meat damage rabbits

[W_Ellison2011]

I can tell you from personal experience that it doesn’t take much at all to damage a lot of meat on rabbits. Shooting one with a .22-250 would likely vaporize them.

I did this once.  .22-250 at about 20 yards right at the base of the skull.  Head went flying into the air and front quarters were jelly.  Rabbit didn't go far though 

If it works it works lol!  my 17 hmr hit a rabbit in the head in my yard at about 25 yards. There wasn't much of the opposite side left. Love rabbit stew and my other one that I do I call wilderness stew. Rabbit, grouse, dove, left over venison from the night before (normally doesn't happen but from time to time), corn, carrots, potatos, garlic, shallots, worchestshire (spelling) sauce, little red wine, and chicken broth. toss it in the slow cooker and when you get home from hunting serve over rice. Now I'm salivating and can't wait any longer for September!!!!

[GBoyd]

I posted this question a couple years ago, but since the thread doesn't seem to die I'll give another update:
whatever weapon you're using, the best way to avoid meat damage on rabbits is to just shoot them in the head.

-Since first posting, I've gotten much better with a shotgun. In open country, it's usually pretty easy to get a head shot. They never seem to run straight away, so it's just a matter of swinging a little further in front.

-I've been running into snowshoes on spring bear hunts and harvested three with a 308. A headshot looks pretty ugly, but doesn't damage the meat at all.

-I've also been doing a ton of damage control rabbits. Here in Oregon, they're legal to take from the truck with a pellet rifle. On these, I just aim for the eye and they flop right over. It's nice because pellet rifles don't have the power to knock them down otherwise.

-I also get a lot of trapped rabbits. Those I grab by the hind legs and whack the back of their heads with my fist. Those are the best!

[W_Ellison2011]

I posted this question a couple years ago, but since the thread doesn't seem to die I'll give another update:
whatever weapon you're using, the best way to avoid meat damage on rabbits is to just shoot them in the head.

-Since first posting, I've gotten much better with a shotgun. In open country, it's usually pretty easy to get a head shot. They never seem to run straight away, so it's just a matter of swinging a little further in front.

-I've been running into snowshoes on spring bear hunts and harvested three with a 308. A headshot looks pretty ugly, but doesn't damage the meat at all.

-I've also been doing a ton of damage control rabbits. Here in Oregon, they're legal to take from the truck with a pellet rifle. On these, I just aim for the eye and they flop right over. It's nice because pellet rifles don't have the power to knock them down otherwise.

-I also get a lot of trapped rabbits. Those I grab by the hind legs and whack the back of their heads with my fist. Those are the best!

Raised rabbit when I was little. Hammer to the back of the skull does the trick really well instead of your fist.

[GBoyd]

Raised rabbit when I was little. Hammer to the back of the skull does the trick really well instead of your fist.

Yeah, that would probably be smarter. Killing them by hand works fine, but it hurts your hand to hit them hard enough.

[jackelope]

All sorts of functional methods to dispatch rabbits. This is what we use.

https://theoriginalhopperpopper.com/Hopper_Popper/