Looking to chase some jack rabbits over in el centro with my new bow. Ive heard a mix review on this, but are jack rabbit ok to eat?
Jacks
- Thread starter Sdhunt17
- Start date
Snake Charmer
Happiness is a warm gut pile
I'm one of the few on here (or anywhere) that loves eating jackrabbit, but I'll offer a disclaimer first... remember they're technically hares, not rabbits (i.e. cottontails) so their meat is dark red, very gamey, and much tougher than the latter. That said, you can't just fry or grill them like cottontails and expect to have good eating... you'll need to braise them low and slow. Check out Hank Shaw's website; he has lots of good recipes for "hare." A good starter recipe is a classic Italian ragu I make that goes great over pasta, but they're also great in chili, stew, curry, or any other well spiced slow cooked dishes. The ragu is easy... 1 whole jack, 1 big can (28 oz) of crushed tomatoes, 1 can tomato paste, onion/garlic/carrot/herbs, and red wine. Brown the meat first, then add your tomato paste and red wine, then the rest to cover... cook down for at least 2, maybe 3 hours, then shred the meat off the bones and add back to the pot. My wife and kids love it, and that says something since they were wary at first to eat such an ugly animal like the mighty jack.
Yes, Jack is good. I use a salt and vinegar brine to tenderize and cut the gaminess for a couple hours, then make up your favorite marinade for over night. I sear then use some of the marinade for braising low and slow (45 min.) Tastes like rabbit not chicken, but not tough or gamy. My French buddy liked it better than cotton, more flavor.
I enjoy eating Jackrabbits. I’ll cook them in a stew or wrap the meat in bacon and bake it after marinating it in teriyaki. There’s one from last year.
yum, ill have to try that. so far ive only have ran into cotton tails. but im heading out this weekend so maybe ill cross paths with one.
Welcome Jred
It's usually best to start a new post.
But this question is asked a lot.
Mainly some rabbits are infected
with tularemia (rabbit fever)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tularemia
Use precautions when cleaning.
Some debone the rabbit.
Make sure it looks healthy.
If it's infected don't touch it.
I have only seen two infected rabbits.
If you gut it look at the liver.
It must be healthy.
Even healthy rabbits
Just like pork cook it well.
No need to skin right away.. they usually sit in the back of my game vest until I'm done hunting. I'll have some fleas and ticks left in my bag but no big deal. Tularemia is a real threat but is very rare. For that reason they recommend using gloves to handle rabbits but I never do. Botfly larvae sometimes show up under the skin and are nasty finds, but are completely harmless. I've shot a ton of cottontails and jacks and only once I tossed it because of an odd colored liver. They're healthier animals than the interwebs make it seem.
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depending on the weather i usually gut it and let it cool in my pouch, the first thing i look as is for bot and then i inpect the liver. i use gloves and disinfect after im done. if its hotter, ill called a collapsible lunch pouch with some freezer bags inside. i quarter in sir-and wrap the meat and but it in the ice bags.
Yes forgot to add. I carry a small trash bag. I keep the rabbits in it and in my bird vest to contain the fleas before I skin them
The fleas carry many infectious diseases. May want to keep the rabbit pelts.
Fresh rabbit stew is awesome.
The fleas carry many infectious diseases. May want to keep the rabbit pelts.
Fresh rabbit stew is awesome.
haha yea i learned that the hard way, i sometimes keep the belt for fly tying and the first time around i had fleas everywhere haha
Me too Lol.
I keep a heavy duty trash bag
In my back pack for any occasion.
I think I used it at hollenbeck wildlife area. Those rabbits were
Loaded with fleas.
I keep a heavy duty trash bag
In my back pack for any occasion.
I think I used it at hollenbeck wildlife area. Those rabbits were
Loaded with fleas.
im usually higher in julian and laguna, havent seen many fleas up there maybe its an elevation thing.
Thank you all so much for your answers. I was watching a Meateater episode last night, they were hunting grouse I think and Steve shoots a jack, after a few minutes the other hunter tells him that he's got fleas all over the back of his vest.