20 replies to this topic

[TheRoman1]

Well, I'll say that the last two days were the most productive hunting days I've yet experienced. User "dull" and I went down to Imperial Valley to enjoy the openning of cottontail season. We arrived in El Centro around 5am and were shocked by the 80 degree temperatures, not to mention the humidity. However, much to our luck there was a thin cloud cover that blocked the direct sunlight until around 11am. So, despite getting stalled out in a pit of sand and having to spend an hour fetching some random local to come tow us out, we were able to begin hunting around 9am and still blast a full limit of bunnies. The rabbits tend to rush into their brushlines at even the most distant sight of a person. We found that they held far longer if we cruised in the truck glassing for them and got out to shoot when we spotted one. In such a case the shotguns seemed less useful than my .22, which we used eagerly to take long-range pop shots at their heads. Very satisfying.  IMG_0264.JPG   83.48K   41 downloadsThey definateively disappeared when the sun finally broke out and the temperature went up. When we returned to the same spot (near a lush canal and some mowed fields - great rabbit food) later in the evening, the bunnies were so numerous that we quit driving and simply sat and popped them off as they emerged from the bushes. Today (second day) we hit the same spot around 5:45am and the bunnies were everywhere once again . We blasted about five of them before they all suddenly disappeared. The brush lines that once spilled over with groups of bunnies suddenly produced nothing. It was only 8:30 am, but we quit. It was very sunny and heating up quickly, unlike the previous day, and also very windy. "Dull" and I figured the rabbits were burrowing up due to these two elements. All in all, we harvested 18 rabbits in two days plus a turtle that bit my line as we were night fishing for flathead catfish. Due to "Dull's" bunnie-hugger girlffriend I was allowed to take home the cooler chest of meat and pelts. What a great harvest.  IMG_0259.JPG   88.06K   42 downloads  IMG_0289.JPG   49.09K   41 downloads  iuhygf.JPG   16.28K   9 downloads  IMG_0285.JPG   104.83K   39 downloads

[Shoot-it]

sounds like you guys had a good time.Enjoy the rabbits,How do you plan on cooking them.I have in the past soaked them in vinegar wine to get them to taste better.

[Thumper Dunker]

Way to go. Cool looking little owel

[CoyoteHuntress]

SOunds like you had a great time and I got to say That looks soooo yummy Of all the women around your friend couldnt find one that isnt a bunny hugger?? Sheesh... She must be a looker or something.... Hubby and son headed off for Sand Mountain earlier this evening so I might sneak out and go bunny/coyote hunting this weekend if I get this doe and buck done IM working on....

[X EAGLE 23 X]

Thanks for coming and taking all my rabbits...lol jk! Sounds like you guys had a blast and a good hunt! Congrats on the rabbits!How are you planning on tanning the hides?

[dull]

Hah...not quite a bunny hugger, just wanted them skinned and not looking like bunnies by the time they got home.

Of all the women around your friend couldnt find one that isnt a bunny hugger?? Sheesh... She must be a looker or something....

[atavuss]

great report, really cool burrowing owl picture............was it sitting on a bale of hay?

[PredatorMaster]

[BullsEye]

Way to go guys!

[OrneryOlMofo357]

Good job on the rabbits ! Tastey !

[TheRoman1]

How are you planning on tanning the hides?

Hey, in regards to tanning, if anyone has any good, simple instructions, please send them along. The last time I tried I rippsed the skin during the scrapping process because I did not know how much of the tissue one ought to scrape off. As for recipes, I fried some up last night with garlic, pepper and lemon zest. Tasted great but pretty chewy. I'm hoping to do some kind of southwestern chili one of these days where I let the meat stew in there for like 2 hours to get it night and tender. Does letting the meat sit for a week or two help loosen the meat up?

[CoyoteHuntress]

For tanning order a tanning kit,, make sure its for DRY Tan... follow the directions to a T. You wil also have to "break" the hide so it will be all soft and supply..Or just send them to a tannery.. As for how much tissue to scrap off, all the meat and membrane needs to come off.. if you cut too deep into the skin the hair follicles will be cut then the hair will fall out so dont go too deep. My favorite bunny recipe is basically same as fried chicken.. do the dip in egg/milk dredge in flour with seasoning and fry... BBQ is good too All you need to do to age the meat is skin it, leave it whole if possible... let it set in the fridge for a few days until it goes thru rigor....

[X EAGLE 23 X]

I've tanned a couple using the Alum and salt mixture and they come out ok; not the best, but not to bad either.Though CoyoteHuntress brings up a good point about buying a kit. Do you know of any kits in specific that are good for rabbits CH?

[CoyoteHuntress]

Lutan F is liked by many.. I wet tan so I have never personally used it, but I know alot of taxidermist that use Lutan F..

[X EAGLE 23 X]

Sweet, thanks for the tip CH, gonna have to give it a try!

[Portagee_Shooter]

I cooked up four yesterday. I did them just like fried chicken though I don't use eggs to make the batter stick. 1/2cup flour, 1/2 cup wheat flour, 1Tbsp Cajun seaoning, 1/2 Tbsp Chili pepper. Dunked em in the deep frier till golden brown with dark edges.I took them to a potluck BBQ and they dissapeared! Weren't very tough and they were taken on Friday.

[clampdaddy]

As for recipes, I fried some up last night with garlic, pepper and lemon zest. Tasted great but pretty chewy. I'm hoping to do some kind of southwestern chili one of these days where I let the meat stew in there for like 2 hours to get it night and tender. Does letting the meat sit for a week or two help loosen the meat up?

I use a portuguese Vinha D'Alhos marinade. The vinegar helps to break down the meat. Use 1 cup wine (red or white), 6 tbs vinegar, 6 cloves garlic (mashed), 1 bay leaf (optional). Marinate for three days, sprinkle on some black pepper and grill. I useually double or triple the recipe depending on how many rabbits are going into the marinade bag.

[Shoot-it]

I like it marinated like that to Matt. I just deep fried half of one and it tastes like chicken.It was a quick thing last minute.

[Locnload]

Great job on the rabbits.

[Baxter]

I am going thia afternoon, hope to have some nice asada pics, maybe get yotes outta the valley to.

[TonyS]

For tanning the skin I went to the local Tandy Leather and bought a bottle of something called 'Tannit". It was expensive ($40) but it works well. The bottle supposedly has enough to tan two deer skins. It wasn't difficult to use. Basically you stretch and salt the hide then wash it off and use this stuff. You still have to work it when you are done. It worked fine on some squirrel skin I had. Squirrel was good eating too!