On Wed 28 Sep 2005 09:42:05a, ~patches~ wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> OmManiPadmeOmelet wrote:
>
>> In article >,
>> Mike Beede > wrote:
>>
>>
>>>In article >, ~patches~
> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Yep I do similar. My experience with duck has been horrible A
>>>>store bought duck turned into duck al organge (sp) was a disaster
>>>>years ago and we had company to make matters worse. I got wild ducks
>>>>in return for produce last year. I roasted them and they were
>>>>horrible. The same guy wants to barter this year but my experience
>>>>with wild ducks is not very good so maybe I will just give him the
>>>>produce and forget about the ducks. I would like to know how to cook
>>>>them though!
>>>
>>>A friend got some ducks from a neighbor once and served them
>>>at a meal I was a guest at. They were possibly the worst birds
>>>I've ever had. I think the problem was that they were spoiled, but
>>>there seems to be this (sub)urban myth about game and "hanging" that
>>>leads to unfortunate results. Maybe you could gently broach the issue
>>>with your duck guy and see if they could be handled and stored
>>>differently for you?
>>>
>>>On the other hand, maybe they were just Bad Ducks.
>>>
>>> Mike Beede
>>
>>
>> Ew!
>> I _never_ "hang" ducks when I home process!
>>
>> They get killed, plucked cleaned and frozen within 2 hours max, unless
>> I'm cooking them fresh.
>>
>> Then I kill, pluck, gut, prepare and straight into the oven.
>
> The ducks were not hanged. I've seen hanged ducks in Chinatown and the
> resulting dishes are good. They were killed then his sister cleaned
> them and they were cooked the same day. We found them very gamey
> tasting. Maybe that isn't the word more of a very rich and heavy taste.
> There wasn't much meat either. I'm rather leary as DH is going on a
> hunting trip. He does not or will not hunt but he will play cards,
> cook, eat, and drink so I get free venison. I'm not so sure after the
> duck of last year. My neighbour has already asked me how many ducks I
> want
>

Wild duck and geese are often very gamey tasting. They eat a lot of
little fish and God knows what else. I'd much rather have farm-raised,
graiin-fed duck.

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
____________________________________________

Give me a smart idiot over a stupid genius any day.
Sam Goldwyn, 1882-1974