Question about Hunting Rabbits in the Spring & Summer

Hey Guys

I was told (as a kid) that wild rabbits were not good to eat - when killed in the warm weather times of the year - I was told they have worms (they call them wolves??) is this true?

Our deer lease is covered with rabbits and I would like to harvest a few for the fryer...

I know this doesn't make sense - no matter how cold it is outside the rabbits are always the same temperature on the inside... LOL

Maybe I didn't understand or I'm missing something....???

Thanks Guys

Chris-Chris

They were probably refering to botfly larve which can turn you off of eating rabbit. After a freeze the number of botflys and infected rabbits is reduced. Here's some info http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/wildlife/wildlife_species_guide/rabbit.asp

Wear gloves when you clean them. Then cook all the way through and you'll be fine. They just taste better in winter because they have a little fat. But right now the momas have milk sacs. It's pretty gross stuff to have on your hands. I learned not to long ago. Make sure to cut that off or you'll regret it.

I was always told they ingest the worms/bacteria from eating. Once the first frost hits, its kills the bacteria so it in turn cannot be ingested. Might be just an old myth

I posted this link in an earlier thread about rabbit hunting: http://www.unluckyhunter.com/2011/07/myth-or-fact-are-summer-rabbits-safe-to.html

I still haven't been up to Granger to get some bunnies. Was supposed to go Saturday but got stuck at home waiting for AC/plumbing repairman.

I think it's one of those guidelines that has been passed down overtime more than anything. As a kid I used to shoot and eat A Lot of rabbits. My grandad used to advise me not to shoot them in te spring or summer on account of larvae old timer refer to as "wolves". However in my actual year round kills, i had more with the larvae that I killed in cold months than hot months. As far as freezing killing parasites is concerned, you could take infected meat and freeze it for 24 hrs at -10 and thaw it out and it still not
Be safe to eat raw. Clean a rabbit properly, cook it thoroughly, and enjoy
It completely. The only draw back I found shooting rabbits in spring summer is that they have babies more often.

Not eating rabbits in the spring and summer is a myth....brad (Helomech)proved this last summer bye letting me kill a couple of rabbits and he cooked them up. tasted mighty fine, and I'm still here typing away.

Grew up killing and eating rabbits in June, July and August. Found more with worms in the winter months in South Texas.

X2

My grandpa always told me not to eat rabbits that are killed in the months that end in "R". Or was it bisa versa? Hell i dont know. He said the reason was because he and other farmers spray their pesticide in those months. He was probably fillin me full of bologne. He was good at that and its been a while since I got to work the land.