Watched a program on the tube last night called Wild Gourmet. A couple had traded some hard yakka for the opportunity to hunt (cook & eat) some wild grouse.
They were on the Yorkshire Moors in the grouse season which is apparently in the Autumn. After carefully setting up their tent inside a ruined farmhouse (to be out of the wind). The tent came complete with a portable slow combustion stove (complete with flue) so they were nice and cosy. However next morning the male half pops down to the lake, conveniently at the bottom of the hill, and jumps in for a bath. In the UK ? In the Autumn ?? Must be made of sterner stuff than I am.
Most interesting part was when they went ferreting for rabbits, as pest control was part of their deal. Not only did they actually show them catching the rabbits but they showed the dispatching of said rabbits on the show. Method of choice was referred to as 'necking'. Bunny was held by the rear legs in the left hand, right hand held the back of the neck (not real sure on grip used) and was simultaneously pulled and the neck hyperextended effectively breaking the neck. Quick, clean and economical. Interestingly, so as not to appear (in her words) a hypocrit the female half necked one of the bunnies. After a quick lesson in how to skin a rabbit they then braised it with assorted wild herbs and edible greens they had collected - looked delicious.
But I digress, my actual question is has any one had grouse ? The show gave the impression grouse hunting was a terribly exclusive (expensive) outing and not enjoyed by the masses. Is grouse really "grouse" (in the aussie slang meaning of the word) or just over rated because its exclusive ? Or is it exclusive ?
Grouse
Moderator: DuncaninFrance
Re: Grouse
Its exclusive people pay lots of money to shoot grouse.