Just Wanted Some Pigeons!

[chrismdd 787]

Well for tea yesterday I made up a load of those pigeon sausage rolls (Mathew Manning recipe) and they were gorgeous and the kids loved them. So lets see if I can get a few more pigeons in the evening.

 

Left the house at 7pm and walked up to the copse and was settled by ten past:

 

 

Sat within range of the big old warrens but was really after the pigeons and so was not worried that I was upwind of the burrows. When I arrived half a dozen woodies left so I hoped more would be coming in. Covered myself up leant against a tree and pulled a small camo net over me. After 20 minutes a rabbit came out so as there were no pigeons in yet I slowly eased the sticks round to squeeze off a shot and drop him instantly at 25 yds.

 

A further quarter of an hour and a cock pheasant comes strutting in knowing full well that he was out of season he proceeds to taunt me from 20yds in full view. For the rest of the evening he would constantly be around me so obviously the camo was doing its job.

 

Then two pigeons came winging in. Unfortunately from my current position the mass of branches was going to make a shot a challenge. Gave them five minutes to settle and then slowly eased the rifle and sticks round. Tried to work out a clear shot through but as expected all I was met with was the crack of pellet on wood and the sound of fleeing pigeons.

 

Getting darker now so settled back down as there was still time. Out to my left I caught sight of movement and spied a rabbit at 30 yrds so slowly eased round steadied myself and sent the AA Field on its way, a satisfying thwack and number two was in the bag.

 

Now the light was fading fast in the copse so anything at ground level would be hard to see. Tried to make out anything against the dark background and many times what looked rabbit like was merely fallen branches and tussocks playing tricks on my eyes.

 

It was however great just being there sat quietly with the various creatures going about their business. The songbirds were getting a last song in and woodmice and shrews ran around in the dry leaves around me. Then a roe deer slowly strolled by completely oblivious to my presence just as I heard the sound of a pigeon's wings whistling in. I knew he was close and so waited well over five minutes before I slowly moved my head upwards to spy his silhouette just 10 yrds above me through the branches. His head was bobbing around trying to see any danger before settling down to preen. As I moved the rifle round the cock pheasant came slowly up towards me so I needed to be quick or he would alert the pigeon to my presence. The mass of twigs would be an issue again and also with him being so close focusing was difficult. Took the shot and was once again disheartened to hear pellet on wood.

 

Well that would be it so picked up the rabbits and headed out only to find five woodies sat at the bottom of the copse in a sparse tree so will need to remember this for next time.

 

 

[mark williams 7,549]

Nice post Chris and compliments on the shot placement, what calibre was you using on those weird looking furry pigeons. Are you near a nuclear leak at all, as those pigeons look like they could run a bit.

 

atb

Edited April 20, 2015 by mark williams

[BogdanS 21]

Very nice furred pigeons

Nice shooting mate - i am sure they will taste at least as good as the pigeons.

 

All the best,

Bogdan

[chrismdd 787]

Nice post Chris and compliments on the shot placement, what calibre was you using ?

 

atb

 

Cheers, its in .177 chucking out about 11.4 ft/lb with AA Fields.

 

Chris

[tomburras 2,721]

Great trip out by the sounds of it and nice shooting. Been looking at sausage machines lately too I'd like to have a go at making some.

 

Do you roll them by hand or use a machine?

[Lloyd57 98]

Good write up and nice shooting mate.

Lloyd

[chrismdd 787]

Great trip out by the sounds of it and nice shooting. Been looking at sausage machines lately too I'd like to have a go at making some.

 

Do you roll them by hand or use a machine?

 

These were from a recipe found in Mathew Manning's airgun hunting book. Basically its dicing the breast meat up and mixing with sausage meet and herbs then rolling the whole lot up in puff pastry and baking for 25 minutes. I made eight yesterday and four was more than enough for a family tea, the other four are in the fridge to have as a snack latter or take to work.

[tomburras 2,721]

Sounds nice, I'm going to give it a go cheers chrismdd

[secretagentmole 1,701]

Thems the ground nesting pigeons with small wings?

[The one 8,397]

Nice read mate and at least you got the rabbits

[doyley 116]

At least you had two rabbits pal could be worse lol good read atb

[random 659]

Must of been nice enough to see and hear the other wildlife around you,not getting a pigeon will soon be forgotten when those rabbits are prepared...

[mark williams 7,549]

Any chance of the pigeon sausage roll recipe please Chris

[chrismdd 787]

Any chance of the pigeon sausage roll recipe please Chris

 

Hi Mark,

 

I followed the recipe from Mathew Manning's excellent book. Basically I took the breasts of of about four pigeons and diced this up thinly with a very sharp filleting knife (was going to use the mincer but it would of made it too fine). Then to this diced meat I added the meat from four sausages and gave it a good mix with some herbs (rosemary and sage, or any of your own choice) does get a bit sticky so have a sink of water handy to wash your hands.

 

Then I rolled out some shop bought puff pastry to about 3mm thick and into rectangles of 30cm by 20cm. Lay a good sausage of the meat mix along one of the 30cm edges and roll up, using a bit of beaten egg to seal the last bit.

 

Cut into suitable sausage roll sizes, place on a baking tray, score lightly a few times, brush over some more beaten egg and then cook in a pre-heated oven for about 25 minutes.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Spent last evening dicing all the meat from those rabbits shot over the weekend and splitting into three lots two of which are now in the freezer. The third one we had tonight as a tikka masala curry with naan breads, best curry I've had for a long time.

 

Going to use the other diced rabbit for some pies, pasties, burgers or kebabs for the family. There are some more good recipes in the book to try.

 

Chris

[Girlypants 10]

Thanks for sharing, game sausages sounds very tasty, ill wait till my freezer is stocked up a bit more with pigeon breast and rabbit then id like to have a go at making a bunch