Thread: How soon should I process a freshly killed rabbit?

Originally Posted by Tall kiwi

Collected the rifle this evening. In a previous post you asked what model it was? Its a Stoeger X20 in .22 cal. Last time I used the rifle the scopes were way off so will need to zero the scope. Whats a good range to zero it? I was thinking 25 yards to begin with.

Sight it in at what your average shot distance will be, say if 40m then go back and check at 25m and see how high the poi is there and account for this (hold under) when you hunting under your sighted distance. For longer distance you will hold over (great if your scope has mill dots or ref) also before you sight in make sure all the stock screws are tight (2 at the front and 1 behind the trigger) and make sure the scope mounts are tight too!

Originally Posted by kruza

Post how it goes. Good or bad, Id be keen to see how you get on.
Enjoy your hunt. Rember no hunt is wasted time, your learning more every time.

Well I managed to get one in the bag. Unfortunately wasn't a kill shot which I am a bit bummed about but thats hunting, right. Plenty of missed shots but was still a good time wandering the fields. Got to christen my new Svord and removed back straps and legs which are now sitting in the fridge ready to have for lunch tomorrow.

Ive done the same a few times.
Long as im not out for hours, or gut shot.
Ppl here will tell you how they do it and maybe why. Up to you how you process an animal.
Lot of ppl here with a lot of experiance, if you find that majority recon they do it, then there is probly a reason for it, gained from experiance.
If your not sure why ask. No stupid questions when your stepping into the world of hunting ( in fact its stupid not to be asking questions) develop good habits now on small game and when you get fal pick the knowledge here for large game.

Your right on the money there. Pcp would be the perfect gun for introducing ppl to shooting.

my guide to skin it.
cut head off, run knife around al 4 "elbows"
cut feet off
then a 2" across the lower bellow adjacent to the front end of the rear legs.
stick your hand hand in through the incision and start to separate the skin from the flesh
once you have got here you basically pull the whole skin off as an inverted sweater
start with bum end and work forward
the whole thing can be done inc gutting in under 2 minutes after a few dozen have been done for practice.

Gut them right away. I only eat the back end. Not enough meat on the front half. Skin them when you get home. keeps the meat cleaner.

you want me to post through
some pellets if you have air rifle for a while. It gets expencive quick buying differnt pellets to see what shoots best. Or if you have a pellet that shoots well let me know what it is and if I have any and dont use em Ill send you what I have. ( they just sit there )

Originally Posted by kruza

you want me to post through
some pellets if you have air rifle for a while. It gets expencive quick buying differnt pellets to see what shoots best. Or if you have a pellet that shoots well let me know what it is and if I have any and dont use em Ill send you what I have. ( they just sit there )

Nah don't worry about it. I only have it until Sunday. Thanks though

slice ACROSS the back..grasp skin on both sides of cut,,,pull in opposite directions.... cut of head and feet, cut across lower belly flick guts out then clean rest out with hand.... let it cool then put in bag to keep flies away.
should take less than a minute per bunny.... the sooner you do it the easier it is...warm the skin comes right off,once cooled its harder.
dont bother with the big fellas with nuts for table...
cubed bunny meat,seasoned and crumbed then quick fried is good tucker...hare is even better.

Weather is still cool enough so just take a cord to tie them to by the head, no prob to drag them around for an hour before gutting. With an air rifle it's not likely to shoot more than four or five at most before they are spooked up. Then head back to base and do a clean job. cut the skin across ways halfway down the back (50 - 60mm), stand on head, fingers into skin cut, pull skin off back half, catch the rabbit as the skin pops off the back feet. Turn around, stand on rabbits lower back legs and pull skin off front like taking off a jersey. Stand on front skin, two cuts on neck pull off head, through in bucket. Repeat with the rest of the rabbits, then split then from arse to neck, pull out guts starting at windpipe, hose wash, then hang in a tree overnight ( where cats cant get them) to cool and dry.

A pair of good quality sidecutters or secateurs helps cut the feet off which makes pulling the cape off after gutting a whole world easier.

Thats sweet as. You got food,you learnt plenty . its a successful days hunting. Whats the rifle like to shoot? Whats the svord like to use?

Awesome, if you you didn't miss it wouldn't be air guning lol

Look up artillery hold (if you don't already use this) and you will be surprised how this technique improves your accuracy in the field. Also relax and take your time, anytime I miss is when I've rushed the shot.

Originally Posted by Billbob

Awesome, if you you didn't miss it wouldn't be air guning lol

Look up artillery hold (if you don't already use this) and you will be surprised how this technique improves your accuracy in the field. Also relax and take your time, anytime I miss is when I've rushed the shot.

Yeah I gave the artillery hold a try which definitely helped with accuracy but still wasn't the most amazing shooting though.

Originally Posted by Tall kiwi

Yeah I gave the artillery hold a try which definitely helped with accuracy but still wasn't the most amazing shooting though.

One more thing to check, remove the stock and check the breech cross bolt it tight, if there is any movement here can throw the accuracy out