Doc Holliday Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 After breaking my unusually long dry spell at the 2 permissions I have, I finally managed to bag a rabbit last night. What I wasn't expecting is what I found when gutting it... four unborn kittens. Ok, it wasn't too much of an issue for me and I was aware that I would come across this sooner or later but then it got me thinking about if there is a way of identifying a doe carrying young. I would reckon it's pretty hard if at all possible to distinguish, especially at a distance even through a scope. If I'm brutally honest a small part of my conscience does keep putting a nagging thought in the back of my mind that everything has a right to bare young and raise them. The pragmatist within me tells me that they are a pest and I'm taking out more than one with one pellet (and yes, it was a perfect head shot at about 35 yards). What I'd really like to know from those of you whom have come across this situation is what your thoughts & feelings on it were when it happened. Doc. P.S. Mods, please feel free to move as I wasn't sure which topic to put this in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 as you've found if you don't like it you won't be able to shoot rabbits for more than a couple of months a year, they breed nearly all year hence they are the agricultural pest they are. Its not nice but its also not nice if your livelihood depends on growing crops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George1990 Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Only ever seen one with kittens but must have been heavily pregnant cos it was humungous. Thought it was a hare at first. Might have seen more but not noticed, but haven't shot one yet. Would probably get to me if I did - bit weird innit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_R Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Those and milky does are not exactly nice to gut, but it doesn't stop me shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 I dont much like shooting the pregnant ones either to be honest. I still do though (after all, I'm there to protect the crops), but once I identify it as being pregnant/milky I discard it. To tell if they are pregnant, push the rabbits stomach down in toward the hollow of the pelvis, and you will feel the kits if they are in there. ZB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holliday Posted February 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Thanks for that Zapp. I wondered why I didn't get any urine out of it when squeezed. TBH, I think it was about half way through the pregnancy as the kitts were still not properly formed. They kinda looked like big kidney beans. It won't stop me from shooting as I'm definately more of a pragmatist than a moralist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 all good food for the ferrets, and it's less rabbits to eat the crops later in the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albob Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 (edited) shot one recently with 4 inside it,counts as 5 to the greenkeeper and he is very happy with the number.(got 2 males to,so 7 really). case of if you don`t do it,someone else will. i was asked when i got a particular permission,do i kill young ones?..my reply was yes,no exeptions.he told me the previous shooters would not shoot them.which he liked my reply and will keep me this permission.i know some can say you will say that to get and keep the shoot but,the evidence of you doing this can be seen out on the golfcourse. i shot with a guy who asked me to leave the younger ones,i did but,told him he will regret it,we cleared the field of adults but,as their was only younger ones(must have been some adults not seen though),they were soon back..lesson learned. al Edited February 18, 2010 by albob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomV Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Can you not eat does that have unborn kits inside, had a couple likle this at the weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning GTS Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 I have not had this for a while, but last spring almost 1in4 rabbits i shot seem to be a pregnant doe and some of the young were not far off full term. Its not very nice but we shoot rabbits, and at hmr ranges you just cannot tell. But as has been mentioned if you are doing pest control a single doe can mean 7-8 rabbits off the land for one shot. I must admit the first time i found one in this condition i did have guilty feeling but if you shoot you just have to accept it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 all good food for the ferrets, and it's less rabbits to eat the crops later in the year. I doesnt bother me, but in all fairness as mine all get sold with the guts in for snake food i dont have to look at them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colster Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 We had one last week that had 4 kits (well just foetus' really). Just as we were about to gut them, we noticed that this doe was very rounded so it wasn't completely unexpected but I didn't notice when I shot it. Can't say it bothers me, I remember reading somewhere the Romans used to put them on omelettes. And as for shooting young rabbits, yep definitely, I like the taste of rabbit anyway but the young ones are more tender... they often don't even need a salt soak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swift4me Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 With coyotes, alot of us would draw the line and not hunt when they had pups in the den, as if you killed either parent, chances were that the pups would die a long sorry death. But coyotes breed once a year and rabbits are ...well... rabbits, so I say it is a different thing. That said, if I could find a coyote den, with pups in it, and had the landowners blessing, they all went to dog heaven. That is a different deal alltogether. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mls77 Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 ferreting sunday only got 3 two of wich had young dont really have any strong thoughts other than the it will keep the farmer happy as its less pests to eat his crops so browny points for me, or is that a tad harsh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 (edited) It can be an emotive subject, but something I always put to landowners before I start shooting on new jobs, never had one with a rabbit problem say no yet! As one or two others have said already, 1 like this can account for a 7 or 8 total you have stopped with one shot! Without being cold about it, you get used to it, and in Pest Control there is no time for sentiment, sport shooters can make their own mind up!! Edited February 18, 2010 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 well Doc, what you have shown is that you are human. every time i shoot a milky doe, i still feel bad. dont think its something ill ever get over, but you must put it to the back of your mind and remember why you are there. some folk say that it is not a thing they worry about, and thats fine. personaly, if i can ID them as being a bit bigger, i always have that niggling thought that they might be full. one way to look at it, if you dont shoot them, there is somebidy around the corner who will. dont lose your shoot over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Logic Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Personally it doesn't normally worry me too much - I am doing vermin control and so if I get them before they're born, no starvation and better numerical control. One time though, I was really grossed out. I hit the doe with a 50gr blitzking from the 223, went right down the spine as I was shooting about 80 yards from an elevated position. The kits were literally blown about a yard away and strewn all around. To this day, I've never seen anything else like it - plenty of splattered bunny, but this was exploded. Bloody horrible, took me several minutes to pick up all the bits and put them in the hedge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy the Kid Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 A mate of mine likes the flavour of a milky doe best of all,as regards unborn kits we are controlling vermin there is no room for sentiment,would anyone feel guilty about killing a pregnant rat? Billy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12guage Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 it really is down to the shooter in this matter if your emotions dont get in the way then shoot on if you find you cant sleep at night then maybe you should stop for the time being Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holliday Posted February 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 Can you not eat does that have unborn kits inside, had a couple likle this at the weekend Why is this Tom? Please ellaborate. I did read a few posts back that someones mate likes the taste of a doe in milk. Can anyone explain how they differ in taste? Would be interesting to know, especially as the doe I shot is hanging in my shed waiting to be cooked Saturday night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave dog Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 Not pretty but its the best way of managing a population as you are culling them. To many farmer the goood rabbit is dead one. And in many case we shooter cann't keep up with the rabbits any way. All the ones i shoot go into the food chain. And i cann't keep up with demand that i am asked for. One farm where i shot chap lost as he would not young or doe's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 Why is this Tom? Please ellaborate. I did read a few posts back that someones mate likes the taste of a doe in milk. Can anyone explain how they differ in taste? Would be interesting to know, especially as the doe I shot is hanging in my shed waiting to be cooked Saturday night. He said "Can you not eat does that have unborn kits...." not "You can not...." ........and the answer is, yes you can, nothing wrong with them, except they can be skinnier and have less fat on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclestuffy Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 It is beating hearts that count. Ironically, the more preganant does you shoot and gut the more accustomed you will get - ie hardened mentally. If you feel really bad than you need to kill the kittens to when you gut at the same time. We got several last saturday morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holliday Posted February 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 (edited) Thanks for that Henry I kinda guessed it would be you that would point me in the right direction, even though I did misread it Going out there with AndyCM later today so hopefully we can bag a few more, expecting or not. Edited February 19, 2010 by Doc Holliday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy the Kid Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 Why is this Tom? Please ellaborate. I did read a few posts back that someones mate likes the taste of a doe in milk. Can anyone explain how they differ in taste? Would be interesting to know, especially as the doe I shot is hanging in my shed waiting to be cooked Saturday night. Just contacted my milky doe mate,he says texture is different and they taste better with garlic than other rabbits. Billy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.