How to Clean a Quail
Here is one way to begin preparing quail for the table.
Equipment needed: a sturdy pair of kitchen or game shears.
At all steps in the process take care to avoid cutting yourself on the sharp edges of broken bones.
![Quail 1 Quail 1](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/quail_gallery/quail_1/53345-1-eng-US/quail_1_large.jpg)
![Quail 2 Quail 2](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/quail_gallery/quail_2/53354-1-eng-US/quail_2_large.jpg)
Start by removing both wings. Game shears are handy for this and all other steps in this process.
![Quail 3 Quail 3](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/quail_gallery/quail_3/53361-1-eng-US/quail_3_large.jpg)
Remove both legs at the knee. There is no need to prove the sex of the bird by leaving one foot intact as with pheasants.
![Quail 4 Quail 4](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/quail_gallery/quail_4/53370-1-eng-US/quail_4_large.jpg)
Remove the head cutting as close to the body as possible.
![Quail 5 Quail 5](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/quail_gallery/quail_5/53375-1-eng-US/quail_5_large.jpg)
Grasping the skin at the top of the breast, pull skin and feathers down.
![Quail 6 Quail 6](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/quail_gallery/quail_6/53385-1-eng-US/quail_6_large.jpg)
Pull skin over the legs and off the back.
![Quail 7 Quail 7](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/quail_gallery/quail_7/53388-1-eng-US/quail_7_large.jpg)
Locate the crop at the top of the breast.
![Quail 8 Quail 8](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/quail_gallery/quail_8/53391-1-eng-US/quail_8_large.jpg)
The crop will contain whatever food the bird has recently eaten. That lets you know where look for them the next time you hunt that area.
![Quail 9 Quail 9](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/quail_gallery/quail_9/53394-1-eng-US/quail_9_large.jpg)
Remove the tail by cutting as close to lower body as possible.
![Quail 10 Quail 10](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/quail_gallery/quail_10/53397-1-eng-US/quail_10_large.jpg)
Make a small cut at the base of the breast bone.
![Quail 11 Quail 11](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/quail_gallery/quail_11/53400-2-eng-US/quail_11_large.jpg)
Bend the breast bone upward toward the neck area, separating the skin that covers the intestines. Remove the intestines, heart and lungs.
![Quail 12 Quail 12](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/quail_gallery/quail_12/53403-1-eng-US/quail_12_large.jpg)
After washing, the bird is ready for storage until cooking.