared food it’s out with the gun and away to the woods.

Wood Pigeon Stew

You’ll need
One 12-gauge shotgun, bag of cartridge’s, a friendly gamekeeper with access to the wood and a dog (to save you running around like one).

Take the breast meat from 6 of your pigeon’s and peel of the skin then in a hot frying pan brown the meat once done put to one side.
Take a large onion and some garlic slice it up then in the same pan as you browned your pigeon fry the onion and garlic until it just starts to color remove and put with the meat.
In the main pot put your root vegetables and a really good chicken stock place the pot on the hob and on a high heat bring the lot up to the boil.
Once it’s all hot place the pigeon, onion and garlic and any seasoning it may need (salt pepper and any spice’s you like) into the same pot give it a stir and into the oven it goes, medium heat for one hour.
Once cooked you may want to thicken the gravy a little so just sieve it out and thicken with cornflower in the usual way.
Enjoy

Optional extras while preparing the pigeon-
One 8 year old daughter shouting dad that’s horrible and one 6 year old son shouting can I have a wing to chase Kayleigh (daughter) with.

Roll on the summer.

 

[deep thinker]

Sounds good mate, could probably also work on most game fowl. Guinnea fowl or partridge comes to mind. Luckily over here its still summer and even in winter we get pretty decent fishing days sooo, no need to get out the shotgun just yet, allthough I am planning two hunting trips for the winter will try it then

 

[Oldsarge]

Sometime later this year I will come into possession of a W J Jeffrey's SLE with 2" chambers. No, I won't tell you how so don't ask. Anyway, hopefully it will arrive in time for me to get the stock bent to fit, if necessary, and to put it to good use this autumn and in the winter to follow. For now, unfortunately, I'm desparately trying to clean up the veg garden and build a shop. I don't even have time to paint, worse the luck, or dive. Of course, it's raining now so the last would be out of the question, anyway. Good recipe, BTW. Well done, that daddy.

 

[podge]

Sometime later this year I will come into possession of a W J Jeffrey's SLE with 2" chambers. No, I won't tell you how so don't ask. Anyway, hopefully it will arrive in time for me to get the stock bent to fit, if necessary, and to put it to good use this autumn and in the winter to follow. For now, unfortunately, I'm desparately trying to clean up the veg garden and build a shop. I don't even have time to paint, worse the luck, or dive. Of course, it's raining now so the last would be out of the question, anyway. Good recipe, BTW. Well done, that daddy.

Hey there Sarge W J Jeffrey’s side lock ejector, that’s a lot of gun, only 2 inch chambers don’t see too many of them about. Being only 2 inch has it got buy any chance Damascus barrels. I’ve never seen one with Damascus before but I’ve been told of there existence, if it is then whatever your paying for it wont be what it’s worth so slap that man’s hand of at the wrist and get hold of it before the guy finds out what’s he’s got. Is it double trigger with a straight hand stock, what’s the engraving may be full rose coverage or is it banner and scroll and has it got it’s original modified and full choke? What’s the wood like is it clean and well figured with deep grain or has it got just a few marks and dinks on it? Are the barrels in good order with nice deep blueing and not been sleeved with no pitting or dull spots?
Let me know and I’ll see if I can make a guess at its value.
And thanks for the daddy bit, we all do our best.

 

[Oldsarge]

That was a typo. It's 2 1/2" chambers, something I think is far more practical. Full rose and scroll, DT, straight stock, truly fine walnut and in excellent condition. Fair market, about $9,000 . . . except it's sleeved. Now that means absolutely squat on this side of the pond but for some odd reason it cuts the UK value by 2/3. I simply don't understand, especially since it was done by the chap who does all such work for H&H and the only anyone would know is that it's so marked. No I won't say what I'm paying but it is a serious bargain. Seller knows full well what it's worth but he likes me. Go figure.

 

[Paul Kotik]

This is the greatest thread EVER on a Deeper Blue Forum.

My many thanks.

I want to contribute, but I am humbled by the poetry and passion of those who came before me.

All I can think of to suggest is that with grub like this, a rustic, robust and well-aged red Burgundy would be just about perfect. If you like that sort of thing. Otherwise, a wee dram.

 

[shoutatthesky]

I am with you on that on Paul. How about some recipes for off season grub? I can think of many. Shellfish free pie, crayfish shaped chocolate cake, Boiled rice with carrot served in abalone shells, No vegetable salad.
Btw does that shotgun work well underwater? Please try it!

 

[podge]

Paul I ate it with a glass or two of Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon.
Shoutatthesky no the shotgun wont work underwater I’ve got a Mamba for that.
Sarge sounds spot on was it a guy called John Gibbs that sleeved the gun?
Fair price over here for a sleeved Jeffrey’s in tip top order would be £1800 / £2000
Nice gun just the same.

 

[Huw]

Nice recipie there mate! Im home alone at the moment and left to fend for myself, and i saw this thread this morning and popped off to the farm... but left the shotty at home and took out the air rifle for a change seeing as there was no wind .

Like i said it was just me to feed, so i cut down the recipie, and took just one bird in the end. I shall let you know how it goes!

Huw.

 

[podge]

Nice one Huw, It would work well with Rabbit as well.

 

[Oldsarge]

Another good thing to do with game birds or rabbit (or dassies, woodchuck, nutria, muskrat, etc.) is disjoint the critter and put into a big stainless steel bowl. Grab your handy, commercial-size bottle of Tabasco (or hot sauce of choice) and soak the thing. Let it sit in the hot sauce for an hour or so and then dredge it in seasoned flour. I prefer either 1 1/2 tsp dry thyme/quarter cup of flour or 1 tsp dried Italian Seasoning (mostly oregano with a bit or rosemary, I suspect), salt and pepper to taste. Brown the floured pieces in 2 Tbs. good olive oil on all sides then add half chicken broth and half dry sherry, cover, reduce heat to simmer and cook slowly until done, about 20-25 minutes, depending on how large your dinner is. Something the size of a rabbit takes about 2/3 cup of liquid. When the meat is done, distribute the pieces over a platter mounded with long grain rice, whisk the gravy and increase it with more stock/sherry or cream or milk or (horrors!) plain hot water. When the gravy is done and flavored to your preference (Worchestershire sauce works wonders as does anchovy paste--very delicately!), pour the pan full over the meat and rice. Hot towels will be much appreciated after dinner as will a good lager to wash it all down with. Call it Italian/Cajun fusion! I've had anti-hunters come back for seconds on morning dove which are kind of like small woodies.

 

[podge]

Sounds great I like the sound of sticking cream in with the gravy.
I think one of my neighbors has got a rabbit in there garden.. um maybe not.rofl
Its back to the woods for me.

 

[SurfnSpear]

Woohoo wintertime shooting/recipe thread! Well Podge, I did in the end get the 12g 28" Bettinsoli Diamondline Deluxe and have been shooting about 3 times a week since halfway through the game season.
Had Phil Turner of Bozard & Co cast the stock left and fit a kick-eeze pad as he is just up the road...Crows/Woodies/Squizzers are getting a wrath of fire at the moment!:martial
Sarge, think I will have to get me a nice 'old english' some day for the seasons....
I am well onto the woody stew/woodie warm salad etc. etc. What can I say...the fish are not there!
Also this week picked up a used .22RF Anschutz 1415-1416 left handed bolt. It's been carbined right down to about 14" with the mod screwing on the end.
Now just got to FAC the Theoben .20 Mk1 Rapid and the rookery will be next..Lamping on the quad tonight if the rain eases up....

STILL.....there is that void that only a nice speared seabass can fill:head and I can't wait for Spring......:head

 

[Huw]

Now just got to FAC the Theoben .20 Mk1 Rapid and the rookery will be next..Lamping on the quad tonight if the rain eases up....

Surfnspear, when i got my FAC and shotgun licence 2 years back, i was granted a slot for a .22r/f and an FAC rated air rifle. I never got round to buying an FAC air rifle though, but am really looking into upping the power of my standard airarms from 11.9ftlbs to nearer 18 or 19 and puttign the slot into some use, simply because of the vast difference between a .22rf round and a .177 pellet.

HV ammunition for my rimfire carrys a warning on the box of a possible 2mile range (max), meaning that shots into the rookerys are not only impossible due to danger, but completely and utterly out of the question, whereas an air rifle is ideal, but damn some of those rooks have hard heads... i have had some take a pellet to the brainbox... fall... hit the ground... shake themselves off... then fly a lap of the feilds and then land right back again!!!

Question is do you reckon 18 or 19 is sufficient? At the moment i dont really like pushing shots out further than 35 -40 yards tops, perhaps 60 could be achieved? What are you considering upping your Theoben .20 Mk1 to?

Before anyone asks... the 12g wont sort them out... one shot and there gone for the day onto the next farm, and back the next morning!!!


Huw.

 

[Magpie]

Do some air rifle hunting myself, with either my Air Arms Pro Sport or Weihrauch HW100.

Both are legal limit and I've no intention to go FAC.

The thing is Huw you may up the power of your rifle but the range you can effectively use it over is limited by your accuracy, not its power. Remember the target area for an airirfle on woodies or rabbits is about the size of a 50p, no more. If you can hit that you're not going to stop them, no matter how high crank it up.

Also, I'm not sure your AA S200, great rifle though it is, goes much higher than 20ftlbs, not without reducing the number of available shots to single figures anyway! The Rapid has a much bigger air cylinder and so many more shots at the higher power.

And similar to a previous story I was holded up once and shot a crow, seemingly stoned, left it under a bush and returned to my hiding place. Half an hour later out it walks and flies away! :blackeye

I'm currently feeding up some woodies that are frequenting my new garden...they think they're onto a good source of free seed...little do they know whats going to be waiting for them one day! Might have to try one of them recipes

 

[SurfnSpear]

Huw, Magpie puts it effectively. My issue with the rookery is that my only cover is 50-60yrds away at about 25° incline and I guess I really need to try the headshot at that range everytime.
Hence the Rapid Ben Taylored with THESE doing about 26ft/lb gives me about 70 shots with no power curve (400cc bottle) and a lovely flatish trajectory. Perfect for that niche of shooting where no cartridge should ever go...
And you are both right about how tough they are. I have used just this week some Gamebore 12gauge Clear Pigeon 30g No.6 on two rooks which fell straight out the sky onto the other side of the brook and when I got over to check for them, they were gone. They were only about 30yrds up as I know the height of the trees!!! :hmm
Woodies are my bass for winterrofl

 

[foxfish]

I am very interested in all types of guns, spear guns, firearms & air guns but save my posting for other forums. I had no intent in joining this thread however I would like to say I find no appeal in wounding any creature. I have no objection to you guys killing whatever is legal but please try not to mention shooting animals that are out of range for the weapon you are using. Sorry if I sound negative but to post such things on an open forum is asking for trouble.
Magpie is quite write in what he says - accuracy is the be all & end all with low powered guns such as air riffles. Even a 30ftlbs recoil less precharged air gun has only a third of the power of a 22 rimfire! The lightweight pellet can be effected by even the slightest crosswind. If you can hit a coin at 40mts time after time in the field with a air gun you could win a fortune in field target comps.
Having said that, if you have a FAC you might as well make the use of it! I have shot, using a bench rest, 20mm 10 shot groups with 30ftlb precharged guns at 50mts in very still conditions.
Dont mean to upset anyone it is just that I have experienced other forums having to deal with all sorts of animal rights nutters causing untold trouble!

 

[Magpie]

Now with one of these: Quackenbush Air Guns
the target area opens up a bit

.50 cal, 800fps, trajectory must be nigh on brick like but would hit rather hard for an air rifle!

 

[Huw]

First off may I just apologise for my second post, which now reading back through is obviously unclear, and could easily be interpreted ambiguously.

When I wrote...

I have had some take a pellet to the brainbox... fall... hit the ground... shake themselves off... then fly a lap of the fields and then land right back again

these incidents were all well within both comfortable range and capability of the 11.9ftlbs air rifle, as with the rookery in question, my hide is set up just over 20yards away from any possible target. My point that I was trying to raise was that a .22rf cannot and should not ever be fired up into a treetop, and that the 12ftlbs legal limit on a standard air rifle, is not always sufficient for a clean humane kill of the quarry in question.

please try not to mention shooting animals that are out of range for the weapon you are using

Not once did I mention actually shooting an animal out of range, merely posed a question of how far one could expect an air pellet from an FAC air rifle to effectively stop its target. In fact I even stated that I do not like pushing shots out further than 35yards, with 40 yards being an absolute ultimatum.

I am fully aware of what a specialised piece of kit an air rifle actually is, and surfnspear put it brilliantly saying that his was

Perfect for that niche of shooting where no cartridge should ever go...

I even included in my initial post that the reason I took the air rifle out instead of the 12g was in fact due to the lack of wind on the day, and for the record it only comes out of the cabinet on target days, or when the weather was as it was a few days ago... still.

The thing is Huw you may up the power of your rifle but the range you can effectively use it over is limited by your accuracy, not its power. Remember the target area for an airirfle on woodies or rabbits is about the size of a 50p, no more. If you can hit that you're not going to stop them, no matter how high crank it up

Magpie, regarding this issue of accuracy (which I fully recognise and appreciate) I have to clarify that, I have no trouble what so ever in hitting the kill zone on woodies, rabbits crows rooks etc. and have regularly achieved 20mm 8 shot groups at 30yards whilst target shooting or zeroing. However, when it comes to rooks, I maintain that 12ftlbs in the killzone within a sensible range is not always enough to achieve a fast clean humane dispatch.


Finally to conclude I feel that I must clarify to any other readers that from the remark of

I would like to say I find no appeal in wounding any creature

perhaps some could draw the conclusion that this infers that perhaps some of us do indeed find an appeal in wounding an animal, and this is a point that I not only defiantly dispute, but would also find absolutely appalling, and in no way acceptable in any form or manner.


I once again apologise for any unclear points or explanations that may have arisen in any of my original posts, and wish to express both my ultimate respect for all nature as well as the knowledge of my equipments - and my own personal limitations.

Huw.

 

[Magpie]

No apology needed mate, no one thought you were anything but humane in your approach.

Its just the way the world is these days you need to be pretty careful with how you describe any activity related to shooting and it does no harm to explain to anyone else reading the thought processes behind the hunting we do.