Rabbit question

Hooked up · 12-01-2007, 08:49 PM

While pheasant hunting today my buddy`s dog goes into this bush and after a few minutes he comes out with a rabbit. The dog killed it. We heard it squeal just before he came out with it.
I brought it home. I ate rabbit about 25 years ago that my wife bought and cooked up. I loved it! My question is would you eat it? If so how would you prepare it? It is really small. I wore rubber gloves when I cleaned it. Is there anything that I should worry about or be aware of? Thank`s, Dave.

lor · 12-01-2007, 09:35 PM

Being a child of the south who also grew up eating rabbit, I personally like frying rabbit just like chicken. However it can be a little tough, so slow simmer with homemade gravy over a bed of rice is also good.

skein · 12-01-2007, 09:40 PM

Did you look at the liver? If there were no spots on it then you are most likely okay. The rule of thumb is don't eat rabbit in any month that doesn't have an "R" in it.

Cottontails and rock bunnies (while chukar hunting) are delicious!

Skein

duckboy · 12-01-2007, 09:43 PM

Rabbit is great. I'd cut it up and cook it in a skillett in olive oil...

Although,

Seems like it always tastes better when your by a sagebrush campfire with a can of beans and a couple of worn out hunting dogs to share it with.

Hooked up · 12-02-2007, 07:39 AM

Thanks guys. What is a rock bunnie? This rabbit was really small, so was the other one that I saw. I thought it was just a young cottontail.

shane&drake · 12-02-2007, 07:54 AM

Young cotton tails are the best eatin rabbits I've had. My family has eatin it fried, baked, and in stew, Stewed is my favorite but fried is awesome as well since most of the meat is on the hind legs. I have never heard of checking the liver for spots but I will start, months that have an r, I have heard. When we check for sick rabbits or rabbit fever, we skin and check the neck for anything that shouldn't be there and gloves are for sure

duckboy · 12-02-2007, 08:46 AM

Re: the rabbit fever.

I had a similar situation about back in about 2000. Had hunted like crazy for cottontails and jacks with the dogs, and cleaned the rabbits without gloves.

I did get something that stuck with me for about 2 months. Never got super sick, but I ran a low grade fever at times and did get some leisions like some of the rabbit fever photos show (on my hands) definitely had swollen lymph glands, super low energy the chills too ... just as weak as can be.

The MD crew gave me a bunch of antibiotics and it eventually went away.. man I felt puny for months.

They were not sure what it was, but could tell I was sick and wanted to see if it would respond to the antibiotics. I told them I thought I may have picked up something from either a tick, or rabbits. they kind of scoffed at it and said it might be epstein barr, but then they changed their minds.

Whatever it was, it was a drag and it finally went away.

I never did see any splotches on the rabbits livers (i always look because my dad told me to watch out for the ones that had em) he was an MD.
Play it safe and wear latex gloves, it is easier to clean up anyhow.

skein · 12-02-2007, 08:50 AM

I'm not sure the name "rock bunnies" is correct. They look like cottontails to me (and taste like 'em too) but a buddy told me they weren't cottontails, they were rock bunnies, so that's what I call 'em. You find them in the rimrock areas and it's not unusual to collect several on a day of chukar hunting. They are very good.

Here's a pic of a liver from a rabbit that has tularemia. Use reasonable care, check the livers, and don't worry too much. It's not rare, but it's very, very uncommon.

Note the tiny white spots.

Skein

Daffyblaster · 12-02-2007, 08:51 AM

Being a good ol' Southern Boy myself, I have to agree with Lor. My mom would cook up my dad's rabbits usually fried up like chicken or she would make ettouffe or stew or gumbo or hare au vin (like coq au vin- chicken cooked with wine and mushrooms, but with rabbit instead. It's "slap yo mama good!) Very good stuff. Then again, having been raised in Louisiana will narrow one's eye in disdain at the food served in other regions.

Ok, so now I really want to go smack some cottontails, guys! Lor , you got any spots for rabbits, cher?

lor · 12-02-2007, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daffyblaster

Lor , you got any spots for rabbits, cher?

Haven't shot a rabbit since I left "The Republic of Texas".
I would definitlely like too, but time escapes me.

QH's Paw · 12-02-2007, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lor

............ I personally like frying rabbit just like chicken. However it can be a little tough, so slow simmer with homemade gravy over a bed of rice is also good.

I think Wild rabbit gravy is to die for. I eat it with potatos though.The simmering in gravy is definately neccessary with wild rabbits. Basically, I fry it like chicken then use the drippin' for gravy and simmer the fried rabbit in the gravy. I try very hard not to pick at it during the process. Somehow, there are less rabbits when everything is done than when I started.

You'll have to excuse me now ,I'm getting hungry thinking about it.

Daffyblaster · 12-02-2007, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lor

Haven't shot a rabbit since I left "The Republic of Texas".
I would definitlely like too, but time escapes me.

I here you, Lor. At this time in my life, oddly, I have more money than time and little money. lol