I recently moved to the panhandle of Oklahoma and have started doing some pheasent hunting. While hunting I have seen numerous jackrabbits and was wondering how they compare in taste to cottontails. I would like to try eating some, because they are so plentiful and we are allowed 10 daily. Also any good recipes would be greatly appreciated.
Eating Jackrabbits
- Thread starter OUTLAW00
- Start date
Welcome neighbor!
It just isn't real often that somebody asks about eating those things.
OK, so I don't guess I've ever heard anyone ask about eating em. But, since you asked, my first piece of advice would be to call your local County Extention Agent. Rabbits have bugs, critters, and worms- that's the word on the street these days anyway. Anyhow, call the County Agent and get the scoop from a guys who's s'posed to keep up on the latest in critterology. A game warden wouldn't hurt either.
Now, I've always heard they are tough and stringy. So, providing they are safe to eat I would start with a marinade and a grill, or a stew. Barring all that- do what the locals do... start with lots of beer... maybe try to slip one in on a goat roast.
It just isn't real often that somebody asks about eating those things.
OK, so I don't guess I've ever heard anyone ask about eating em. But, since you asked, my first piece of advice would be to call your local County Extention Agent. Rabbits have bugs, critters, and worms- that's the word on the street these days anyway. Anyhow, call the County Agent and get the scoop from a guys who's s'posed to keep up on the latest in critterology. A game warden wouldn't hurt either.
Now, I've always heard they are tough and stringy. So, providing they are safe to eat I would start with a marinade and a grill, or a stew. Barring all that- do what the locals do... start with lots of beer... maybe try to slip one in on a goat roast.
Countertop
New member
just kill em and leave em for the vultures.
Guymon, heh. I get out that way some. What brought you out there?
Guymon, heh. I get out that way some. What brought you out there?
troy_mclure
New member
theres another thread on here about it. about 2 pages i think.
its a tough stringy meat. but if it isn't infested with parasites, crock pots work great. as do pressure cookers.
there was a chili recipe too in that thread.
its a tough stringy meat. but if it isn't infested with parasites, crock pots work great. as do pressure cookers.
there was a chili recipe too in that thread.
fast-eddie
New member
I've heard that you only want to eat them at a certain time of the year. I think it's during the winter, during the hotter months they carry bot fly and larvae. The Blacktail variety are known to carry a infectous bloodborn illness
, so if you eat them cook them well.:barf: Don't get their bloood in any open cuts on your person and folllow medical. asepsis
, so if you eat them cook them well.:barf: Don't get their bloood in any open cuts on your person and folllow medical. asepsisHAMMER1DOWN
New member
I agree with everyone else here they are pretty tough stringy and just not that good also don't try makin jerky outta them it also don't turn out very good so if you feel a need to use em'......Cut em' from stem to stern and pile em' up and use as bait fer the yotes, thats the best use I have found fer em'
I've eaten plenty of them, and they're not bad. (at least around here) Try not to pick the biggest ones, as they will be the oldest and toughest ones.
I usually just take the hind legs, and cut the meat off of the bones. Season it up with your favorite seasoning or garlic salt. black pepper, and brown it a bit in a skillet. Then toss in a couple of cans of cream of mushroom soup with enough water to keep it soupy and cover it with a lid and stick it in the oven on 300 for a few hours. Check your moisture from time to time, and add some if necessary.
When done, the meat will be tender, and the contents of your skillet will go nicely over rice or taters.
The fear about blood borne disease and parasites is no different than any other wild game including deer, and when fully cooked, ceases to be a concern.
I've often thought that this recipe would probably work for skunk and badger, but haven't yet tried it.
jd
I usually just take the hind legs, and cut the meat off of the bones. Season it up with your favorite seasoning or garlic salt. black pepper, and brown it a bit in a skillet. Then toss in a couple of cans of cream of mushroom soup with enough water to keep it soupy and cover it with a lid and stick it in the oven on 300 for a few hours. Check your moisture from time to time, and add some if necessary.
When done, the meat will be tender, and the contents of your skillet will go nicely over rice or taters.
The fear about blood borne disease and parasites is no different than any other wild game including deer, and when fully cooked, ceases to be a concern.
I've often thought that this recipe would probably work for skunk and badger, but haven't yet tried it.
jdIt's not unusual to find tape worms in a Cottontail if the guts are damaged to the point you can see them. Wash them really good and your hands afterwards. Eat them just the same.
BTW, if you let your dog eat the remains, might as well be ready for a vet bill because he will have them shortly.
BTW, if you let your dog eat the remains, might as well be ready for a vet bill because he will have them shortly.
If you want to hunt jacks to eat, look for the young of the year around March or April. They will be smaller, but otherwise look just like the adults. A 22LR to the head will make sure you don't spoil any of the meat. After May, they get progressively tougher and get exposed to flies.
My job got me transferred up here and I figured now wasn't the best time to turn it down. That's pretty much what I've been hearing is to leave them lay so I guess I won't bother. I've also been told to wait for a real good freeze before eating any rabbits because its suppose to kill all the worms and parasites for the winter. Thanks for the replies
sc928porsche
New member
Here is some first hand knowledge for you. Jack rabbit is good and unless you nail an old one, they are not that tough or stringy. I hunted them from the time I was 12 till about 8 years ago. I am 63 now. These were California Jack, but they shoud be about the same.
Word of caution....Do not take them in any month that dosnt have an R in it. In other words, late spring, summer, and early fall. They get boils and parasites which can make you extremely ill.
Word of caution....Do not take them in any month that dosnt have an R in it. In other words, late spring, summer, and early fall. They get boils and parasites which can make you extremely ill.
fisherman66
New member
Don't mind them nay sayers no mind. They taste great...
...provided yer really hungry. A good buddy of mine prefers armadillos to jacks. He's quite a bit braver of the gut than I.
...provided yer really hungry. A good buddy of mine prefers armadillos to jacks. He's quite a bit braver of the gut than I.
Back in the "50's", I spent a lot of enjoyable hours hunting jacks up by Liberal and Tyrone. Gettum in the spring (young jacks) skinnum, clean them, quarter them, roll the pieces in milk and flour--fry till golden brown both side--put them in different skillet, cover with cream of mushroom soup, sliced onions, a little sage, put a lid on it and let simmer for maybe an hour( keep checking that ya don,t cook it dry) Use the gravy on taters or drop biscuits--man it don't get much better than that. The thing about waiting for a freeze has nothing to do with the parasites. Its just simply that the cold kills off the weak and infected (sameway with cottentails) Oh yea--make all those shots head shots. You ever go to clean a jack thats been gut shot--well lets just say ya probably not going to envision that on a supper plate.
slick slidestop
New member
I've eaten them plenty of times in Texas, and I cant believe all of the negative posts.
Gut it, skin it, wrap a couple pieces of bacon around it, put butter, zesty Italian,Lea and Perrins worchestishire(sic?) sauce, slap ya mamma etc, and wrap him up in foil and throw it on the pit. drink a couple of beers. put some meat on tortillas and its awesome.
It got where I'd rather shot a couple big Jacks than a dozen itty bitty cotton tails
Gut it, skin it, wrap a couple pieces of bacon around it, put butter, zesty Italian,Lea and Perrins worchestishire(sic?) sauce, slap ya mamma etc, and wrap him up in foil and throw it on the pit. drink a couple of beers. put some meat on tortillas and its awesome.
It got where I'd rather shot a couple big Jacks than a dozen itty bitty cotton tails
As I recall, at least around here, the disease that everyone fears catching from jack rabbits (rabbit fever) is actually tularaemia. It is catchy from blood to blood contact, and may be more common in cottontails as they are more "den oriented" than jacks which pretty much live and die above ground.
This information comes from the incredible wealth of information that keeps my mind all mixed up, and I'd rate it at somewhere between 50 and 100 percent accurate. I'm always ready to be corrected by another "expert" who has a higher accuracy rate.
jd
This information comes from the incredible wealth of information that keeps my mind all mixed up, and I'd rate it at somewhere between 50 and 100 percent accurate. I'm always ready to be corrected by another "expert" who has a higher accuracy rate.
jd