Rabbit meat damage

[Euget123]

Hey guys

Was out after the rabbits ths evening!was a great niight ended with seven!

My aim was of on two and hit them on the front shoulder!they went down no problem but was just wandering about the damaged meet!can u leave this on when cooking are should it be discarded?

Used to just give these ones to the dog but hes in kennels as im between house moves at the mo!

[Catweazle]

There isn't much meat on the front anyway, so chop the rabbit through the spine just in front of the top meat and bin the front end. I did this when shooting with HMR through the shoulder, drops them on the spot but sometimes makes a mess, sometimes drills right through, but you never get a runner.

[fenboy]

Why not head shoot them , no meat damage then !

[Dead-Eyed Duck]

Eggsactly!

 

Any half decent hmr will manage 3/4" at 100 yards, so there shouldn't be any problem.

[EMcC]

I've never known anybody shoot rabbits anywhere other than in the head !

[Redgum]

Eggsactly!

 

Any half decent hmr will manage 3/4" at 100 yards, so there shouldn't be any problem.

 

only in the right hands as they don't shoot themselves.

[Dekers]

I've never known anybody shoot rabbits anywhere other than in the head !

 

You do now, I shoot to stop them, I don't care where I put the shot as long as it works!

 

If I want some for the table I am a little more particular with shot placement.

 

[Frenchieboy]

I find that if there is some blood in the meat it will often come out if you leave it to soak in a bowl of salty water for a few hours and then rinse it well in fresh cold water!

Having said that though if it is in the front shoulder or rib cage then I usually give the front ends to my mates ferrets as there isn't much meat on them anyhow - I find that for a stew the back legs and saddles off 2 rabbits is usually more than enough for a meal for 2 people with "healthy appetites!

It's fine saying that you should always head shoot rabbits (Which is what i try to do) but we all know that even the best of shots can and most likely will pull a shot now and then - Not wanting to start World War III but I would be interested to know who will not admit to pulling the odd shot or two now and then as i doubt that any of us are perfect!

Edited May 3, 2014 by Frenchieboy

[Dead-Eyed Duck]

I shoot over a couple of thousand acres for rabbit control, and at £2/headshot rabbit this pays for most of my shooting/diesel.

 

Must be lots of very wealthy shooters out there....

[Dekers]

I shoot over a couple of thousand acres for rabbit control, and at £2/headshot rabbit this pays for most of my shooting/diesel.

 

Must be lots of very wealthy shooters out there....

 

Only if you can get £2 each for them.

 

Its £1 each here cleaned and delivered to the dealer, that isn't worth my time/effort/diesel/wear and tear.

 

My sites are all under control, I don't get big rabbit bags, my clients expect them to be kept under control, not visit when they get out of control!

 

ATB!

[Dead-Eyed Duck]

I used to get £1 a rabbit, and that was for skinned and dressed. After scouting around I found a source that was willing to pay £2 for dressed and in the skin.

 

I shoot over 1,000 a year, and walk around all my perms on a weekly/fortnightly basis. When they need thinning out I do it, as only fools shoot the rabbits out unless expressly instructed, or lets them get out of control.

 

Many are shot out of the roof of my Yeti at 70 yards max with a .22, but if necessary we use the hmr. Cannot remember the last time I intentionally did a body shot, when it's just as quick to headshoot. I do get the odd miss (lot less than 5%), but if properly headshot they go down where shot.

[spinach]

The answer is just cut the front leg off after soaking over night in either salty water or water and vinegar to draw the blood .

You don't say what you were shooting with air rifle take the above advice , FAC rifle just cut the carcas below the lowest point.

Your getting some flak probably only because you had a great evening.

No one mentioned the position of the rabbit , if there facing away a shoulder shot will present just make them sit up.

Two out of seven and I'd check the scope.

John.

[Dekers]

I used to get £1 a rabbit, and that was for skinned and dressed. After scouting around I found a source that was willing to pay £2 for dressed and in the skin.

 

I shoot over 1,000 a year, and walk around all my perms on a weekly/fortnightly basis. When they need thinning out I do it, as only fools shoot the rabbits out unless expressly instructed, or lets them get out of control.

 

Many are shot out of the roof of my Yeti at 70 yards max with a .22, but if necessary we use the hmr. Cannot remember the last time I intentionally did a body shot, when it's just as quick to headshoot. I do get the odd miss (lot less than 5%), but if properly headshot they go down where shot.

 

It's called Pest Control, that's what I'm paid to do!

 

I don't have permissions, I have clients who expect the job to be done, I'm not about leaving some for some sport next year!

 

I shoot to stop, head shots are not always the quickest, easiest or most productive!

 

If that is what people want to do then fine, but there is another side to this that should not be discounted!

Edited May 3, 2014 by Dekers

[colin lad]

You do now, I shoot to stop them, I don't care where I put the shot as long as it works!

 

If I want some for the table I am a little more particular with shot placement.

 

you know 2 now as i am with Dekers on this one i shoot head or chest,

if it's for the shop then it's a head shot otherwise what ever vital area possible as what don't go in the shop goes to the wolf society to feed the wolves,

now to the op if you have front end meat damage just cut off and get rid of as it wont eat as well as the rest and as said earlier there ain't much meat in the front fores,

 

Colin

Edited May 3, 2014 by colin lad

[Dead-Eyed Duck]

Dekers I am deeply envious, being paid to do what 99% on here do as a sport or hobby.

 

All I am saying is that for most of us taking headshots could be the norm, and with practise becomes the norm. On a good night I will shoot 60 rabbits as my time is limited, and again I think that will apply to most on PW.

 

As Frenchieboy has said, everyone has the odd 'miss' off target area, but that will happen if the rabbit moves as you shoot etc.

[Gimlet]

I used to get £1 a rabbit, and that was for skinned and dressed. After scouting around I found a source that was willing to pay £2 for dressed and in the skin.

 

I shoot over 1,000 a year, and walk around all my perms on a weekly/fortnightly basis. When they need thinning out I do it, as only fools shoot the rabbits out unless expressly instructed, or lets them get out of control.

 

Many are shot out of the roof of my Yeti at 70 yards max with a .22, but if necessary we use the hmr. Cannot remember the last time I intentionally did a body shot, when it's just as quick to headshoot. I do get the odd miss (lot less than 5%), but if properly headshot they go down where shot.

 

 

I have to shoot rabbits out. That's the deal. Its what the landowner wants and if I don't do what he wants someone someone else will be doing it. Keeping them nailed down like this at all times means there are never big bags. A dozen at a time would be a good haul and its not worth the diesel taking them to a game dealer. I eat them, I give them away and my ferrets eat the rest. When they become very thin on the ground I patrol in a 4X4 with a .222 as that gives me double the range of an HMR. I don't worry about head shots. If that's the most practical shot choice I'll take it, if not they'll get one in the body. The triple cuts rabbits in half but if supplies are running low I'll take the carcase for the ferrets anyway. They don't care.

 

Rabbit makes excellent stock. If there isn't too much haemorrhaging and jellified blood - which will cloud the stock - fillet off the good meat, especially the loins and boil the rest up slowly, strain off and put in the fridge to set.

[Dekers]

Dekers I am deeply envious, being paid to do what 99% on here do as a sport or hobby.

 

All I am saying is that for most of us taking headshots could be the norm, and with practise becomes the norm. On a good night I will shoot 60 rabbits as my time is limited, and again I think that will apply to most on PW.

 

As Frenchieboy has said, everyone has the odd 'miss' off target area, but that will happen if the rabbit moves as you shoot etc.

 

Nothing to be envious about, it goes with the territory, whilst there may be some "interesting" parts of the job, there are also the bed bugs, fleas, cock roaches, rats, etc etc and of course the unsociable hours and customers.

 

PS

My Personal opinion, not many on here take 60 rabbits a night, even the good nights!

 

ATB!

Edited May 3, 2014 by Dekers

[thepasty]

The farmers I shoot for want the rabbits gone, that's why they let me shoot, if they thought I was maintaining them for sport I'd be gone.

[Guest rimotu66]

As already said just eat the back end

[kyska]

you know 2 now as i am with Dekers on this one i shoot head or chest,

if it's for the shop then it's a head shot otherwise what ever vital area possible as what don't go in the shop goes to the wolf society to feed the wolves,

now to the op if you have front end meat damage just cut off and get rid of as it wont eat as well as the rest and as said earlier there ain't much meat in the front fores,

Colin

Make that 3, I go out on our farm to just clear them.

[Euget123]

Thanks for replys guys!

I do usually head shoot!thats just personal prefrence really!but as someone said they drop straight away wen chest shot.im using a .22lr with subs.

Went up thsafternoon and checked scope its all fine,must have been my shooting,stayed on for a bit of target practice so hopefully wnt have to many more!

Atb

ET

P.S

id give an arm for a night of 60 rabbits!

Edited May 3, 2014 by Euget123

[kent]

Problem with shots that don't do the shoulders is the bunny sometimes does a death run and is sometimes lost as a result. I aim for the brain not the head on any sitter and sometimes although I try for the brain I sometimes hit one wrong when they are running and get the neck or chest ( I have also missed in front etc,)

 

Can you eat them? yeah, the best bits are the saddle and back legs and they will be fine, dealers don't like them but that's seemingly not your issue. I tend to boil up the front sections and legs for the dog and i peel the flesh off the bones before anyone says

[berettadevon]

If im just thinning out the numbers for the farmer then i go out as part of a team, one driving the landy and myself and another in the back with shotguns. Never need a lamp control person as we place red filter sheets over the landy's headlights!!!

 

If im out to get a few in the bag for the pot/pan then i'll use me rifle and smash them in the head with a hollow point .22 round.

[Catweazle]

Yes, my HMR will do better than 3/4" at 100yds, in good conditions, in good light, with a good rest. In reality, in the field, a shoulder shot drops rabbits on the spot - they do the "goalkeeper" leap and then collapse, dead, and don't run. If the range is 100yds + then this is the shot that I take. Your skills may differ, but this is the shot that I can take from a fencepost and get a result.

[tonker]

I used to shoot Wells Golf club in Somerset when my mate was the greenkeeper there. They just wanted them gone, that was not sport just clearance, I didn't get paid as such, but every time I went out I had a free round of golf.

When I shoot locally, I'm more sporting with my shots, I never take more than I will eat in a month. (rule of thumb), I'm very lucky that all the farms I shoot are owned by friends, and none of us want anything overshot. so for me it's win win