Doves vs pigeons

[LeatherneckPA]

Is there really a difference? Or are doves just "country pigeons"?

Can you eat AND ENJOY pigeons?

[Penny_Plinker]

Doves are a game bird, i dont' kno about pigeons. They're very similar, looks like there'd just be that much more to eat. Give it a try.

I got tired of the large numbers of doves in my back yard and i shot 11 of them and fried them up (breast only) They have brown meat. Not too bad. I'd try pigeons if there was any close by.

Penny

[DM]

I've also ate both, it's really about what you prefer... Some love them, some hate them, and that goes for both doves and pigeons...

DM

[AlchemyAcres]

To my taste, age is most important......squabs,.which are young pigeons (30-45 days) are excellent! When properly prepared they're 'flying filet mignon'.


~Martin :)

[ChoochCharlie]

Pigeons are Rock Doves that live in town.
Ok to hunt, just not downtown. ;D

[DV8]

I know someone who raised hundreds of pigeons for a food supply in a city. they got to where they'd come back on their own. I ate it there once, it wasn't too bad, tho it was made into a stirfry, so maybe the sauces made it better...

[jjspirko]

My opinion,

First a dove and a pigeon are not "the same" at least no more so then say a cottontail rabbit and one of them big old pet type rabbits.

Second, that don't mean a pigeon isn't good eating. They are bigger and when older a lot tougher then a dove. You have to cook them a bit slower and differently if you want em tenderized.

I enjoy eating pigeons and when I used to hunt doves over decoys we shot a lot of pigeons too. They are just fine to eat and like another said the younger the better. I just can't say for a moment that they "the same" as a dove the meat is not even the same color. They are twice as big and a lot tougher meat.

My favorite way to make a pigeon is close to my favorite way to cook a dove.

Dove - debrest the dove, cut a small slice in each side of the breast by the bone, insert a jalapeño pepper in each slot and wrap the breast in bacon. Cook over hot coals on the grill until done occasionally brushing with some "sauce". I use a mix of worcestershire, olive oil, butter and beer.

Pigeon - Same as above but first give them a sprinkle in meat tenderizer and then pressure cook them for about 7-8 minutes and that makes em ALMOST as tender as a young of year dove.

[clarkshomestead]

I know there are alot of different kinds of Pigeons. What kind do people usualy raise for food and why that kind? I might be interested in trying when I get my rabbit operation stabilized.

[jjspirko]

Clark,

From what I know it don't matter much. My Great Uncle in PA used to raise pigeons for pigeon shoots. Those were like I would shoot against you and you bring your "bird man" and I bring mine. You would shoot at my bird mans pigeons and I at yours. Most matches are 10 birds so this is a combined operation. The skill of the shooter is important but so is the quality of the birds.

We would "brush" the pigeons which would basically be putting them in a trap, ringing a bell and letting them go and tossing a handful of gravel at them. My uncle would make notes as to the birds pattern. Some were sitters, some flushed fast, etc. He would use this as part of a strategy in the matches.

Anyway I think PA is the only state were this is still legal, liberals want to protect the feathered rats you know. ::)

So my point is only that these were common barn pigeons like you see in parks. When young birds were just not cutting it we would generally sell them to our shooters as "practice birds" and most did not want the ones they shot. We would cook these up and generally they were outstanding. A bit older then typical "squab" but still pretty young and therefore tender.

If legal where you are I can tell you how to trap wild birds for your coop stock. Keep them penned in and fed for a while and most will then take the coop as home. In fact though our shoots were always far from home 95% of our "missed birds" came home. Some of the best birds would be missed in 12 matches if so they were retired.

So the trap, make box about 2 x 3 feet in a frame using like 1x2 lumber. Put chicken wire on four sides and then on the top take heavy gauge wire and make a grid on the top. Your grid should be like 3 inch squares. Now take it where pigeons are and put a bunch of feed around and in it. The birds will then fold their wings to drop into the box.

The reason you don't cover the bottom is to make it easy to get your caught birds out. Just lift it a bit on one side reach in and grab em. Guess I out to give you the way to grab a pigeon so he won't hurt himself too. Just reach across the back and grab em so you hold the wings in. Also you reach under the bird with your fingers, you want to get the legs between your fingers (usually your middle and ring). This way they can't flap or flail their legs. It takes some practice but soon you can grab em fast.

Raising pigeons is fun and easy. You just need to build a coop and plan in advance for how many you want to raise as they are quite prolific. Unlike rabbits you can't just separate them to stop breeding. Fortunately they are great eating, easy to cook and clean, etc. I would much rather raise pigeons then chickens personally. Though a few G-Hens to sound the hawk alert ain't bad to have around either.

[tn_junk]

In the middle of the night, with a quiet BB gun, one can harvest pigeons in the middle of the city and no one ever knows.

alan