Posted: 8/28/2024 12:00:54 PM EDT
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I noticed this spring there was a definite uptick in the local rabbit population. As spring and summer moved along its been an explosion of them. Where you might see 1 or 2 there's dozens. Only thing I can think is that we have been in drought conditions for the past 3 years and with the abundance of rain that triggered this. Talking with some buddies in northern Illinois it's been the same thing. Looking forward to a few decent winter hunts with a few good Beagles. What is your local population looking like this year? |
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I was just talking to the guys about this at work. I'm in Southwest MO. The rabbit population on my small 6acre property has EXPLODED this year. I have rabbits everywhere! Dozens and dozens of them. I've never seen so many rabbits. My cat has killed 4 of them this year...big ones! |
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I live in rural SE Mo, but I rarely ever see rabbits on our prop. Could be our dogs, could be lack of vegetation and cover. This brings me to a question, the wife and I were discussing a few nights ago. Growing up as a dumb city boy, I was always told that you can only eat rabbits after a certain time of the year. Something about a worm or parasite in their neck or something. Like maybe the 1st freeze or some BS.... This could all be just that. We were talking about raising them as a food source then this came up.... Anyone heard anything like this? Or old, stupid, urban, myth? |
LARUEMINATI
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
Joined:
Mar 2023
Posts:
22
EE: 0% (0)
KS, USA
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It's true about only being able to hunt them during certain parts of the year. While you could eat them in the summer, there's a large chance they have fly larva under the skin or a risk of tularemia and other diseases. I've never looked into if cooking would kill any diseases because after you open your first summer rabbit you won't want to eat it. Wait until after the first frost, then the rule I use is only hunt them with months with the letter "R" in them (basically first frost until mid spring). |
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Originally Posted By smullen: I live in rural SE Mo, but I rarely ever see rabbits on our prop. Could be our dogs, could be lack of vegetation and cover. This brings me to a question, the wife and I were discussing a few nights ago. Growing up as a dumb city boy, I was always told that you can only eat rabbits after a certain time of the year. Something about a worm or parasite in their neck or something. Like maybe the 1st freeze or some BS.... This could all be just that. We were talking about raising them as a food source then this came up.... Anyone heard anything like this? Or old, stupid, urban, myth? Liver disease, as I was told. Wait until the first heavy frost. We usually wait until late Dec/early Jan after deer muzzleloading season. Typically do a " cast and blast ", crappie and trout ice fishing at an old quarry followed by a rabbit hunt with .410s. Great way to spend a Sunday in the winter. |
A lot more rabbits here this year. Folks shooting prairie dogs (predator food) and coyotes means more rabbits.
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"What is socialism? The most difficult and tortuous way to progress from capitalism to capitalism." -Stated at an intel conference, East Berlin, Oct. 1988
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken
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I think my neighborhood peak was a year or two ago. I was seeing five rabbits at a time in the summer feeding on the lawn. They get trimmed down over winter though. I have foxes and coyotes that walk right down my driveway and between the house and garage. I saw some this year but only up to four at a time. I did kick up one deer hunting hanging out beneath a vine covered wild apple tree. When I have a .22 I never see them sitting still. Only when flushed. I am lousy stalking little critters. |
The only hyphenated names I like are cartridge names......30-06, 30-40, 38-55 etc.
