Her First Rooster
A „First Bird“ is really never about the actual bird. But you should still prepare it in a special way so the experience can continue at the dinner table.
The Hunt:
For all hunters there has been the day in their lives when they walk the field for the first time, carry a gun for the first time and of course take their first animal.
December 2nd of this crazy year happened to be that kind of day for a very special person.
My best friend (who also happens to be my wife) grew up quite different from me. I grew up in a small village in Germany and she in a city in the United States. But both of us had something in common. We both did not grow up with access to hunting opportunities or even blinking with a .22 in the back yard. So I know how huge of a deal it was for Natasha when I brought my first shotgun, home but for her to shoot one, and take it into the field to shoot at birds with it meant that she really was getting out of her comfort zone.
After a successful session of shooting at the clay version of wild birds and walking unsuccessfully beside me on some WMAs I decided to take her to a game farm.
I know that there are different opinions on having a new hunter take their first bird on a game farm vs the wild. I guarantee you that a wild bird gets you hooked on upland hunting like nothing else can. But than there is also the accessibility and the convenience of game farms and you just can’t beat that sometimes.
Here we are. Shooter is ready as usual, Natasha’s 20ga pump is loaded and her pockets are full of shells. We purchased 10 birds and to my surprise they put out 9 roosters and only one hen. Good start. Roosters are more exciting. At least I think so.
It takes a couple of birds flushing in front of us for Natasha to fire a shot. So far we bagged three birds and none of them by her. I felt the situation getting more tense every time shooter was getting birdy and I was getting a little bit frustrated that Natasha was not following quick enough or was not moving to the positions I believe would give her the best opportunities. I needed to take a break to realize that I was expecting way too much and both of us needed to get our feelings out and make some room for calmness. New plan. I shoot at birds and Natasha can feel free to do whatever she wants do do. Like take pictures of me and Shooter or taking a shot if she feels like it. No pressure.
About 5 birds later we finally make our way to the end of the “second field”. Here is where the “bird refuge” connects to the huntable field. This is put in place by the DNR I believe to produce wild birds and can’t be touched.
We flush couple of birds immediately out of range and they do NOT behave like those caged cousins of theirs. Finally shooter nails one rooster down inside a little brush pile. I know she can see the bird. This is the only time my flushing dog stops. You can imagine it like a scene out of a bad western movie. Who will draw first?! Well, the rooster did. Shooter goes after him and he flushes as a perfect crosser from right to left at about 20 yards. I shoot and I clearly miss as you will find out later. Natasha shoots and he goes down. All the feelings! First bird! I didn’t think she would shoot. She didn’t think she would hit. After some proper retrieving by Shooter the bird ends up in my hand and my feelings change quickly from super proud of my Wife to WTF!? This rooster is a giant! The tail is longer than the one I just hung on my wall of my biggest bird yet!
So somehow she didn’t just manage to overcome all the feelings and go out and try the thing I love the most (besides her and shooter) but than she also shoots a giant rooster with a 25.5” tail feather. In addition we couldn’t find a nose hole a blinder would leave as a dead giveaway of a pan raised bird.
I’m super proud of the best partner in life I could ask for, I’m super grateful she tried something only because she wanted to understand me a little better and I might just be slightly jealous of the size of that tail feather.
The Meal:
Or how to prepare a “first bird”.
I could make any fancy recipe out of any fancy wild game cook book I have on the shelves. Maybe something Asian? Maybe a Schnitzel?
I don’t want to brag, but I will. Natasha has savored a fair amount of very delicious pheasant dishes out of my kitchen during the last 2 seasons. Any fancy dish just won’t do the bird and the situation justice.
It has to be as pure as the experience. I believe that the best and simplest way to prepare a rooster is to roast it whole. Also the case that she only winged the bird and that I only found a couple of BB’s under the skin made my decision easy.
Those BB’s were #5 prairie storm and I shot #4 lead. This just confirmed that I didn’t even touch the bird with my first shot.
I plucked the bird and brined it over night in a simple salt, sugar and water brine with bay leaves and some crushed juniper berries. Stuffed it with lemons and fresh herbs and brushed it generously with a glaze made of bacon fat, butter and fresh thyme.
Put it in a super hot oven and cook it till the thigh reads about 150F. Done! A preparation worthy of any proper game bird that is the size of a pheasant or smaller.
If you are interested in a detailed recipe check out Hank Shaws Roast Pheasant.
