Grouse cleaning

ReelTrouble · 08-31-2003, 01:58 PM

With the start of a new grouse season less than 24 hours from us, I got to thinking about cleaning the dumb things. My question is, do all grouse smell terrible during the cleaning process. I have only been hunting two years now, but every time they smell soooo bad when Im cleaning them. Is this just part of grouse hunting, or am I doing something wrong? Sorry if this is a dumb question, but im new to the whole grouse hunting thing.

Thanks in advance,

Reeltrouble

2LEYS · 08-31-2003, 03:26 PM

Wait till you get home. Lay them on their back and stand on their wings. Grab their legs and pull up. And wala you have just cleaned it.

ReelTrouble · 08-31-2003, 03:54 PM

thanks for the tip ill give it a shot tomorrow

2LEYS · 08-31-2003, 04:04 PM

Just dont do it in the field, you have to bring home every piece of edible meat out of the field.

KingFisher85 · 08-31-2003, 08:58 PM

Yep...step on there wings and pull on there feet. If not just tare the skin off of them.

k9jeff · 08-31-2003, 10:06 PM

I stand there, look at the birds,,look at my knife, start telling a story, then fellow Ifisher "Corlyn" tells me to move out of the way and starts in,, before ya know it, im done,,,and I didnt even open my knife,,,

It works for deer too..... :grin:

Fish Hawg · 09-01-2003, 09:39 AM

I tried that once :grin: step on thier wings and pull on thier feet and all I did was rip on leg off and a wing [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

Crashin' Bait · 09-01-2003, 10:39 AM

When you're steppin' on the wings, which way are the tail feathers pointing? Between your legs or away from you? Or does it make a difference? :whazzup:

Fish Hawg · 09-02-2003, 07:15 PM

I did it with the tail pointing between my legs and all I did was make a mess

ReelTrouble · 09-02-2003, 07:24 PM

Well,

Yesterday I got some grouse, tried the step on the wing and pull on the feet, and the wings just fell right off, what did I do wrong?

2LEYS · 09-02-2003, 07:53 PM

Maybe put your feet closer to the body.... More on the shoulder than the wing??

Freakwater · 09-02-2003, 09:14 PM

That's a crack up! I've seen a couple of grouse "cleaned". It was a mess. Hope to do a little grouse hunting this year and I'll try that technique. Anyone want to describe what comes with the legs?

Freak

09-03-2003, 09:25 AM

Try to get your feet as close as possible to the body...It should work just fine

Gus Orviston · 09-03-2003, 09:43 AM

Very dangerous to do this with just any boot, or shoe, but the sole is the most important. I have a special pair that I wear for just this purpose. As I always go into the field with several different pair of boots. You must be prepared and be safe.

To get the proper pressure on the wings you MUST have the right soles. Too much pressure and you risk ripping the wings off, too little and the feathers just pull out. Losing your feathers will ruin you trophy mount, so that is not good either. I have found over the years it is best to use a felt soled boot for this process. I don't use them for anything else.

Here are the best boots/soles for the job.

You will notice the felt will apply even pressure across the grouse wing and not initiate a tear. The cleated soles on the left are not very good for cleaning birds IMO and therefore only use them to stalk said bird.

If you are not getting a good enough grip on the bird with the felt soles you can either try a different surface, or use a knife and cut out pieces of felt until your point pressure is about 2lb/in.

An average shoe is about 48 sq/in and you have two feet, usually, so 200 pound man is applying about 2lb/sq in. A heavier person might want to attach plywood to his shoe to reduce the pressure per in, or inversely in the case of a lighter person.

gus,

Luckybill · 09-03-2003, 10:08 AM

Well heck I got a pair of those, but they don't fit right unless I put my waders on. Guess I need to take more gear when I go...

So If I weigh 222lbs how much plywood do i need?

[ 09-03-2003, 11:09 AM: Message edited by: Luckybill ]

Gus Orviston · 09-03-2003, 12:17 PM

Yep, yep, common mistake by green horns

, wearing your waders to clean grouse. It clearly adds weight and you have to recalculate your pressure points. It is okay to leave them on, but the other hunters will look at you funny if you are walking around in the mountains wearing waders, maybe purchase the breathable ones for grouse hunting.

Now I know there a lot of flack from people that like bob soles, or lugs, but felt is really the best.

gus,

skein · 09-04-2003, 08:16 PM

Do you shoot the grouse first? Or do the felt soles allow you to sneak up on 'em. I guess it takes the term "jumping birds" to a new level.

Will this process also work on ducks? I have some marine plywood I could use.

Skein