My First Rabbit!!

[EatAlltheAnimals]

Had to share this with the group. Big thanks to @brokentrail for taking me out rabbit hunting. I had an awesome time learning the basics and watching the dogs work. Makes me consider getting a beagle...

And of course, thanks brokentrail for all the tips and for putting me on the rabbits. I’m officially a rabbit hunter!!



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[brokentrail]

You are welcome!  Was a fun time and I'm glad we were able to run a few amidst the pheasant hunters.  We'll do it again sometime soon after the bird season is over, we'll have the entire place to ourselves.

Enjoy the eats! 

[rasbo]

That's great,congrats to both of you

[IslandStorm62]

Good Job.  I also had my first rabbit while deer hunting.  It was an opportunity kill using my Browning Buckmark Hunter .22lr, single shot through the ribs.  I field dressed the bunny using the squeeze method.  The liver looked excellent so I finished with a quick skinning and the meat looked really nice. I had all intentions on having a bunny meal that evening, until closer inspection of the hind legs revealed two large marble sized Cyst  .  Well, this kinda scared me so I decided to stay safe until I get learned what to do. Sorry folks, but I did not take him home, instead I left him for the scavengers.  Now, I hate wasting, but since that kill, I have yet to find any advice on this matter.

Could I have just excised the cysts or just discard the one hind leg and eaten the rest of the bunny?
Is it common to find rabbits with cyst? And, if this is common,again is it safe to just cut it out and cook the rest?
How do the veteran rabbit hunters handle this? And, are there other issues I might encounter when harvesting theses rabbits?

Any Advice Please.

Sorry, photo is 6MB, I will revist when one of my kids teaches me how to resize the file.

[branches]

Way to go  It looks like you are hooked now.

[Birdguy]

That smile.....says it all   

[greenhead_killer]

its such a good underrated meat! my wife and i love it! nice job!!!

[Axle]

I love rabbit fried but maybe even more in a lasagna.
I take the rabbits, boil them only until I can pull the meat off the bones.
Then run the meat through a hamburger grinder.
Then layer a lasagna with the rabbit burger meat.
It's freak'n awesome!
I know you're starting to salivate now 
Heck! - so am I!
I've got a cottontail rabbit in my backyard right now. He's actually somewhat tame. I did name him 'Jack' this summer though. But there are many others.

[EatAlltheAnimals]

Way to go  It looks like you are hooked now.

Yes, I think I am!


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[EatAlltheAnimals]

That smile.....says it all   

Oh yeah!


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[EatAlltheAnimals]

its such a good underrated meat! my wife and i love it! nice job!!!

Agreed! I fried up this batch but will try something different next time.


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[Duck_Lover]

Great Job! I am also new to Wa and looking for friends to hunt rabbits with a bow.
Please DM if you are interested, Thanks.

[Threewolves]

Nice, love hunting behind dogs. The fried looks great. For another meal try putting rabbit pieces in a brown and serve bag in the over. The bag keeps the meat from drying out while cooking.

[AL WORRELLS KID]

using my Browning Buckmark Hunter .22lr, single shot through the ribs.  I field dressed the bunny using the squeeze method.  The liver looked excellent so I finished with a quick skinning and the meat looked really nice. I had all intentions on having a bunny meal that evening, until closer inspection of the hind legs revealed two large marble sized Cyst  .  Well, this kinda scared me so I decided to stay safe until I get learned what to do. Sorry folks, but I did not take him home, instead I left him for the scavengers.  Now, I hate wasting, but since that kill, I have yet to find any advice on this matter.

Could I have just excised the cysts or just discard the one hind leg and eaten the rest of the bunny?
Is it common to find rabbits with cyst? And, if this is common,again is it safe to just cut it out and cook the rest?
How do the veteran rabbit hunters handle this? And, are there other issues I might encounter when harvesting theses rabbits?

Any Advice Please.

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_85016-26630--,00.html


IslandStorm62,
"Cysticercosis does not harm the meat of rabbits and hares, or make it unfit for human consumption. Adult tapeworms of these species do not occur in humans. Cysts are usually removed when rabbits are dressed out; any that might be overlooked are destroyed in cooking the meat."

Undoubtedly, many rabbits are unnecessarily discarded because hunters confuse cysticercosis with "white spots on the liver," so greatly publicized as evidence of a tularemia infection. However, the two are distinctly different, and the cysts can be readily differentiated from tularemia lesions...... Hope this helps you enjoy them Bunnies!
 Doug