How to Eat Dove or Pigeon

Last Updated: March 29, 2019

Squab is eaten as a delicacy in some countries, but it can also be survival food; doves and pigeons are numerous in most climates and can be caught relatively easily. This article gives a few suggestions on how to kill, dress, and cook these birds for human consumption.

Steps

1
Doves or pigeons can be killed with a spring-loaded BB pistol, an air rifle, a small crossbow (50 pound pull, using 6-inch plastic bolts), or any larger weapon. They can also be netted, baited and trapped, or snared with a variety of other methods.
2
Once caught, they should be killed quickly to avoid their unnecessary suffering. A BB through the brain will work, or a simple cutting off of the head.

Advertisement
3
The head, wings, and feet may be cut off prior to plucking, or it can be done at any point in the process.
4
Pluck all the feathers from the bird. It may be easier to skin some birds, but you will lose the layer of fat just under the skin.
5
Starting from just below the rib cage, cut up through the bird's breast meat, holding the bird in one hand around its back, and pushing the knife away from you to avoid risk of cutting yourself. There is a hard plate that must be cut through, so a sharp knife helps.
6
Empty or cut off the crop: the part of the throat that pre-processes its food.
7
Cut down to the anus so that the complete intestine can be removed all at once. Pulling the cut breast apart, pull out its entrails starting with the gizzard. If you wish, you can cut open and clean out the gizzard, so you can eat its meat also.
8
You can also remove what is left of the trachea if you wish; part of it came off with the head. It looks something like a worm; it's edible but tough and probably hard to digest.
9
Cook the bird. The easiest ways are probably pan frying or boiling. Make sure it's "well done" to avoid risk of parasites.
10
Eat and enjoy. Though the taste will vary according to their diet, pigeon meat can be comparable to duck. One bird can be a satisfying meal for one person.

Community Q&A

Question

What is the use of eating dove?

Community Answer

Dove is a lean meat that has a high protein content and tastes great. The lure to eat dove comes partly from the act of harvesting the bird in the wild. It is organic, free-range meat, depending on how good of a shot you are.
Question

Is it possible to purchase Dove meat?

Community Answer

It can be found in Chinese supermarkets in Europe. This is going to vary with your country, but look in your local delicatessen store. I must add you should hunt your own if possible.
Question

How does pigeon taste?

Community Answer

It tastes kind of like duck - more oily and richer than chicken.

Warnings

Be careful when using an air rifle, crossbow, or any projectile, that the area behind the target is clear to the maximum possible range of the weapon.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 33 Not Helpful 15