Doves, how long to leave on ground before it becomes unsafe to eat?

[His lordship.]

Hoping to get in some dove hunting and in case it gets hectic and I have to locate some that I had shot and they fell into the grass/bushes, how long is it safe to leave around without being put into a cooler on ice for eating?  I can imagine temperature can affect this as well.


I had read a book on grouse hunting years ago that said the French intentionally leave their grouse hanging around in the basement of their houses after harvesting for a day to "season the meat".  Sounds like a great way to get food poisoning.  But if they have been doing that for years it must work?   


Thanks.

[BUGEYE]

I always breasted my doves and put'em on ice immediatly.  you don't even need a knife.
I've heard of people hanging ducks with the guts in'em to ripen, but not me.

[PowPow]

In Alabama, early dove season can be 90 degrees.
I've shot them from 3 pm to 5 pm, then drive 2-1/2 hours, then clean them about 8 or 9 pm. no ice, no problem.

[hillbill]

seems like i remember reading years ago somewhere that europeans would leave a pheasant hanging to age untill a large wing feather would pull out easily. dont remember what temp they did this at but yeeeech.im sure they didnt do it in the summer but still! i always put my dove in a cooler as soon as i find them but do have buddies that just throw them in the truck bed for 3 or 4 hrs and clean them when they get home.they are all still alive, so make your own decision.a couple bottles of ice and a soft cooler are not that hard to carry . somewhere i purchashed a insulated bucket with a seat and back rest on it.its od green and perfect for dove hunting.

[Ladobe]

How long definitely depends on temperature.   If the action is fast enough to be "hectic" you should limit out in short order anyway.   
 
When I lived in the frozen north they could easily wait a lot longer to be picked up than here on the desert.    Even overnight for evening shot but not found and picked up until the next morning up north, but here where it is still so hot come dove season and they can spoil quickly they need to not only be picked up ASAP, but cleaned and cooled down ASAP even if it does break into fast and furious shooting.   That never stopped me from getting a limit by the end of the morning or evening hunt.   Only takes a second to pluck a breast and put them in a small and easily carried soft cooler (not directly on the ice), so why push it.   I had a small insulated fanny pack I usually used, and it easily held 10 breasts and drink(s)/snacks with enough ice for the time I spent in the field getting my limit.   
 
Salmonella isn't fun no matter how minor, and it can be life threatening.
 

[manatee1947]

Several hours probably. I am just getting excited about the prospect of getting to shoot some. The population is up locally here to what they were last year and season opens a week from today. I love to hunt dove like nothing else. Deer are freezer fillers, dove are delicacies and fun. I was hoping to have a TDC 20ga but that did not work out, but I got an awesome deal on a Mossberg 28ga OU. I will get out my bucket, decoys, and camo over the weekend.Good luck friend.

[His lordship.]

Thanks for the replys.  I am getting anxious to get a few, then try my cooking skills.  Hmm....I love good cooked birds.

[Don Fischer]

The French gut the birds and hang them by the feet for 5 days at 50*. The English leave the gut's in and hang them by the neck till it seperates from the body. At least that's what I read. I tried the French way and it definately tenderises the meat, great eating. But while cleaning it smells like your plucking month old road kill. But very good eating. The English way I haven't got up the courage to try!

[ejpaul1]

Ya know, we had a great dove hunt this year in colorado. We shot 24 one afternoon, of whick 22 were eurasians so really we had alot of mourning dove left to shoot. Got 2 banded pidgeons as well. I digress,,, We hunt for a few hours and then clean the birds after they have been sitting around a little while. 2-4 hours. The instant you kill something, it starts to decay. The question is how much decay is acceptable? I can tell you that 4 hours isnt harmful at all.
hope this helps.

[mcbammer]

We  use  to   hold  corporate   dove  shoots   on  the   farm   back   in  the  60s  & 70s.  started  the   shoot  at  12;00 ,  the  birds   get  moveing   around  3;00.   earlier  on  cooler   days.  Everyone   pitch  in   cleaning  at  the  end  .   I  would   say   4 to  5  hrs   at  the   most.   Once  the  bird  is  on   the  ground   I  would  pick   it   up .   The  fireants   will  assend   upon  it   immediatly.

[SHOOTALL]

Jenny my lab picks them up as soon as they hit the ground , They go in the cooler. The quality of any meat is how you handle it .

[evidrine]

A few hours easy. You should still clean and chill as soon as you can. Dove hunting can be a blast. Best of luck.

[pastorp]

The French eat lots of things that would make most people sick. 

JMO.

[SHOOTALL]

there is a big difference between not making one sick and tasting good 

[charles p]

I once ate a batter fried pigs foot in Paris.  Specialty of the house.  Rather have mine pickled.

[SHOOTALL]

I would rather eat a bit higher on the hog