13 replies to this topic

[treffryraxter]

well after having laser eye surgery yesterday a little of this was in order. So after sitting in the optomitrists office waiting for him to tell me what I was already able to see for myself...that I could see. I went to the DMV and around 3 I finally got out of there...so...TIME TO GO TRY OUT THE NEW EYEBALLS! picture is all I need for the rest of this lol

used the nylon 66 with iron sights and the fur-less bipod lol

[gsummers]

Did you give them a bath?

[Thumper Dunker]

Never thought about using a supper soaker. Just messing with ya. Good job with the 22

[KNOCKED UP]

I guess I better get new eyes.
Good job.
Tom

[Air Rifle Hunter]

Nice job getting your limit of cottontails. It looks like one of them got blasted a couple of times.

[treffryraxter]

yes soaked them for a bit in water to kill off the fleas and such before taking them home, also yes a few of them had to be shot more than once as my aim was...sub par.

[gsummers]

If you are pretty close to them and they can't get away, I alway walk up grab the hind legs and the head and pull really fast. Broken neck and dead with no wasted meat. That being said I have also taken second shot, just watch our for those back legs. Either way good job on filling the pot. How you going to cook them?

[Air Rifle Hunter]

yes soaked them for a bit in water to kill off the fleas and such before taking them home, also yes a few of them had to be shot more than once as my aim was...sub par.

At least you were able to get the second shot in to take them down. I know I get bummed out when I make a decent shot at the rabbit runs off and then I have to try and track it down. I hate it when I make a bad shot. Glad you got them with the second shot.

[rustygun]

Good going with the nylon 66. Bet you are glad you didn't get rid of it. Still getting used to your new eyes? Go get some more.

[treffryraxter]

:-( I checked the rabbits after putting the legs in a bag together and came across this
http://www.michigan....26630--,00.html
Mistaking it for tulerimia all the meat was thrown out. 2 lessons 1 check guts first 2 look up photos of what you see

[Air Rifle Hunter]

I actually have found those "blisters" on a few cotttontails (haven't found one yet on a jack rabbit), and I've only found them on cottontails that I've shot at my relative's property. I've never found those blisters on rabbits I've shot at my public land hunting spots... at least not yet. There are allot of coyotes and pet dogs in the area where my relatives live, so now that I've read that article, it makes sense.

Like the article described, there are usually white spots on the liver when you find the "blister" somewhere on the body. Of the three rabbits I've shot that had these blisters (Cysticercosis) one blister was on the neck area and the other two were on the hind of the back leg, underneath the membrane of the leg muscle.

In fact, one of the rabbits I shot this last weekend had the white spots on the liver and the blister on the back leg. Not knowing what is was or what was causing it, I have been throwing those rabbits out and only keeping the hides to tan. I didn't want to take any chances that I might contract something from it or get some sort of infection. It sound like as long as you carefully remove the blister and cook the meat thoroughly that you should be alright though. Still, I don't know that I would eat a rabbit that had that and will probably still throw those out just to be on the safe side. After seeing those blisters first hand I have to say that they do look rather digusting.

One thing I always do before putting the rabbit meat in a bag especially if there is more than one rabbit being put in the same freezer bag, is to cut the rabbit open and examine the liver and other organs. If I'm gutting them in the field I examine the "guts" and organs as I'm field dressing them to make sure the rabbit is worth keeping for consumption. If not, it goes into a separate bag in my backpack and then I toss it out after getting back to home or camp.

There are all sorts of things to learn. I learn something new every day.

[treffryraxter]

Ya this one had the worm eggs the article describes and yes I'm very happy I kept the nylon lol

[Thumper Dunker]

Nextime you clean a big fish check its guts out . I will never eat any kind of raw fish.

[MonkeyChunks]

Nice hunting but with the amount of holes in 2 of them your only have 3 left.
Aim high and save some meat for the table.