Game Birds
Cooking Tips
- Game birds may be used in the same recipes as chicken.
- Braise or stew older birds which may have tougher meat; panfry or grill younger, more tender birds.
- Wrapping in bacon is a good way to retain moisture (or to mask a gamey flavor).
Details
Hunting is a popular port in Wisconsin, and game birds like goose, duck, pheasant, grouse, wild turkey, quail and (the delicious but rarely sought-after) woodcock make a wonderful addition to your table. Though they are more often hunted in our region, there are a few area farms which raise goose, duck, pheasant and quail. Check your local farmers market or the REAP Food Group’s Farm Fresh Atlas for Southern Wisconsin.
Game birds can sometimes have a “gamey” flavor depending on what they ate during their life. Farmed birds or birds hunted in or around cornfields, however, will often taste much like chicken or turkey due to consuming grain.
Nutrition: Like other poultry species, game birds are a good source of protein. Fat and calorie counts vary by the bird’s age and species.
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