floridaboy/uncleD help with marsh hens?

[Youssef]

Hey folks:

Capt. Jeff said that I might be able to get help hunting marsh hens (rail)
from one of these two guys. If you know how to get in touch with one
of them, please tell them I am happy to pay for a couple of hours hunting.

Any info you may have on hunting clapper rails in northeast Florida (Jackson-
ville) area would certainly be helpful.

Thanks to all

Youssef 407-765-9850

[Steve W]

I might be going Satuday, as the weather may have the tides high around 1pm.

I will let you know. (I am floridaboy)

[Steve W]

It was good talking to you.

Here is the link to the tide predictor.

http://tbone.biol.sc.edu/tide/sites_useastlower.html

Scroll down to an area near where you are interested, click on it.

At the bottom you can change the dates if needed.

[Steve W]

Here are some pics...

King Rail

http://www.stanford.edu/~petelat1/photos/kira-1.jpg

Clapper Rail

http://www.stanford.edu/~petelat1/photos/clra-2.jpg

Virginia Rail

http://www.stanford.edu/~petelat1/photos/vira-1.jpg

Sora Rail

http://www.stanford.edu/~petelat1/photos/sora-1.jpg

You can also shoot mudhens also called moorhens.

http://www.stanford.edu/~petelat1/photos/como-1.jpg

You CANNOT shoot Purple Gallinules

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/Photo/Images/h2180pi.jpg

[matthersjr]

do these birds have red or white meat? how do they taste? how does one cook them? what do they eat?

[Steve W]

I have never shot a King so I don't know about them.

The clappers have a light red color meat, very good.

The virginia's are more like dove, still good.

The sora's are so small there is not that much to them, so I have started leaving them alone.

I have not tried the moorhens.

[blueyed-goof]

moorhen is about the same color as clapper rail and have a milder flavor (imo). They are good on the barbeque and go well with bacon and eggs :)

[DUCKWHACKER]

BG, are you really a mudhen eater? I'd love to let the 9 year old take a crack at some as they come very close to the boat but won't take birds we won't eat.

[blueyed-goof]

yeah I'm really a mudhen/moorhen (whatever) eater :smileinbo I think that they are good and make a perfect breakfast when I actually get up on time so I don't miss class. I'm not really a picky eater...just a picky cooker (all depends on how you cook it up) :happy8:

[DUCKWHACKER]

Sooooo, whats your preferred mudhen recipe?

[Steve W]

Oh for crying out loud!

What is this resistance to eating coots and moorhens?

They eat the same thing as most ducks - WEEDS.

Next time you shoot some widgeon, shot some coots and cook them together and you will not be able to pick the coots out.

[DUCKWHACKER]

Steve, no resistence. Just don't want to teach a nine year old to waste game. Do you eat both coots and mudhens? I'm willin' to let the boy take a few if they won't turn him off of eatin' waterfowl. Just makin' sure as I don't wanna sour a youngsters experience of the hunt.

[Steve W]

Ok, well one thing you can do with them is make jerky.

Then anyone will eat them.

Here is how I do it.

Breast out meat.

Cut meat into strips as thin as possible.

Soak meat in water in refrig for at least one day, drain the water as often as you can remember, replacing the water with fresh water. (this helps to get the blood out)

Mix up some teryaki sauce and brown sugar to taste. There has to be enough of it to cover the meat.

Put the meat in the sauce for at least an hour.

Lay out the strips of meat on your dehydrator trays.

Leave in dehydrator until the meat is the texture of jerky. Usually 8-12 hours depending on the dehydrator.

My dehydrator requires alternating trays as the coils are on the bottom and that bottom tray will get too much heat and dry out the meat.

Put the jerky in zip lock bags.

Your kids will eat them faster than candy.

[DUCKWHACKER]

Thanks Steve. How about in an oven? We don't have a dehydrator. Do ya just use a very low setting and cookie sheets?

[D Duck]

You can use the oven. Put it on the lowest setting and crack the door slightly (you can wedge a wooden spoon in the door) to keep it from getting too hot. I have done this in the past with decent success. It will take about 4-5 hours (depending on how you put the meat in the oven - I like to use racks) at least.

As far as eating coots go, I just can't get past the legs. If I thought I could keep from wretching, I'd try and clean one. :booty:

[Steve W]

It is not any different than cleaning a duck, Don.

[Converted]

I'm almost 100% convinced that jerky is the best option for cooking nearly all wild game around my house. It doesn't matter if it is duck or deer, the jerky racks on the dehydrator will be half empty before the batch is done. The rest won't last a day.

The dehydrator and vacuum sealer were the best purchases I've made in the last couple years.

BTW I use an inexpensive meat grinder to grind the meat and then add jerky mix which we buy from cabellas. I've got a jery shooter (kinda like a caulking gun) to lay the strips on the racks. The stuff will melt in your mouth. :icon_salu

Haven't tried coot though.........

[Wilbur]

The best way by far to dry jerkey is in the smoker. Very small fire 125-145 degrees. Leave the vents wide open so you only give a light smoke taste. It will cure quicker than in the oven or dehydrater. Just my .02.

[Novalex]

BG, are you really a mudhen eater? I'd love to let the 9 year old take a crack at some as they come very close to the boat but won't take birds we won't eat.

Bet you couldn't tell the difference between duck & mudhens @ the Island Party :tard:

[D Duck]

It is not any different than cleaning a duck, Don.
It's a mental thing.... :icon_puke

[DUCKWHACKER]

I've got no problem with that Jeff :icon_rabb I'm convinced that 90% of opposition to eatin' different foods is mental. People believe they won't like it so they turn theit noses up at the idea. Had a step-daughter who was praising my wife on the "roast beef" on Sunday. She was close, it was roast bear.

[fpspecialk]

Ok Duckwhacker... as far as Moorhens go... :icon_thum... my advice is whack away!! William & I tried one and were very pleased. Now I wish we would have taken a few more!

BG is right on with her description. The meat is lighter in color & milder in flavor.

[DUCKWHACKER]

Looks like it's time to use up all that old #4 :hello2: :thumbsup: steel.

[Randy Clark]

are we talking about coots

[Wilbur]

Moorhens arent that bad. Not much for a breast but lots of thigh and a fair amount of meat on the legs. The meat is light in color and very mild in taste. Next trip out there will be no hesitation in shooting a bunch of them. The only down side is they arent great on the wing, and want to run for cover instead of fly.

[nosoypato]

If they are good bar b q, then no mercy this weekend. I suppose they are better rare, are they?

[fpspecialk]

are we talking about coots

No... we were talking about moorhens. We did however try a coot at the same time. It seemed to be a stronger tasting meat.

[Randy Clark]

a little stronger i cooked one years ago out of pensacola bay and boy just the smell made me say no way but maybe it is in the presentation

[Wilbur]

We grill all our waterfowl. A good marinade and seasoning and you are good to go. I will re-post a recipe that even works for coots... kinda. :D

[Wilbur]

1/4 cup Dales Steak Seasoning
1/8 cup Worcestershire Sauce
3 shakes of Liquid Smoke
1/4 cup light brown sugar
small onion
1 heaping spoon minced garlic
Basil
Oregano
Rosemary Leaves
Thick sliced Bacon
4 Duck Breasts

Put onion, garlic, and dry spices in chopper and finely chop. Add this to wet ingredients and sugar. Mix well.
Bone out duck breasts and cut into 4 or 6 pieces depending on size, and place in marinade for about 4 hours.
Wrap meat in bacon and put on skewers with space between each piece.
Grill over medium heat till med rare.

Good eatin', hope ya'll like it.

[robertbaird]

You boys want to shoot some marsh hens? Come on down to St. Augustine. From Moultrie creek to the 206 bridge, especially back in Moses creek, they are everywhere! Wednesday the 9th is the last day for the season and the north wind is blowing decent, so try to make it out this weekend.