Rabbit Hunting/Trapping

[PineBurrowPeeps]

I want to try trapping some rabbits on my property for food, we have alot of them and I have several havaheart type traps.
My worry is how to dispatch the rabbit once trapped.
Any advice?

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

We love wild rabbit here. My DH just goes out into the field and down the dirtroad and shoots one. They are fairly easy to skin. We have a small game gambrel and just hang them up by their back legs and skin 'em.

You can shoot it in the head once in the trap at close range.

 

[Bossroo]

One may whant to check with one's State Department of Fish & Game for hunting licensing requirements. Also that type of activity may be illegal in that State. In our State ... a Jackrabbit is considered a pest and can be taken any time of the year, while the Cottontail is a game species with definate hunting seasons and bag limits and may have area exclusions.

 

[Cockadoodlezoo]

We always used snares for wild rabbits, they usually did the job for us if you have the hole the right diameter.

And with as Chicks_N_Horses said you can always dispose of them quickly by shooting them.

 

[Kullas]

The best way i have found to skin a rabbit is to pinch some of the skin on the back and make a slit cross wase and put a couple fingers from each hand and pull. just be carefull of the belly area it can rip open the guts. its like taking off its shirt and pants

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

And save that rabbit pelt!! I always save every animal hide we kill. Great for making things with

 

[bja105]

You can also twist their heads.
Or grab by the hind feet and swing their head into the ground.

I get an allergic reaction to rabbit blood. I get a rash on my hands when I clean a cottontail. I don't know if it happens with domestic rabbits.

You really don't need a knife to skin them, the skin tears easily.

 

[daisy_dukers]

I only snare from November to April, I can't remember the name of the disease that rabbits can carry but I was always taught that they were safer to eat after the snow falls as any sick bunnies would die off.

As for cleaning them, I make a cut down thier back, cut thier feet off, cut around the neck and just peel thier coats off.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The disease is Tularemia or rabbit fever. I knew people that got this from skinning rabbits. You don't want to catch this. They spent time in a hospital. It is suggested to wear rubber gloves when skinning rabbits, expecially if you have cuts or scrapes on your hands.

I grew up hunting and I'd skin rabbits without wearing rubber gloves until Eddie and his dad caught this. Then I wore rubber gloves. Not every rabbit carries this disease, but why not take reasonable precautions.

http://health.utah.gov/epi/fact_sheets/tularem.html

 

[skywatcher]

I would shoot the rabbit in the head with a .22 or if I was in the city limits just grab the rabbit with gloves and smack it in the head with a stick thats how I dispatch tame rabbits,
I was taught never to eat animals caught in a leg hold trap or snare because they haven't been bled out. Also if it's caught in a trap you cannot be sure it's not a sick rabbit if you haven't seen it running. The Bible states we are not to eat or drink the blood of aniamals. Deuteronomy 12:23 12:16