How to Pluck a Duck
Here is another way to begin preparing ducks for the table.
Equipment needed: a sturdy pair of kitchen or game shears, a knife a bucket of warm water, a bucket of cold water and one pound of paraffin wax.
At all steps in the process take care to avoid cutting yourself on the sharp edges of broken bones.
![Pluck Pluck](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/duck_gallery/pluck1/54332-1-eng-US/pluck1_large.jpg)
![Duck2 Duck2](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/duck_gallery/duck2/54292-2-eng-US/duck2_large.jpg)
Cut off wings as close to the wing joint as possible.
![Pluck3 Pluck3](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/duck_gallery/pluck3/54338-2-eng-US/pluck3_large.jpg)
Cut off the legs at the “knees”.
![Pluck4 Pluck4](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/duck_gallery/pluck4/54341-2-eng-US/pluck4_large.jpg)
Rough pluck the duck.
![Pluck5 Pluck5](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/duck_gallery/pluck5/54344-2-eng-US/pluck5_large.jpg)
It is not necessary to remove all the feathers and down. That’s what the paraffin is for. Be sure to remove the large tail feathers.
![Pluck6 Pluck6](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/duck_gallery/pluck6/54347-2-eng-US/pluck6_large.jpg)
Heat water until it is hot enough to melt the paraffin. Do not boil the water.
![Pluck Pluck](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/duck_gallery/pluck7/54363-2-eng-US/pluck7_large.jpg)
Using the duck’s head as a handle, dunk the bird into the melted paraffin.
![Pluck8 Pluck8](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/duck_gallery/pluck8/54366-2-eng-US/pluck8_large.jpg)
Dunk the bird several times to ensure good coverage of the paraffin.
![Pluck9 Pluck9](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/duck_gallery/pluck9/54369-2-eng-US/pluck9_large.jpg)
Dunk the bird into cold water and
![Pluck10 Pluck10](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/duck_gallery/pluck10/54372-2-eng-US/pluck10_large.jpg)
10 let it sit for 5-10 minutes for the paraffin to harden.
![Pluck11 Pluck11](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/duck_gallery/pluck11/54375-2-eng-US/pluck11_large.jpg)
Peel the paraffin like an orange.
![Pluck12 Pluck12](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/duck_gallery/pluck12/54378-2-eng-US/pluck12_large.jpg)
All the down and remaining feathers will peel right off. Drop the peeled paraffin right back into the melted paraffin.
![Pluck13 Pluck13](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/duck_gallery/pluck13/54391-2-eng-US/pluck13_large.jpg)
All of the down and feathers have been removed.
![Pluck14 Pluck14](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/duck_gallery/pluck14/54397-2-eng-US/pluck14_large.jpg)
Cut off the head and tail. Remove the entrails.
![Pluck15 Pluck15](/var/news/storage/images/other_services/education/hunter/duck_gallery/pluck15/54400-2-eng-US/pluck15_large.jpg)
This bird is oven ready.