Rabbit question

[speedy 0]

Hello, i think this is probably in the wrong section, but you folks in here seem very helpful from what i've read

ive been going for a mooch with Bigdan with the dogs and air rifle and wanted to ask you guys about rabbits. if you get back in quite late, do you dress your rabbits there and then or leave them overnight...reason being is i didnt get round to doing it last night and was wondering if they would still be fine today? was left outside in a bag away from predators... probably sounds like a daft question ..my gut feeling was all should be grand, but though best to ask

[Paul in North Lincs 15]

My advise would to split em and spill em within as soon as possible at least within the hour...........any longer...and the body will start to turn...and who knows what a rotting shit and piss bag can do the the insides of your dinner................... ....................

[doxhope 2]

Ive NEVER, NEVER left the rabbits I catch in a bag till the next day, its an insult, game should be treated with respect, mine are usually gutted and laid in lines, I say usually gutted, as some game dealers Ive dealt with ask for rabbits with gut left in..But mostly they are gutted asap, as I use a lot for mine, and other peoples table. There is nothing worse than see-ing clear plastic bags cram packed with rabbits squashed up against the sides.

[speedy 0]

when you put it like that, im glad i asked!!! was going to feed it to the dogs....guess i'll have to be a little quicker next time. thanks!

[elma-fudd 0]

i gut my rabbits when i get home and feed the dogs the livers,kidneys,heart as a reward then i cut them in half and in the freezer they go.

[speedy 0]

Ive NEVER, NEVER left the rabbits I catch in a bag till the next day, its an insult, game should be treated with respect, mine are usually gutted and laid in lines, I say usually gutted, as some game dealers Ive dealt with ask for rabbits with gut left in..But mostly they are gutted asap, as I use a lot for mine, and other peoples table. There is nothing worse than see-ing clear plastic bags cram packed with rabbits squashed up against the sides.

 

fair point doxhope and it seems i'll have to be quicker to gut them next time so they cant/wont be left in bags again.

[doxhope 2]

Hi speedy, some of the other posts hit the nail on the head, meat does go off quicker if left in bags, it should cool, and if left altogether it retains the heat, gets squashed and dosnt look very appitizing, especially seeing the inside of the skins green Remember someone might be eating these..

Hope you get loads more bunnys, we used to get hundreds with the air rifle, a most under-rated way of obtaining large numbers of rabbits/game..especially with what is available now, it was airsporters, webly mark 3`s, murcurys and later webly vulcans that we used, but these more than did the job

[speedy 0]

doxhope. the rifle we used seems very oldschool with all these PCP rifles about, but it's still dropping bunnies easy enough and will feed the dogs, so it doesnt need to get any more complicated then that for me. learnt a good lesson today fellas and i wont be leaving rabbits like that again

guess i best get to the freezer and take some chicken carcasses out as rabbit is off the menu tonight for the dogs then LOL

Edited July 12, 2007 by speedy

[inan 841]

Hello, i think this is probably in the wrong section, but you folks in here seem very helpful from what i've read

ive been going for a mooch with Bigdan with the dogs and air rifle and wanted to ask you guys about rabbits. if you get back in quite late, do you dress your rabbits there and then or leave them overnight...reason being is i didnt get round to doing it last night and was wondering if they would still be fine today? was left outside in a bag away from predators... probably sounds like a daft question ..my gut feeling was all should be grand, but though best to ask

Speedy Magwich ,my shooting partner and I take up to 50 bunnies a night ,shooting from my 4x4,,they are laid out on sacks in the back ,then at the end of the night ,one of us slits them and the other pulls out the guts ,its quick and saves time and space ,on arriving home ,I put in to the freezer s those rabbits not immdeiately required ,the others go into a spare fridge for attention in attention in the morning ,allways try and keep ,your bunnies seperate ,as you collect them ,that way the have a chance to cool out,squash them up together and they will retain heat for ages and can spoil,we allways go for head shots ,but even the best of us can be a little off,gut shot rabbits need atttending to that night IMO. INan.

[Guest JDF]

i gut mine as soon as the dog puts it in my hand,lightens the load if nothing else.

[speedy 0]

thanks for your replies everyone only going for head shots here too and getting them thankfully!

been asking some other mates about it and have definately learnt a trick today so in future will seperate them, hang them for a short time to cool then dress them and freeze them. won't be going for big numbers as i only have a small freezer....and it gives me an excuse to go out after bunnies more then just once a week then

 

thanks again everyone

[jultaylor1972 2]

i gut mine as soon as the dog puts it in my hand,lightens the load if nothing else.

Good point.

[johnnyboy28 1]

when you put it like that, im glad i asked!!! was going to feed it to the dogs....guess i'll have to be a little quicker next time. thanks!

 

 

I dont think you should feed straight to the dogs mate

I read somewhere before they should be frozen for about 2 weeks prior to feeding to your dogs due to parasites/worms

[Guest JDF]

something to consider would be freezing them until seasons end and use as a maintenance feed in the off season,when working a dog you'd be better feeding beef,lamb or chicken,higher fat content than rabbit therefore more energy for the dog

[stevie g 2005 125]

something to consider would be freezing them until seasons end and use as a maintenance feed in the off season,when working a dog you'd be better feeding beef,lamb or chicken,higher fat content than rabbit therefore more energy for the dog

gut them asap and into the frezzer leave them for about two weeks and it will kill the worms and all