How to Eat Dove or Pigeon

Reviewed by Chef Jeff Woodward

Last Updated: January 22, 2024

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

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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.
A BB through the brain will work, or a simple cutting off of the head.

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It may be easier to skin some birds, but you will lose the layer of fat just under the skin.
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.
the part of the throat that pre-processes its food.
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.
It looks something like a worm; it's edible but tough and probably hard to digest.
The easiest ways are probably pan frying or boiling. Make sure it's "well done" to avoid risk of parasites.
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.

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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.

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Is it possible to purchase Dove meat?

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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.

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How does pigeon taste?

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

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Tips

Desert doves can be found in tree branches and rafters near dawn and dusk on days with little or no wind, particularly on cloudy days. On windy days they tend to cluster in large stands of cholla cactus, scrub oak, and other windbreaks.

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A cast net, as used for fishing, could possibly net a large number of birds while they are feeding in a city environment, though contact with concrete or asphalt will wear out the net prematurely.

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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.

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