Rabbit Season

kodak

Hi all,

Was just wondering if there was a better time for getting rabbits for the pot.

Thanks

ronn

people say spring is the best,

pm.

ronn wrote: »

people say spring is the best,

yeah end of spring start of summer early morning or late evening

Jonty

I remember being told as a chap not to eat rabbits in months where there's an "r" in it.

Anybody else hear that?

ivanthehunter

That was me!!
Shooting rabbits now is fine as they are not breeding! but come march or April they'll be going at it like rabbits:p(no infractions please this is humor!)
Generally they stop breeding as the temperatures drops below a certain threshold, this is usually around sept or October.
When i was a boy, my granddad would always start snaring with the first October frosts. (but alas Global Warning)

There is always the issue of eating whats commonly known as a milky doe, these are rabbits that lose condition due to the excessive demands placed on the small bodies in an effort to produce milk for their young. Experienced rabbit eaters (bunny boilers:D) claim that they can noticed a marked reduction in the quality of the meat.

There was some talk here before as to methods of buck identification in a bid to allow some high summer harvest of said rabbits as these are males and as such they will not suffer from the milky doe effect.

What ever about the ethical issues (killing females and leaving the young to die of starvation and cold) there are much more practical issues such as being responsible for the micro management of your local rabbit number.

If you are shooting for pleasure or sport then its in your interest to protect and guard you quary numbers.

If you shooting for the pot and the shooting is local then only take what fits in the pot and go home happy... too many people try to make a day out of the whole shooting thing and subsequently they eradicate everything.

Some farmers might ask you to wipe out the local rabbit pop in or around your permission, always say yes but always leave a few for next year and a few for the fox...


Oh how lonely it will be when there are no rabbits in the fields.

stevoman

rabbits are far easier shoot in summer and spring, but taste far nicer in winter.

kodak

thanks for the replies..

i'm not actually shooting them as i don't have gun.

made up a few box traps and going to give them a go.. was good fun making them and hope they yield results.[

so far no joy..

any tips greatly appreciated!

stevoman

if you dont have a gun, get yourself a ferret and a few nets and you will have great fun.

stay aware from snares though, they are fairly inhumane and put the rabbit through needless suffering.

cantona1111

kodak wrote: »

thanks for the replies..

i'm not actually shooting them as i don't have gun.

made up a few box traps and going to give them a go.. was good fun making them and hope they yield results.[

so far no joy..

any tips greatly appreciated!

Hi Kodak, can you explain to me how these work, and how you made them, pics would be great if you had any