A tip I have learned on upland bird. chukar, pheasants, quail, turkey, grouse. As soon as I retrieve the bird, I pick the feathers off the body and get the guts out. I get a much better condition bird to eat. Plucking them immediatly keeps the skin intact and is much easier to pluck them. Even waiting 5-10 minutes before you pluck the bird makes it hard to save the skin. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine oregon