HUNTINGsmart! USA Knowledge Base

After gutting the game bird, you’ll need to de-feather it. You can either pluck it or you can skin it. Plucking involves removing feathers from the skin. It can be time consuming, but the final product will resemble a bird from the grocery store. Skinning game birds is the easier and faster option—if you don’t care about getting flavor from cooking the meat with the skin on, then don’t bother plucking the feathers. Additionally, soaking the meat in a solution of cool saltwater will help to remove any blood clots before you cook or freeze the meat.

Check This Out: Wisdom for Waterfowlers

Don’t just chuck your dead ducks into the bottom of your boat. Think about what your hull looks like. Most are dirty cesspools of water, mud, bait residue and spilled gas. So, keep the birds you kill in a clean container with access to fresh air—don’t marinate the meat in boat sludge.