Posted: 10/31/2013 4:25:14 PM EDT
Few weeks back, I was having poor luck archery hunting deer, so I picked up some small game arrow heads. Nailed a rabbit. Skinned it, gutted it, and parted out the legs and tenderloins. Fried it up and tasted delicious  extremely satisfying.
Anyway, after bragging to my family and friends, many said that I had made a big mistake, that I should have at least waited until the first frost before harvesting any critters. Any truth to this!? I think they were concerned about parisites. It's been a few weeks and I feel fine, but have been itchin to go harvest some more free, tastey meals, just hesitant now. What is your guys take on this? |
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The myth is about "rabbit fever".
Not a real issue in most places. Same as with any game. If it looks or acts sickly or odd, might not be something you want to eat but feel free to cull it out of the herd. Freezing and fully cooking will kill just about anything. ETA?..Google it...primary mode of trasmission of Rabbit fever is by tick and flea bites |
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The myth is about "rabbit fever". Not a real issue in most places. Same as with any game. If it looks or acts sickly or odd, might not be something you want to eat but feel free to cull it out of the herd. Freezing and fully cooking will kill just about anything. ETA?..Google it...primary mode of trasmission of Rabbit fever is by tick and flea bites That's why I was taught to avoid "eating" rabbits until after the first cold snap. It wasn't about avoiding the flesh, but rather avoiding touching the rabbits. |
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I've shot a lot of rabbits and I would never consider eating the filthy little things. I've seen everything from tick infestations to giant intestinal parasites in them.
YMMV, but personally, I would never consider eating a wild rabbit any more than I would a sewer rat. |
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I've shot a lot of rabbits and I would never consider eating the filthy little things. I've seen everything from tick infestations to giant intestinal parasites in them. YMMV, but personally, I would never consider eating a wild rabbit any more than I would a sewer rat. Why did you shoot them then? |
Same thing can be said for early season squirrels. I've still harvested 4 this season for fur and meat, but i have yet to eat them. I've frozen the meat until I actually get enough for a meal  but freezing is another way to kill a decent amount of parasites that can be found in an animal.
Honestly, not many parasites around found in the muscle tissue and fats that you eat. th econcern is more for the single celled type organisms and parasites. a properly cooked piece of meat will be safe, but if you really have any concern, freeze the meet for a day or two then cook it. |
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I'm Irish, so between that and the whiskey, the parasites are afraid of me because of what I might
give them as far as ill health.
I wouldn't be surprised if there was parasites posting on a Internet discussion board on how long you should cook an Irishman's liver before you infest him.
I've killed, cooked and ate a lot of critters and to me attitude is everything. NOTE: Your results may very. Just having fun...I've lived a damn reckless life and grandpa is still kicking. |
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If when you skin out your critter it doesn't look healthy then just leave it in the woods.
I too won't shoot early rabbits though, they can harbor some nasty stuff when the numbers are high and the weather is nice. Good eating though when you throw a few of them in the crock pot. Any parasites in the muscle tissue will be cooked out no problem in the crock pot. The same can be said of early deer even, I have skinned out early bow season deer for people and they are loaded with ticks. One notable one had what I would guess to be 100 in it. It was nasty skinning watching all those little bastards falling out. |
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Why did you shoot them then? Quoted:
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I've shot a lot of rabbits and I would never consider eating the filthy little things. I've seen everything from tick infestations to giant intestinal parasites in them. YMMV, but personally, I would never consider eating a wild rabbit any more than I would a sewer rat. Why did you shoot them then? I'm wondering the same thing |
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I've always just checked the liver. This is what i usually do if I shoot one in the summer. Majority of rabbits i have gotten in the summer have been a no-go in my opinion here in AZ. Worms and bugs out the ass. So I just wait till winter comes and blast em. I got some quirrels this yr. Mine seemed fine. My GF dad said his were covered in fleas and ticks. |
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They're talking about botfly larvae. The larvae live in the skin and don't affect the meat.
Historically, many small game seasons started after the first frost to reduce the wastage associated with hunters killing a rabbit, finding the larvae in the skin, and tossing the kill because it was "bad". |
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I've shot a lot of rabbits and I would never consider eating the filthy little things. I've seen everything from tick infestations to giant intestinal parasites in them. YMMV, but personally, I would never consider eating a wild rabbit any more than I would a sewer rat. Why did you shoot them then? I'm wondering the same thing Because making rabbits explode is fun. |
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Because making rabbits explode is fun. Quoted:
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I've shot a lot of rabbits and I would never consider eating the filthy little things. I've seen everything from tick infestations to giant intestinal parasites in them. YMMV, but personally, I would never consider eating a wild rabbit any more than I would a sewer rat. Why did you shoot them then? I'm wondering the same thing Because making rabbits explode is fun. +1 on that! |