Garbiel Machin Wild Game

Beef
Pork
Lamb
Sausages
Wild game
Poultry
Fish
Cheese
Larder extras

'They sell top quality meat and fish (local wherever possible and their beef is sensational), local game, delicious home cooked hams and home-made sausages - and a selection of perfect cheeses, as well as some unusual sauces etc. I am a 'foodie' and it is quite definitely the best butcher I have ever come across.'
(Review from UK TV)

Our Awards

Seasonal Wild Game

‘Most of our game comes from a local shoot on the Bix estate near Henley - pigeon, pheasant, and partridge. We’re also supplied by the Yattendon Estate at Thatcham in Berkshire. That’s about as fresh as you can get.

Our venison is local too – it’s sourced from all over Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Don’t make the mistake of assuming it’s an acquired taste, something only adults can enjoy. Children love our venison burgers – they’re home-made, absolutely delicious and available most weeks of the year when in season. They’re a very healthy option too as they’re low in cholesterol. The taste is slightly stronger than beef, a good taste.

We’re passionate about our meats and want everyone to try game. That’s why we source local, quality meat and make sure it looks good. Personally, I wouldn’t put a pheasant with its feathers on in my window as it’s offputting for most people. Where do you start to prepare something like that if you haven’t done it before? But if it’s something clean and easy to prepare like a breast of pheasant, you’re more likely to give it a go. Most cooks think nothing of cooking a chicken breast so why not a pheasant breast? We do our utmost to help make cooking easy for our customers. That’s why they keep coming back for more.’

Shooting seasons and cooking guide (Shooting seasons and cooking guides download as pdf)

TYPE OF GAME NO OF SERVINGS SHOOTING SEASON (DATES INCLUSIVE) AVERAGE WEIGHT APPROX ROASTING TIMES/TEMP
DUCK   Below high tide mark September 1-February 20
elsewhere
September 1-January 31
   
Mallard 2-3 servings   1.1-1.3kg
(2½-3Ib)
Very hot oven
230°C,450°F,
Gas Mark 8
for 20-30 minutes
Teal 1 serving   300-375g
(11-13oz)
Very hot oven
220°C,425°F,
Gas Mark 7
for 10-15 minutes
Wigeon 1 serving   675-900g
(1½-2Ib)
Very hot oven
220°C,425°F,
Gas Mark 7
for 15-20 minutes
GEESE 3-6 servings As for duck Pink-footed
1.8-3.1kg
(4-7lb)
Greylag
3.6-4.5kg
(8-10lb)
Canada
5.3-7.2kg
(12-16lb)
Young goose
very hot oven
220°C,425°F,
Gas Mark 7
for 10 minutes
then slow oven
170 °C,325°F,
Gas Mark 3
for 1 hour
Old goose
Braise or stew
WOODPIGEON 1 serving No close season 450-550g
(1-1¼lb)
Very hot oven
220°C,425°F,
Gas Mark 7
for 20 minutes
HARES 6-8 servings No close season but they may not be offered for sale from March -July inclusive 2.7-3.1kg
(6-7lb)
Young hare - hot oven 200°C, 400°F, Gas Mark 6 for 20m minutes per 450g (1­lb); slow oven 150°C, 300°F,
Gas Mark 2
for 1½-2 hours
RABBITS 3 servings No close season 1.1-1.5kg
(2½-3½lb)
Hot oven
200°C,400°F,
Gas Mark 6
for 1 hour
GROUSE 1-2 servings August 12-December 10 550-675g
(1¼- 1½lb)
Moderately
hot oven
190°C, 375°F
Gas Mark 5
for 35 minutes
PTARMIGAN 1-2 servings Scotland only,
August 12-December 10
450-550g
(1-1¼lb)
Roast
(young birds)
or braise
PARTRIDGE 1-2 servings September 1-February 1 cock:
375-425g
(13-15oz)
hen:
365-415g
(12½-14½oz)
Very hot oven
220°C,425°F,
Gas Mark 7
for 30 minutes
PHEASANT 3-4 servings October 1-February 1 cock:
1.3-1.5kg
(3-3½lb)
hen:
900g-1.1kg
(2-2½lb)
Moderately
hot oven
190°C,375°F,
Gas Mark 5
for ¾-1 hour
COMMON SNIPE 1 serving
(as a starter, 2 per person as a main)
August 12-January 31 90-120g
(3½-4½oz)
Very hot oven
230°C,450°F,
Gas Mark 8
for 6-15 minutes
WOODCOCK 1 serving October 1-January 31
(England & Wales)
September 1-January 31
(Scotland)
225-400g
(8-14oz)
Very hot oven
220°C,425°F,
Gas Mark 7
for 15-20 minutes
DEER SEX SHOOTING SEASON:
ENGLAND

SCOTLAND
Roe Buck
Doe
April 1 - October 31
November 1 - February 28/29
April 1 - October 20
October 21 - March 31
Fallow Buck
Doe
August 1 - April 30
November 1 - February 28/29
July 1 - April 30
October 21 – February 15
Red Stag
Hind
August 1 - April 30
November 1 - February 28/29
July 1 - April 30
October 21 – February 15