Dispatching Rabbits

[rob190364 2,594]

I'm after a bit of advice on the best way of dispatching a rabbit. I'm new to ferreting and when I caught a rabbit at the weekend I had my first go at dislocating a rabbits next, I held it by the back of it's head with my left hand with fore finger and thumb under it's jaw and pulled up its back legs while bending it's head back. I felt the crack of it's neck but when I lifted it up it looked like it was still alive. I had another go and felt another crack but again it still looked alive so I gave it a hard chop on the back of the neck and that seemed to do it. Was it just nerves when I did it the first time? Basically it's legs were moving as if it was running. Is chopping the back of its neck more reliable or should I stick to chinning them?

[cjw 1]

i find the best way is to hold the rabbit with your right hand at the back of the neck,

then with your left hand palm under the chin, one sharp push upwords. total time 2to 3 secs and no stress for the rabbit.

 

keep hunting

 

cjw

[loulove1 0]

It sounds like you done the job the first time round, the body will spasm for a bit when you break the neck. This is just the nervous system releasing the last of the energy. A way of checking that you have dispatched successfully is to run your finger and thumb down the neck and you will feel the breaking point. The method you describe is by far the most humane method, chopping to the back of the neck with your hand is in my opinion, not as reliable. You could knock the rabbit unconscious and believe you have killed the rabbit or generally you will have to chop them more than once, if you catch a lot of rabbits your hands will suffer and so will the rabbits. The chopping method doesn’t give a good impression of the sport should someone be watching.

 

Darren

[max abell 196]

I find the very easiest way of dispatching a rabbit is to hold it by the back legs in your left hand the rabbit will naturaly hang down with its ears laying flat on its head then put your right hand over its head so its ears are under the palm of your hand laying flat on the rabbits head then with that same right hand tilt the rabbits head back making sure you keep a good hold of the back legs with your left hand

Then pull the back legs up with your left hand and at the same time push down with your right hand making sure you keep the rabbits head tilted backwards all the time this will kill the rabbit instantly and humanely

The rabbits ears will then fall forward and it will kick a few times but this is just nerves and nothing to worry about

When my daughter started ferreting with us she had the same problem but after showing her this effortless method she has no problems with dispatching them now same as my son this is by far the easiest method to learn there are other methods which take a bit more experiance but i would go for this one to get you started give it a go

Hope this helps and good luck mate

[fensaluki 35]

i find the best way is to hold the rabbit with your right hand at the back of the neck,

then with your left hand palm under the chin, one sharp push upwords. total time 2to 3 secs and no stress for the rabbit.

 

keep hunting

 

cjw

 

I find this (CHINNING ) to be the best way of dispatching ferreted rabbits as AJW quite rightly says.

The stretch method mentioned by yourself and max abell is also very good but I just find it easyer to "chin em" in the net.Although "chopping" is an affective method of dispatch if you do it properly it will cause havock with your hands by the end of a good day and when you come to skin your quarry you will find it badly bruised I'm sure you did it right the first time and it was just nervs.

ATB

happy hunting

[jacrabbit 0]

I had the same problem, when I broke the necks they still seemed alive. So what I do now is whack on the head and then break the neck to be shore it’s dead. I know people say a whack on the head will bruise the meat but I never had a problem will bruised meat. I eat all my rabbits and they taste great.

[theferreter 311]

hold it by the back legs an hit it chop 2 the back of the neck done

[mick20 23]

Chinning I find is best and quickest as you can do it while the rabbit is still in the net. Same way as cjw above only i hold rabbit in my left hand. Lift the net and rabbit from hole, chin rabbit ,drop net and rabbit to ground, then put new net on hole (all done in a matter of a few seconds) handy when ferreting alone. I used to chop them on the back of the neck when I first started but, as mentioned, there is the possibility of bruising the meat.

ATB Mick

[theferreter 311]

Chinning I find is best and quickest as you can do it while the rabbit is still in the net. Same way as cjw above only i hold rabbit in my left hand. Lift the net and rabbit from hole, chin rabbit ,drop net and rabbit to ground, then put new net on hole (all done in a matter of a few seconds) handy when ferreting alone. I used to chop them on the back of the neck when I first started but, as mentioned, there is the possibility of bruising the meat.

ATB Mick mine go til the ferrets ayway mate so there gona get bruised :11:

[Cochyn 0]

Two ways I used to check they were dead: Look at the way the head is hanging. If it is not hanging loose, the neck is not broken and check the eye reflex with your finger.

 

I stretch mine, but the other boys are right about it being difficult in the purse nets and I have ripped a few in the process.

[Cochyn 0]

i find the best way is to hold the rabbit with your right hand at the back of the neck,

then with your left hand palm under the chin, one sharp push upwords. total time 2to 3 secs and no stress for the rabbit.

 

keep hunting

 

cjw

 

I'm going to try this. Thanks.

[fensaluki 35]

i find the best way is to hold the rabbit with your right hand at the back of the neck,

then with your left hand palm under the chin, one sharp push upwords. total time 2to 3 secs and no stress for the rabbit.

 

keep hunting

 

cjw

 

I'm going to try this. Thanks.

[/quot

works a treat mate...I use to stretch em until I found out about this way now I use it all the time

Happy days

[pencoed hunter 7]

I find a chop to the back of the neck easiest and quickest if done right, but just try afew different methods and see what suits you best

[The one 8,479]

Pulling there back legs whilst holding the head same as a few other replies or chinning them if there in a net .but never karate chopping them it looks so amateurish and bruise the shoulders

[gundogbob 1]

I had the same problem, when I broke the necks they still seemed alive. So what I do now is whack on the head and then break the neck to be shore it’s dead. I know people say a whack on the head will bruise the meat but I never had a problem will bruised meat. I eat all my rabbits and they taste great.

i aggree with you mate the best way is to wak on the head

about brousing the meat i dont eat the neck head enyway