Muscle Twitch

vixdname

I shot a rabbit the other day, it kicked out as usual for about 20 seconds and then stopped. The eyes were wide open and he was definitely dead.
I picked him up by the back legs and continued on my way, about 15 mins later I sat down on a big rock and took in the views - I dropped the rabbit at my feet and noticed that the muscles in its hind quarters were slightly twitching again - this was at least 15 mins after it stopped twitching just after I shot it.
I never saw a rabbit that was dead - eyes wide open for over 15 mins for the muscles to just start twitching again.
Does the brain still send signals that long after the rabbit was killed ?
Sorry if its a stupid question but I never saw it before in all the years.

Xplor.er

vixdname wrote: »

I shot a rabbit the other day, it kicked out as usual for about 20 seconds and then stopped. The eyes were wide open and he was definitely dead.
I picked him up by the back legs and continued on my way, about 15 mins later I sat down on a big rock and took in the views - I dropped the rabbit at my feet and noticed that the muscles in its hind quarters were slightly twitching again - this was at least 15 mins after it stopped twitching just after I shot it.
I never saw a rabbit that was dead - eyes wide open for over 15 mins for the muscles to just start twitching again.
Does the brain still send signals that long after the rabbit was killed ?
Sorry if its a stupid question but I never saw it before in all the years.

iv seen this happen before but not sure what causes it. Nerves?
i find it good practice to pull necks, never seen any twitching after it.

poulo6.5

Mussels can stay twitching for a while after it is dead. I see it allot with deer after I shoot them and grolick them drag them to the jeep and drive home and hang them the mussels could still be twitching a little as you skinn it. A good 45 min later.

jap gt

yea i see it a lot too with cattle they could be half skinned and still give to odd twitch

vixdname

Its weird isnt it, you'd think if the animal is completely dead, no reaction from touching eyes or anything like that, then why is the brain still sending signals to the muscles for so long after apparent death ?
I'm not a medical person, maybe its not the brain, I'd be interested to know the actual reason how \ why this can happen.

jap gt

vixdname wrote: »

Its weird isnt it, you'd think if the animal is completely dead, no reaction from touching eyes or anything like that, then why is the brain still sending signals to the muscles for so long after apparent death ?
I'm not a medical person, maybe its not the brain, I'd be interested to know the actual reason how \ why this can happen.

not sure if its the brain, not to be getting too gory but i have beheaded cattle and still have them twitching up to half hour later

ormondprop

i think its nerves that cause it, not the brain

djflawless

jap gt wrote: »

yea i see it a lot too with cattle they could be half skinned and still give to odd twitch

i do see it too when there dead in the yard for a few hours :eek:
iv never had it happen but i shot a woodcock during the last season.picked him up and snapped his neck (as i do with everything i shoot).but after i picked him up and trew him in the game bag.was walking the way home an hour later and his wings started flapping for about 15-25 secs.spent a awhile puzzling meself and swinging around a circle looking for a bird after being flushed.didnt cop on it was the woodcock till the dog started jumping at the bag

DonnchaMc

Had something like that happen last year..took the rabbit back to the car bout 10 mins after catching it and when i had finished GUTTING it, it twitched for few mins after was the freakiest ting iv ever seen hahahaha

and yes it was defo dead before i started

djflawless

DonnchaMc wrote: »

and yes it was defo dead before i started

kildare.17hmr

first rabbit i ever shot twiched its leg about 45 mins after it was shot, it was gutted and i was half way thrugh skinning it, scared the ****e out of me:p i always give the neck a chop now when i pick them up and havent noticed it since

Tackleberrywho

Don't watch if squeamish!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU2faSpk1Rs

blackstairsboy

A fella I shoot with told me how a pheasant he shot one day which was " stone dead " started flapping in his bag a good 10 minutes after being shot when he opened the bag to investigate the pheasant fell out and proceeded to run away:eek:
needless to say I fell around the place laughing when he told me

FISMA

poulo6.5 wrote: »

Mussels can stay twitching for a while after it is dead. I see it allot with deer ... could still be twitching a little as you skinn it. A good 45 min later.

We call that the "Elvis Leg!":D

Spunk84

blackstairsboy wrote: »

A fella I shoot with told me how a pheasant he shot one day which was " stone dead " started flapping in his bag a good 10 minutes after being shot when he opened the bag to investigate the pheasant fell out and proceeded to run away:eek:
needless to say I fell around the place laughing when he told me

+1 same happened me, opened the boot and the fecker flew out:mad:

session savage

Rabbits I shoot never twitch. Never happens when you shoot em in the head