Rabbits?

[Altitude sickness]

I grew up with the same information as most here did. We stopped hunting rabbits the end of March when the state closes the season. And the reason I was told as a boy was liver Flukes. Or tulmeria (the white spots on the liver)

Fact is they a safe to eat year round. But there are certain precautions to obey year round also.

Is It Unsafe to Eat Rabbits Before the First Frost?

Myths, lies and old wives’ tales loom large in the outdoor pursuits. Here at MeatEater, we’re dedicated to separating facts from bullsh*t, so we created this series to examine suspect yarns. If there’s a belief, rumor or long-held assumption you’d like us to fact check, drop us a note at...

www.themeateater.com

 

[skydiver386]

It did not go as expected went in to the first blackberry patch

And mr rattlesnake desided to show up
The boys were ready to call it a day

In Florida, rattlesnakes are an added bonus!

 

[Hunt anything]

I really enjoy rabbit, mostly eaten cottontail and swamp rabbits, souped up cottontail that weighs up to 5 pounds for people that don’t have them , also eaten a few jack rabbits. They were fine but you had to cook low and slow to get them tender.
Young cottontails would just be fried and older rabbits were simmered and outstanding!
When I was in high school I had a lab that was a better rabbit dog than duck dog so we ate a lot of rabbits!

 

[Flbt]

I really enjoy rabbit, mostly eaten cottontail and swamp rabbits, souped up cottontail that weighs up to 5 pounds for people that don’t have them , also eaten a few jack rabbits. They were fine but you had to cook low and slow to get them tender.
Young cottontails would just be fried and older rabbits were simmered and outstanding!
When I was in high school I had a lab that was a better rabbit dog than duck dog so we ate a lot of rabbits!

So you think swamp rabbit is different than cotton tail?
I do to
There darker and like you said a lot bigger.
I have a ruffly 10 acre now wet weather branch through the middle of the farm.
At the church me there a beaver pond.
You can sure tell the difference.
I have had people say there nothing but older cotton tail.
I don’t think so they don’t behave alike

 

[Hunt anything]

It’s been a minute but aquaticus is in the swamp rabbits Latin name and Floridanus is the eastern cottontail. We called them cane cutters growing up. They have shorter ears but actually are a species of cottontail. There are several “cottontail rabbits” eastern, western, mountain cottontails, swamp rabbit and the marsh rabbit which we also have here on the coast. They seem to be smaller and much darker than other cottontails. The marsh rabbits have taken a beating from tropical storms lately.

This is way more than most people want to know about rabbits but they are interesting and tasty critters.

I believe a state or two have separate limits on swamp rabbits and eastern cottontail, Kentucky comes to mind.

 

[PCC600]

Shoot them with a .22lr or 12g . In OZ we need to be sure they don’t have myxamatosis ( mosquito spread virus ) . Rabbit stew is great .

 

[steve white]

I really enjoy rabbit, mostly eaten cottontail and swamp rabbits, souped up cottontail that weighs up to 5 pounds for people that don’t have them , also eaten a few jack rabbits. They were fine but you had to cook low and slow to get them tender.
Young cottontails would just be fried and older rabbits were simmered and outstanding!
When I was in high school I had a lab that was a better rabbit dog than duck dog so we ate a lot of rabbits!

Haven't seen a swamp rabbit in a while. They are about as big as a jackrabbit, but taste better.

Now if you want some great recipes, just find any old French cook book--they appreciate rabbit--even raise them to eat.

 

[Sarg]

Famous Aussie picture of Rabbit plague

NZ has just about as bad a problem in the South Island & opened rabbit Abattoir’s there to help.

When I was a kid I used my Ferrets to hunt Rabbits, man that was great fun, I could sell them alive to the Rabbit Board (Pest Control) so they could release them with Myxamatosis infested fleas on them to spread the virus around.

We have some big ones here.

 

[HankBuck]

So you think swamp rabbit is different than cotton tail?
I do to
There darker and like you said a lot bigger.
I have a ruffly 10 acre now wet weather branch through the middle of the farm.
At the church me there a beaver pond.
You can sure tell the difference.
I have had people say there nothing but older cotton tail.
I don’t think so they don’t behave alike

@Flbt - agree and have read that “Swamp rabbits” are one of many Sub Species of cottontails. They are a rabbit and Not a Hare, they average larger then the 2.-3lb. Eastern cottontail and as others have said - can reach 4lbs+. I don’t know how far North they range but have never heard of them except in SC, Alabama and other Southeastern States. I use to run beagles and always wished I took a drive down South to chase some “Swampers”.

 

[Firebird]

The New Zealand Red-one of the main species we raised for meat. Also the california breed of rabbits. We crossed them a lot it was great meat and I learned a lot about taking care of animals and why we kept them on the farm-

 

[Big guns]

i took my nephew out yesterday, he has never shot before so i said i would show him the ropes, after letting him smash a target to check nether of us were going to get killed, we went out to spot a rabbit or two he got the hang of creeping around "roling" his feet instead of plonking them down like harry enfield's "kevin" and was soon tuned in to what was going on.



first field we get into and there is about 15 rabbits showing. so we're in with a chance if he can hit one! so i put one in the barrel for him and slipped on the safety, got him in behind the gun, he located the rabbit shockingly fast and told me he had it in the cross hair, so i gave him the nod, he was a bit nervous, panting a bit starting to sweat , the adrenaline was starting to get to him! bet we can all remember our first rabbit eh!



he eased off the safety remembered to hold his breath (although not on the third breath like i told him but hey never mind) and squeezed the trigger gently. THHHHWACK! and down it went! 65 yards! off a gate post! after make sure the gun was safe etc and all the usual stuff you do with a newbie i shook his hand and congratulated him on offically being a hunter.

 

[Flbt]

@Flbt - agree and have read that “Swamp rabbits” are one of many Sub Species of cottontails. They are a rabbit and Not a Hare, they average larger then the 2.-3lb. Eastern cottontail and as others have said - can reach 4lbs+. I don’t know how far North they range but have never heard of them except in SC, Alabama and other Southeastern States. I use to run beagles and always wished I took a drive down South to chase some “Swampers”.

I have them both
I had no problem chasing the swamp rabbit in the little winter we have . But I think any other time I killed more cotton mouths than rabbits.
After hurricane mikle came through that branch bottom is a mess. There was a lot of big trees that came down with wild grape vines ( bullises wild miskdine) they are tangled and about 15 feet tall in the tangles
The cat claw bryers have grown in them along with the devil walking stick
And those big green thorn vines I don’t know what there called ( dad just said those dammed thorns) they grow all most like bamboo but have up to inch long thorns.

Had buddy’s that usto hog hunt and they last time the dogs went in there .
They said they could not get in to get the dogs off the hogs. It was a mess

 

[Flbt]

I have them both
I had no problem chasing the swamp rabbit in the little winter we have . But I think any other time I killed more cotton mouths than rabbits.
After hurricane mikle came through that branch bottom is a mess. There was a lot of big trees that came down with wild grape vines ( bullises wild miskdine) they are tangled and about 15 feet tall in the tangles
The cat claw bryers have grown in them along with the devil walking stick
And those big green thorn vines I don’t know what there called ( dad just said those dammed thorns) they grow all most like bamboo but have up to inch long thorns.

Had buddy’s that usto hog hunt and they last time the dogs went in there .
They said they could not get in to get the dogs off the hogs. It was a mess

So what we do know especially with the kids
Is walk the roads right at the edge of the branch in the afternoon and catch them feeding on the young grass in the rd it’s a good spot and stalk for them

 

[Flbt]

Shoot them with a .22lr or 12g . In OZ we need to be sure they don’t have myxamatosis ( mosquito spread virus ) . Rabbit stew is great .

How do you tell if they have the sickness?
And can it be passed to you?

 

[Sarg]

How do you tell if they have the sickness?
And can it be passed to you?

If you read my post you would see the government released the Myxamatosis virus on purpose to try to control numbers & you would hope they wouldn’t release a virus that was contagious to humans, it is a Rabbit targeted virus (but who knows, look at Cane Toads in Oz) it is a horrible disease,
Ulcers on the body but mainly you can see puss in the eyes & ears in the early stages.
In Australia it is better as lots of predators there & as soon as the Rabbit looses its edge it is killed by one of them from Goannas - Foxes to Eagles, you will still see some so messed up but much worse in NZ whole body pussy & blind, it is terrible !!

It has mainly died out in NZ as it was induced by the Pest Boards each season or when numbers build up again, now days they use RHDV Rabbit Calicivirus which is very deadly !

 

[Flbt]

If you read my post you would see the government released the Myxamatosis virus on purpose to try to control numbers & you would hope they wouldn’t release a virus that was contagious to humans, it is a Rabbit targeted virus (but who knows, look at Cane Toads in Oz) it is a horrible disease,
Ulcers on the body but mainly you can see puss in the eyes & ears in the early stages.
In Australia it is better as lots of predators there & as soon as the Rabbit looses its edge it is killed by one of them from Goannas - Foxes to Eagles, you will still see some so messed up but much worse in NZ whole body pussy & blind, it is terrible !!

It has mainly died out in NZ as it was induced by the Pest Boards each season or when numbers build up again, now days they use RHDV Rabbit Calicivirus which is very deadly !

Yea saw where the government would take live rabbits and introduce it.
I have seen our government do stupid enough things that I was not sure.
Especially if y’all didn’t eat them much.

 

[Sarg]

Yea saw where the government would take live rabbits and introduce it.
I have seen our government do stupid enough things that I was not sure.
Especially if y’all didn’t eat them much.

Oh “eat them much” well you are right in a way, not so much today (lots still do, we are spoiled for game meat in NZ) but Rabbits kept generations alive until recent times, from eating them, selling carcasses & fur.

I made very good money selling Rabbits to all my Grandparents friends, then whole neighbour hoods after word got out as it was illegal to sell commercial & they all loved the meat from being brought up on it, I was 9 to 12yrs old & using my BSA air rifle with ferrets added, had to employ some other kids to keep up supply as demand increased lol

 

[CoElkHunter]

“And if you go chasing (hunting) rabbits and you know you’re going to fall (in a hole)
Tell ‘em a .35 WHELEN toting Bob Nelson @Bob Nelson 35Whelen
Has given you the call
Call Bob
When you fall (and can’t get up)”
-Grace Slick (kind of)
LOL

 

[Sarg]

Strangely I can’t find early photos of commercial Rabbit hunting in NZ before it became illegal (recommercialised today) but Australian ones all over, I think Aussies had more money & could afford cameras or something lol !

Early

Latter

Modern

 

[Flbt]

Strangely I can’t find early photos of commercial Rabbit hunting in NZ before it became illegal (recommercialised today) but Australian ones all over, I think Aussies had more money & could afford cameras or something lol !

Early

View attachment 681914

Latter

View attachment 681915

Modern

View attachment 681917

Well those takes puts anything we do to shame. Now days a big take is about 8

40+ years ago when dad carried more about the crop than laws we went at night and the most I remember is in the 30s