Smoked duck recipes please

[NEUT6899]

Planning on smoking a few wild ducks this weekend or next. This is the first time that I have tried duck so I am looking for any pointers that will be helpful. Anyone have a good brine and rub recipe??? Smoking them in my electric MES 30... Planning on using Apple pellets in the AMNPS.. Thank you in advance!!!!

[Kyle]

I haven't tried this. Too afraid it will turn out dry. Let us know how it goes if you get a recipe!

[Alagnak]

I have only done it a few times (because i don't hunt ducks much anymore) but I thought they turned out great. I used the same wet brine I use for pheasant. The two tricks I used to keep from drying out were to wrap in bacon (or at least lay a few stips across the top) and also used an injector with some garlic butter.

[Greybeard53]

When smoking duck, is it typically done with the skin off or on?

[OnAFly]

I did a few pheasants for a coworker recently. He brined them with simple salt/brown sugar and water. I coated in olive oil and a little pepper and smoked to 155 with cherry. He said they turned out fantastic.

These were skinless. If I had the choice, I would go skin-on just to act as a moisture barrier.

[NEUT6899]

Greybeard53,

From what I have been reading you want the skin on the bird... helps keep moisture in but also want to pierce the skin (but not the meat) with a large sewing needle so that the fat renders out..

[NEANGLER]

I usually smoke the boneless breast with the skin off, main thing is to not over smoke them. I use a mixture of Soy, Oil olive, Chopped Garlic, chopped onion, and cajun seasoning and let it marinate over night. Then smoke the breast for about hour, hour and a hlaf depending on the size and temp, usually around 225-230. Never had a issue with them being dry.

[eyeguy 54]

I tried pheasant a couple years ago and blew it. tough and dry. hope to try again some day.

[Pherris]

I tried pheasant a couple years ago and blew it. tough and dry. hope to try again some day.

Same thing happend to me. I put the meat in a food processor then mixed it in a bowl with some mayo and some Famous Dave's hot and sweet pickle relish. It made for a fantastic cracker spread.