‘25-‘26 Upland Bird Thread

[Birdbander]

I'm halfway through an 8 day trip to the eastern part of the western UP (or western part of the central UP, dealer's choice.

I'm just 4 days later arriving this year than last but the leaves have seemed to have been down longer with the affect of pushing the grouse towards the pine stands more than the aspen cuts. Adds another layer of difficulty connecting on shots.

I've been surprised by the number of woodcock still around and have happily taken advantage of them. With tomorrow being the close of their season I'm hoping to run into a few more.

Friends from Indiana will arrive Thursday with their old dogs and two 15 week old puppies. It'll be chaos around camp letting the pups chase wings.

 

[shrapnel]

 

[CPAjeff]

My favorite hunting buddy is finally old enough to carry a shotgun in the pheasant rich fields of the Dakotas. He’s done exceptionally well and killed his limit each of the two days we’ve hunted so far.

 

[Buffs35]

My favorite hunting buddy is finally old enough to carry a shotgun in the pheasant rich fields of the Dakotas. He’s done exceptionally well and killed his limit each of the two days we’ve hunted so far.

View attachment 390842

10 out of 10. Excellent picture!

 

[R.K.]

Two sharpies and a hun. Didn’t shoot the best, and the pheasants I saw either didn’t love the truck driving on top of them, or they ran faster than I could keep up with the puppy. Otherwise- Ellie did great when I wasn’t being lazy, especially on the sharpies.

Damn good day.

 

[TheGreek]

Sharptail and Sage grouse for dinner! Delicious! Last year we were in ND sharptail hunting at a little cafe for lunch and a woman at the table next to us asked us where we were from and what we were doing. My buddy mentioned he was from Florida and we were hunting sharptails. Her response was , “You came all this way to shoot them stinky birds?!”

Yes we did ma’am. That last photo is the cooked breast of a huge male Sage grouse from this year in NW CO. Like a big old beef steak!

 

[MNElkNut]

I just found a new recipe I like for wild turkey. I have always had a hard time having it come out too tough. Crockpot for about 12-16 hours. Cream of Chicken soup and marinade beforehand. Add your favorite spice. Pretty easy but takes a long time. really tender. Just thought I would share since we are on the food part of the harvest!

 

[El Jason]

Shot one where I probably shouldn’t have.

 

[R.K.]

I just found a new recipe I like for wild turkey. I have always had a hard time having it come out too tough. Crockpot for about 12-16 hours. Cream of Chicken soup and marinade beforehand. Add your favorite spice. Pretty easy but takes a long time. really tender. Just thought I would share since we are on the food part of the harvest!

I about cried reading that... You need schnitzel in your life.

Cut the breast across the grain, 1-2" thick. Turn to have the grain facing up, then pound flat into a cutlet with a meat hammer.

Salt & pepper the cutlet.
Dredge in flour.
Dip in eggwash
Dredge in breadcrumbs with lemon zest.

Fry in butter or butter/oil mix until golden brown. Eat the whole turkey in one sitting. Abandon crockpots and cream of mushroom soup.

 

[El Jason]

^ this is the way

 

[NoWiser]

Hank Shaw’s Fried Turkey Nuggets. I made them for a family gathering this spring and the kids from 3 different families turned into crazed wild animals over them. I’ve never seen them react to food like it. All the adults loved them, too.

 

[MNElkNut]

Why the hate for crockpots and Cream of Chicken soup? It was outstanding to say the least! Sounds way simpler that multiple dredges and pounding with a framing hammer (I might not have made it clear....the turkey was already dead)!

 

[NDGuy]

Pup found some quills, weren’t in deep and were easily pulled out. Glad she heeled and didn’t go back for seconds!

 

[Wild Bill]

I usually am able to put 5-8 turkeys in the freezer each spring and we substitute turkey for any recipe that calls for chicken, without hesitation. I've never had any issues with it being too tough.

 

[R.K.]

Why the hate for crockpots and Cream of Chicken soup? It was outstanding to say the least! Sounds way simpler that multiple dredges and pounding with a framing hammer (I might not have made it clear....the turkey was already dead)!

I’ve been scarred by one too many flavorless (at best) meals of mystery goop that involved those two things. I just can’t bring myself to use that combination ever again.

 

[Cm7727]

We walked…we shot a few.

 

[Sask hunter]

My go to for white meat birds is to cut the breast into a couple chunks and give a couple smack with the meat hammer to flatten them out a bit. Then dip into eggs, cornflake crumbs and deep fry. Dip In honey garlic sauce