Rabbit

[Tootsiepop254]

Whats the best way to hunt and prepare rabbit? Is there any point in saving the skin? If so, whats the best way to preserve the hide without chemicals?
~T

[Rick]

I've always hunted with a 12 gauge shotgun using beagles. I've never tried to save the fur although I've seen a lot of bunny fur stuff. The fur seems pretty loose to me. You can pull the hair out pretty easily.

You can also split a stick about 8-10 inches and insert a small twig to hold the stick open slightly. If you can catch a rabbit down a hole then you can slide the stick in beside him and slowly rotate the stick. It will wrap the rabbit's fur up in the stick and you can pull the rabbit out of the hole. Of course, once you do that you have a really pi**ed off bunny to deal with. I've only seen it done once and I think he picked the only deranged, killer rabbit in the county. The rabbit was fine until it came out of the hole and then it was killer fur on a stick.

[2dumb2kwit]

The rabbit was fine until it came out of the hole and then it was killer fur on a stick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCI18qAoKq4

[canid]

rabbit pelts are a pain to proccess, as they are thin skinned and as rick mentioned, the fur comes out easily.

on the other hand, they are extremely soft and warm so it's a question of your levels of patience and free time.

best way to prepare them is tricky. any method you might cook a chicken is good for rabbit. if you try to dry heat cook them [oven bake, etc] you will want to use cotton twine/string to tie the limbs in close against the body, or they will dry out.

you can cut them into frier pieces like you would a chicken [remove the rear legs by cutting around the hip and twisting to pop the femur from the pelvis, remove the front limbs by using he same procedure around the shoulder, cut the torso into two halves by cutting the ribs on one side along the spine].

[crashdive123]

I've always hunted with a 12 gauge shotgun using beagles.

I would have never thought about that. But I guess - once the beagle clears the barrel he's upset enough, with the powder burn on his butt, that when he gets to the rabbit he's got to take it out on something.

[canid]

oh! i had it *way* wrong. i've been giving the beagles he shotgun.

i mean sure; the dogs make a good haul, but with that gun in their paws, it's heck getting them to turn them over afterward.

[Rick]

Actually......the beagle just grabs the rabbit as he flies by.

I don't think I've had them any way but fried or in a stew. I don't think I've ever tried it baked.

[2dumb2kwit]

Actually......the beagle just grabs the rabbit as he flies by.

I don't think I've had them any way but fried or in a stew. I don't think I've ever tried it baked.

I've never had beagle. (Fried, stewed, or baked.)

[Rick]

Seriously? They are really easy to skin. You stand on their hind feet and gently pull their ears and the hide comes right off. Here's a pic of Lyndon Johnson demonstrating how to do it.

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[crashdive123]

I've never had beagle. (Fried, stewed, or baked.)

They're pretty good with cream cheese. Oh wait - you said beagle. - never mind.

[your_comforting_company]

I wouldnt recommend tanning a rabbit pelt into a fur. as mentioned the hair comes out quite readily and will get everywhere. rather scrape the hair and grain off and make buckskin of it. "no chemicals" means use brains, but dont bother with a frame, just hand soften it. it is so thin you will only do a couple hours work.
they make excellent gloves and undergarments, very soft. If you do manage to keep the fur on, they are also very warm undergarments; keep in mind that furs require pickling (opposite of bucking). headwear and handbags come to mind also. cut into strips, they make fine cordage and thongs for various crafts and tying.
as far as hunting, I generally use a .22 and only take headshots (I'm a bit OCD about skins).
I cook them like squirrels, salt and pepper, butterflied, with bacon wrapped around and seared/fried on a hot rock. mmm mmm good!

[Rick]

See? Someone else mentioned a thong!

[2dumb2kwit]

Rick.....a rabbit fur thong.......I think I just threw up, a little.

[Rick]

I have a picture....just sayin'.

[crashdive123]

I was going to take this course in wilderness survival and weapons until I read through the course work and saw that we'd be working with slings and thongs. Now that just ain't right.

[2dumb2kwit]

I have a picture....just sayin'.

I'd throw up.....a lot.

[Rick]

But it really is soft. It sort of tickles when it rides up a bit.

[Tootsiepop254]

That would be a whole new lever of strange. I would need a LOT of rabbits lol.
As far as the bunny stick.. a scene from the movie Labrynth comes to mind...

[Rick]

The stick method is not legal here. You can't use a ferret or other animals to shoo them out of their hole and the law terms it "other means".

[rwc1969]

We used to just reach in and pull em outta their holes, with gloves. I think rabbit is one of the tastiest wild games, but, after reading this thread I've lost my appetite.