First Rabbit in the Bag (actualy it's in the sink)

[Docherty]

Got myself a Rabbit today and seeing as one of my cheap Elk Ridge knives had shown up
http://www.zxsports.co.uk/elk-ridge-pro-timber-full-tang-trekker-knife-er-067-162-p.asp

I decided to have a go at skinning and gutting the wee fella.
So I read SiberianFury's How too and watched this lightning fast northern bloke: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlY8K23MEJ8

Needless to say I made a right old hash of it (didn't get all the skin off before cutting the entrails out).

But I got there: A big plastic bag full of guts to get rid of and a lovely, nice clean rabbit carcass having an ice cold bath in my sink.

My other knife http://www.bladesandbows.co.uk/gut-hook-hunting-dagger-by-elk-ridge-639-p.asp should be arriving tomorrow so I'd best get myself another bunny for the pot.

 

[leaf man]

well done mate
thanks for the link,man he is fast, but i think you should show a little respect to the quarry.
tupence spent.

 

[bushwacker bob]

I've re-handled a few Elk ridge slipjoint knives for forum members, they are very good value.

 

[FerlasDave]

That elk ridge trekker knife is nice mate. Is that the website you got it from?

Leaf man, what do you mean respect for the quarry? How hasnt he shown it?

 

[Docherty]

Yeah I bought it yesterday at about 2:00 in the morning and it was here by 12:00
Very cheap but a good strong, full tang, sharp knife - could do with a proper scabard though - Looking forward to field testing the hunting dagger/gut hook.

Sorry for any offence Leafman

 

[leaf man]

oh no offence fellas, i just mean that when you get some quarry, you should do everything you can not to waste any of it. with the speed he ri[pped that pelt off, would any of it be usable? im no bunny hugger, but i dont think you should show off like that. sorry if others have a different view
mike

 

[Bushwhacker]

Good stuff.
Try whacking some salt and vinegar in the water too, it helps take that rabbity smell away.

 

[FerlasDave]

Who says he was showing off? When you do a job enough times you get quicker at it. He probably just knows the job and how to get it done. I can see your point though.

 

[wattsy]

i didn't see he was showing off at all i never bother trying to keep rabbit skins whole because they're too thin to bother with. just because you chuck bits away doesn't mean you've no respect for your quarry i chuck the heads and feet away still respect the animal

 

[Docherty]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPIsTKpAoE4

I put a handful of salt in the water last night, just boiling it up in a brand new stock pot

 

[Neumo]

You need to remember that rabbits are vermin to a lot of people, and are on the DEFRA vermin list, so they are treated slightly differently by a lot of people that hunt rabbits than some folks might imagine. They are a pest, like pigeon or rats, for most people in the UK that hunt them regularly; a lot of hunters dont keep them at all & leave them in the bushes for Charly. If you hunt for rabbits regularly then that is the way it has to be, as you cant spend all the time needed to get every usable thing off a dozen rabbits, especially at this time of year when there are a lot of young ones about. I dont want to start an argument here, just saying how it is from my perspective....

Like most of us, I like the idea we have been taught of respecting the animal by using every part of it & it makes sense if you are a hunter/gatherer. It's a romantic ideal that makes a lot of sense if you depend on the caribu (or whatever animal you mainly hunt) as it promotes respect for the animal, prevents over hunting etc..
While I respect the animals I hunt, you need to understand that most pigeon shot over a cornfield or rabbit shot in a headgerow will end up a fox food.

 

[Bushwhacker]

You need to remember that rabbits are vermin to a lot of people, and are on the DEFRA vermin list, so they are treated slightly differently by a lot of people that hunt rabbits than some folks might imagine. They are a pest, like pigeon or rats, for most people in the UK that hunt them regularly; a lot of hunters dont keep them at all & leave them in the bushes for Charly. If you hunt for rabbits regularly then that is the way it has to be, as you cant spend all the time needed to get every usable thing off a dozen rabbits, especially at this time of year when there are a lot of young ones about. I dont want to start an argument here, just saying how it is from my perspective....

Like most of us, I like the idea we have been taught of respecting the animal by using every part of it & it makes sense if you are a hunter/gatherer. It's a romantic ideal that makes a lot of sense if you depend on the caribu (or whatever animal you mainly hunt) as it promotes respect for the animal, prevents over hunting etc..
While I respect the animals I hunt, you need to understand that most pigeon shot over a cornfield or rabbit shot in a headgerow will end up a fox food.

Good shout Neumo.

The respect part comes from killing it quickly and cleanly.
I must say that everything I kill gets eaten, the guts go in the hedge for charlie, I keep the best bits and the ferrets finish of the rest - bones fur/feather n'all.

 

[leaf man]

As much a romantic as iam, i am too a realist and i respect that this is a way of life and a job for some.you are right that they are vermin, and an over looked resource. Points taken guys, i will keep me trap shut next time.
All the best fellas

 

[Docherty]

Well here's the end result anyway:

Delicious! Even if it is slightly panicky eating something you've killed, cooked and prepared... no explossive bowel movements yet though and no parasitic worms are telling me to jump off a building either - Huzzah!

 

[Neumo]

Thanks for the above comments. I do eat most of the rabbits I shoot; except for the small ones & those with Mixy, but I am one of the few that does amongst the people I shoot with or the landowners I talk to. I do view things differently for animals like deer & always try to respect the chosen quarry, always trying to give them a quick send off.

 

[Neumo]

Nice bit of rabbit stew there; I will be making one myself tonight when I get back from work.

 

[leaf man]

Looks brill that! Nice one