Do you eat everything you shoot?

[bradyman1]

I have been watching some crows in the back yard. Really wanting to put a hurting on them, but I don't want to eat them. I think I am going to save the crows for after squirrel season and then make a decision on whether to shoot or not, when the hunting has dried up and I need something to shoot at  . I have read that after you shoot one or two they are gone for quite some time. Do you eat what you shoot? If you don't what do you do with the carcass? I AM NOT JUDGING. I AM SIMPLY CURIOUS. I wouldn't expect anyone to eat a mole or a mouse and I have killed both. In the past I have killed birds and squirrels and not eaten them. Pest is a pest. But I am talking more about "game" animals. Racoons, possums, crows, etc. If you don't plan to use a part of the animal do you still shoot it? Coons and possums can be used for fur but what about a crow?

[longislandhunter]

I eat everything I shoot, with the exception of mice and rats of course.  I even eat the starlings I shoot.  As for the crows, they are delicious, you should give them a try. 


Jeff

[shadow]

If it's edible it's on the dinner table but like Jeff I avoid the mice and rat's. Ed

[Atchman2]

Crows? To eat? Gag a maggot! 

[a1Bogey]

At one time or another in our lives.....We all eat "crow" at least once.


Bogey

[longislandhunter]

I never really thought about eating a crow until I read some articles and recipes online.  Went out and shot one to give it a try and I have to tell you they really do taste good     Give em a try, you won't be sorry.

Jeff

[peashooterjoe]

I've seen too many Crows on road kills to try that. Around here the crows beats a  buzzard to the  road kill. Peashooterjoe

[longislandhunter]

Raccoons and possums dine on road kill as well and are eaten by many hunters, but I can certainly understand someone opting not to eat  crows if their dietary habits concern  you.  You have to be comfortable with the critters you eat 

Jeff

[Mebits]

My big concern is lead. I imagine the starlings share the same concern.

Seriously, though, here in the city, pigeons starlings and sparrows roost and nest in deteriorated, lead impregnated box gutters and eaves. As a "certified lead-safe work practitioner", I know that's just about the WORST for lead dust exposure. I have never tested them, but I'm pretty confident that their lead levels are higher than I'd like. As such, I do not eat those killed here in the city. But I would give them all a try in country (save sparrows, they're just to darned small). I don't kill squirrels as I'm just not up for that much work for that little meat. Give me a ground hog or a bunny, however, and, well, <buuuurrrp!>

M
 

[gamo2hammerli]

The only thing I've shot that I didn't eat was a mouse.  I voted for "Mostly except mice and Grackles..."  I do eat all the Grackles I've shot.

[Atchman2]

You guys are gagging me! I can see some stuff but blackbirds? DUDES we live in the land of plenty, buy some meat help a farmer.

[mac56]

I've killed a few tin cans in my back yard... it seems no matter how long I boil and cook them, they seem to stay extremely tough !!!!!!

[Vortex]

I try and eat everything I shoot, and what I don't eat, I feed to my dog. She is hooked on nutters now.

[pindog2000]

Im in the desert so quail and dove and bunny are toast lol coons?maybe in the south coon and sweetpotatos are a item so why not wow! in 1994 when i was stationed in gitmo cuba the cubans ate the hutia(banana rat)you see them things scattered all over the place like local cats lol i tried some with rice,beans and fried plantains and really very good, the hutia looks like a guinea pig with a slightly longer tail and about 5lbs and lives in burrows,rocks and on the side of the road you see colonies of 10 .Crows naw,sparrows?naw not enough meat lol pigeon aka squab the city dwellers naw the desert dwellers just like their cousin dove lol ya.Opossums???in the carribean islands they eat the smaller cousin to the common opposum they acctually smoke the meat so ya smoke  country rat lol.

[pindog2000]

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- A Sailor from Guantanamo Bay volunteers to combat a base nuisance and improve the environment.

Master-at-Arms (MA) 2nd Class Corey Becherer, also a senior non-commissioned officer in the Camp America commandant's office, volunteers up to 15 hours each week helping Bremcor's environmental control office with Hutia population control and monitoring.

"I like the outdoors," he explained. "A lot of people complain about banana rats, so I thought I'd take it upon myself to help."

Becherer is part of a team led by Bremcor's Mark Massa that scours U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo, from the fence lines to housing areas and beach access roads, in search of Hutia colonies that have grown large enough to damage the habitat. Hutia can strip trees of leaves and damage undergrowth, Becherer explained.

"That's why you see all those trees that are dying," he said, and why dirt washes onto roads after a rain.

When overpopulated Hutia colonies are identified, the population control team uses pellet guns or .22 caliber weapons to reduce the colony. The team coordinates with base security, informing the master-at-arms of where they will be, who is participating and what weapons are being used.

Becherer has volunteered for this duty since January, and in that time he has learned how Hutias live and breed, and their life expectancy. He said he has seen an improvement in the Hutia population until recently, when the team took a break.

"I'm starting to see a lot of Hutias around," he acknowledged. "[It's time to] start up again."

For more news from Joint Task Force Guantanamo

[bradyman1]

So those who don't eat some of the things they shoot, what do you do with the carcass? I live in a subdivision with woods behind me. The woods are off limits but the animals like to enter my yard. What would you do with the carcass of a crow or possum if you wern't going to eat it. Or for the rest of you, what do you do with your "leftovers" ie entrails, skin, etc.?

[longislandhunter]

I have a section of woods behind my house and all my "leftovers" get placed in this one spot in the woods.  The next day whatever I left there is always gone so some critter/s are enjoying it. 

Jeff

[shadow]

Agree any leftovers are placed in a spot in the wood's that I hunt and there gone by the next day. I put them in a spot that I can also check out the tracks of the critters coming to it which gives me a idea of what's around. Ed

[Mebits]

I have a friend with pet foxes, and I was planning on giving him my winter birds (pre frozen), but it seems he got himself a springer so he's set for dead birds, I fear.

[rabbitguy]

Mostly, I only shoot what I will eat, except pest like mice and starlings.

I too have eaten grackle. not so bad. If your going to kill it you should atleast try it once. But that does not apply to mice or rats man....