Geese

[Liberty or death Jr.]

Does anybody know the "proper" way to clean geese and ducks? I have always just breasted them out but heard that wasn't legal and considered wanton waste.

[tucker301]

Breasting is OK and perfectly legal, with perhaps one exception.

 

If you're transporting the birds, they must be identifiable until you have them home.

Most do this by leaving a wing on birds cleaned in the field.

Once they're home, they're yours.

 

There will always be those who argue that breasting is for the lazy and it's wasteful, but it's a philosphical issue, not a legal one.

[Liberty or death Jr.]

Oh, thats awesome. Does that go for the whole US? My brother is behind me right now and he is saying you have to harvest the legs as well, whether you are transporting them or not.

[Nomaspescado]

...what Tucker said.

[tucker301]

This is directly from Montana's web site.

There are some requirements concerning larger ducks and geese that are different from other states.

You do have to save more on larger ducks.

 

http://fwp.mt.gov/content/getItem.aspx?id=24095

 

Procedures to Follow Upon Harvesting Waterfowl –

 

 

Leave Wing or Head Attached –

One fully feathered wing or head must

remain attached to each bird (except doves) at all times while being

transported from the place where taken to the personal abode of the

possessor or a processing facility.

 

 

Wanton Waste –

No person shall kill or cripple any migratory game

 

bird pursuant to this part without making a reasonable effort to retrieve

the bird, and retain it in his actual custody, at the place where taken or

between that place and either: (a) his automobile or principal means of

 

land transportation; or (b) his personal abode or temporary or transient

 

place of lodging; or © migratory game bird preservation facility; or (d) a

post offi ce; or (e) a common carrier facility.

 

Game Parts Suitable For Food

 

• All birds that fall into the size category of a teal duck or smaller, only

the breasts must be retained.

• All birds larger than a teal duck up to the size category of a mallard

duck, the breasts and the thighs must be retained.

• All birds larger than mallard ducks, the breasts, thighs and wings must

be retained.

 

Field Possession Limit –

No person shall possess more than one

 

 

daily bag limit while in the fi eld, or while returning from the fi eld to one’s

vehicle, hunting camp, home, etc.

[Liberty or death Jr.]

Back to my original question, how do I clean a goose? Do I just pluck the whole bird? Then cook it like a turkey? It says I have to harvest all of the meat from geese, and any bird larger then a mallard. And it says I have to harvest the thighs of the mallards as well as the breast, which isn't that hard.

[tucker301]

On geese, you have to keep breasts, thighs, and wings.

I'd still skin them rather than plucking.

If you pluck a goose, you'll have about two bushels of feathers per goose. Huge mess.

 

Here's the way to do it.

Using your fingers, part the down on the lower end of the breast, just above the exhaust port, until you feel skin.

Avoid using a knife to eparate the skin. The cutting seems to set free about 10,000 little bits of down.

 

Tear a hole in the skin and work your fingers into the hole.

Tear the skin apart and begin exposing the breast.

Simply keep ripping and tearing until the breast is fully exposed, then tear it off the thighs and wings.

It's pretty much like skinning a rabbitt or other small game.

 

You can cut the breast out whole (with bone), or you can filet the meat off of each side (preferred) with a sharp knife.

 

The wings and thighs can be cut at the joints and removed.

Both wing and thigh need only be taken out up to the first joint.

 

There are other methods and techniques, but this is how I do them.

 

http://www.nodakoutdoors.com/birdcleaning.php

 

http://www.lyndenhuggins.com/Hunting/Fillet%20Goose/How%20To%20Fillet%20a%20Goose.htm

[Liberty or death Jr.]

I have always just used the second method in the links, left the legs and wings, but now I know how to do it right. Thanks