Dove hunting?

[Ark]

My DH has gone dove hunting today!!!

Hopefully he will come home with the bag limit, which I think is 12. Or, maybe it is 12 per variety. Anyway, what's the best way to cook them up?

Need recipes!!! I have never done this before, but I am more than willing.

[mtman]

wrap a piece of bacon around the breast stick a toothpick to hold it
and grill the rest of the bird is trash

[Ark]

Originally Posted by mtman

the rest of the bird is trash

Do you REALLY do that? I could make a stew or something with it. Unless all those bones are just way too tiny to deal with...

[Hillbillybob]

Originally Posted by Ark

Do you REALLY do that? I could make a stew or something with it. Unless all those bones are just way too tiny to deal with...

I don't know of any dove hunters myself that even tries to use any other part of the dove.
Hillbillybob

[belladulcinea]

When we hunted we just used the breast too. They are too tiny to fool with more than that, unless you get a pot full maybe. I just never did it.

I stewed them with a little chicken stock and made dumplings. My preference is quail or pheasant but these are good to.

[big rockpile]

Just there is very little meat on the Legs,Wings and Back.And it is pretty dry,the reason for the Bacon.

You could Bake them up with Stuffing.Just don't cook too long.Never tried it but maybe Boiling them up then some Dumplings.

big rockpile

[KayJay]

I usually just fry the breasts in some butter with a little garlic, it's delicious, especially served with rice and broccoli. I feed the rest of the body to the cats, I tried cleaning them up like a chicken but it was way too much hassle, so I started with the cat food.

[MawKettle]

Originally Posted by mtman

wrap a piece of bacon around the breast stick a toothpick to hold it
and grill the rest of the bird is trash

I second that motion!

DH goes at least the first day of every season (EVERY year...) and when we had just started dating, dove season opened, and he volunteered to catch and cook me dinner.

He made them just the same way that mtman said....now its an annual tradition on our anniversary......

We normally have them with mashed potatoes and deviled eggs (don't ask me how the eggs got in there - DH made them that very first time and they've been on the menu ever since).

[Ark]

Thanks to everyone!

Cant wait till he gets home and tells me how the day went.

He hasnt gotten to dove hunt since he was a teenager and used to always go with his dad out in the panhandle around Borger, so he was REALLY hoping to have a successful day.

[agmantoo]

Here is the only recipe I have other than what was discussed. This recipe will yield a rather decent meal when accompanied with rice.

Dove Casserole

1/4 cup butter
1 oz chopped mushrooms
1/2 minced onion
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 cup sherry
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup olives
Cook doves (up to 16 breasts) in a buttered fry pan. Mix above and pour over doves placed in a casserole dish for baking at 350 degrees F.

[Bearfootfarm]

I like to brown them in butter with a little onion and garlic, then add rice and a mix of water and white wine.
Cook until rice is done an dig in!

[cowgirlone]

We just use the breasts too.
I like to remove the breast meat from the bone, pound into medallions.
Chicken fry, make a gravy with the drippings and serve over mashed tatoes.

[TedH71]

My point is if the dove is too small, why bother hunting them? I would rather eat a chicken or turkey. lol.

[cowgirlone]

For me, they are small like shrimp, but worth the effort.

[littlejoe]

I've boned the breast, marinated them in Worchestershire sauce, cut a sliver of Jalapeno and wrap them in bacon, stuck with a toothpick. Then put them on the grill.
Pretty good grazin'

[Pops2]

Ted
do you eat the feet off wild hogs, make pork rinds from the skin or lard & cracklings from the fat (when they have any)?
dove breasts are easy to prepare & cook the rest doesn't provide enough meat for the effort.

[cowgirlone]

Originally Posted by littlejoe

I've boned the breast, marinated them in Worchestershire sauce, cut a sliver of Jalapeno and wrap them in bacon, stuck with a toothpick. Then put them on the grill.
Pretty good grazin'

littlejoe, that sounds really, really good!

[TedH71]

I'm trying to eat more healthy so no more stuff like lard and crackling for me. I've eaten frog legs though. They look just like chicken legs and taste the same except they're 8 times smaller! Really good.

[Ark]

Thanks everyone for the ideas!

Unfortunately, the field of milo had not yet been cut, and so it was a wasted trip.

However, he should get to go again in a few weeks, so I am keeping these recipes!