Author Topic: Rabbit Cleaning Question? (Read 861 times)

coyotehunter223 · « **on:** November 18, 2005, 03:30:38 PM »

Ok, first of all I've hunted rabbits all my life. Question is: Whats the best way to dress a rabbit and get the least amount of fur on the meat? Or do you just need to get use to the taste of fur on the meat?

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #1 on:** November 18, 2005, 07:56:38 PM »

Cut a split in the fur behind his shoulder, across the back just big enough to hook your fingers in. Then, in one smooth motion, pull the hide off till it's over the hind quarters, and the shoulders. Then you can pull it the rest of the way off with out much trouble.

Be carefull to wipe your hands off if you get some fur stuck to them, as it'll end up stuck to the meat while you're pulling the hide the rest of the way off.

I love rabbit, but they definately are the stickiest animals I've ever skinned.

A couple old timers around here dip them in water before they skin'em to keep the meat from being so sticky, but I don't like doing it myself...

coyotehunter223 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 20, 2005, 01:39:54 AM »

Thanks Jerry, I've heard of and used that method. I guess I forgot to "wipe my hands off" because I still get fur on the meat.

cattleskinner · « **Reply #3 on:** November 20, 2005, 04:01:33 PM »

I do it the same way as Jerry says, and I do use the method that he mentioned about soaking them in water. My dad doesn't like to soak them, but I've found that it does help to keep the "floater" hairs from getting blown back onto the carcass, plus it does keep the "stickiness" down so to speak(makes it easier to pick the few hairs off that do manage to make it onto the meat.

~~~Amos

SQUACKS · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2005, 12:56:29 PM »

here is another way to skin cottontails:

drive (2) 16d nails into something solid that are shoulder high and about the distance between a rabbits back legs apart. leave about 1-1/4" sticking out. an old post works well if it anchored good. a tree of your own works too.

grab the bunny by both back legs with its belly facing you. right next to the feet you will find the acchilles tendon. just push the nails through and between the leg bone and the tendon on both legs.

the rabbit is now hanging head down with its belly facing you. no cuts have been made.

reach around and at the back and top of the legs(at the ankles) pinch the skin between your thumb and finger. pull until it tears. the skin is thin and tender and will seperate easily.

work the skin loose around each leg and down towards the back. once you get the skin to the back you should be able to pull the entire skin down to the head and legs. watch the belly area as it is very tender and you can bust the gut open.

no cuts have been made yet. pull front legs out of the hide aand pull the skin down to uncover a bit of the neck.

you can now sever the head and hide free. there will be a small bit of fur left at the tail. cut the tail bone and usually the skin comes off with it.

you can now cut off the front feet and gut the rabbit. i then pull one back foot off the nail and cut that foot off. then grab the rabbit around the middle and remove it from the one remaining foot.

the nails are permanant and i usually have them at the differant places i skin rabbits.

luck!

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #5 on:** November 29, 2005, 02:46:58 PM »

SQUACKS is the "MAN" when it comes to skinning!

I've got him on video shucking out a squirrel in less time than it takes me to shoot one out of a tree! LOL!

I still haven't quite got your method down Squacks, but I'm gonna be practicing it some more after deer season.

SQUACKS · « **Reply #6 on:** November 29, 2005, 03:31:20 PM »

MR. LESTER:

i thank you for the compliment. the squirrel skinning method was taught to me by my father around 45 years ago. i have lots of practice at it.

the squirrel video can be found near the bottom of this page under the title "squirrel skinning 101".

in that post i tried to explain some of the troubles some folks have with this method and how to avoid them.

i have taught quite a few young folks how to skin squirrels in this manner as they are not quite up to the strength it takes to skin from the middle of the back.

the rabbit skinning method i described works well too and keeps most of the hair off. one can hang a rabbit from a short string with loops in the end and skin them the same way as i described but the string will move around while you are working and it can be a pain. the nails are good and solid and the bunny stays put.

luck!