Animal prepping for the table. Warning: Graphic images

[the-gnole]

Great post and thread gnole! Just wanted to add a bit if I may...

If you buy your rabbits (proper local butchers or a gamedealer) they will already be paunched. However if you 'source' the rabbit yourself it will need doing. As soon as possible after death run your finger down the middle of the belly from the breastbone to the pelvis pushing in firmly. Aim the bottom away as this is done to push out as much urine as possible and usually a few droppings too. Avoid getting it on you or the meat as it smells and tastes very strong!

Next carefully cut into the belly and make a slit from breastbone to pelvis. Either scoop out the guts using a finger or grasp the front legs and swing down sharply. This will eject most of it but have a check. You're aimng to remove everything below the diaphragm as if left in it will soon taint the meat.

The bits above the diaphragm are all edible and contain lots of goodness. Might not be to your tastes now (its not to mine!) But when tshtf you'll want every last bit you can get!

That's part of the Field dressing I normally do Tom, I don't normally take a whole rabbit home anymore, everything gets done on scene and left for the carrion eaters and Birds of Prey that might want it, I'll probably cover that later. When I can get a photographer out with me.

In his words 'If you follow the rules to the letter then you will never succeed.' An example of this is that yesterday if you were not quiet enough then he would jump out of the bushes to tell you off.

Sounds like a sensible attitude to have, up to a point, as long as he gets you "out there" and doing "Stuff" for real then it is to the good, rules are there to be bent out of shape, but breaking them just gets someone in the mire.

[TomW]

I'm sure pics would make it far clearer! I'd offer to help out but I have no rabbit supply currently unless I get a lucky roadkill

[diamond lil]

CC rabbit is quick and easy, just haul all the innards out cleanly and shove it in the slow cooker with a load of veg. You can braise lamb heart but its very tough and needs a long slow cook. Rabbit tastes nice with bacon added in... also nice in a pie. Hare is a bloody nightmare lol

[pseudonym]

Snip> rabbit is quick and easy, just haul all the innards out cleanly and shove it in the slow cooker with a load of veg..... Rabbit tastes nice with bacon added in... also nice in a pie.

Yep, that's how someone did it for a group of us last month in the woods, ours had rabbit, venison, bacon and a load of veg. lovely:

[jean405]

Thanks for a really good post Gnole. Our fish shop usually has rabbits and hares hanging outside at this time of year, I'll see what he has and then see what I can (or can't) do.
Jean

[Carrot Cruncher]

Thanks for the info

This is the Day Course I was considering, £120 from here, http://www.empirefarm.co.uk/wild-meat/ . They run quite a lot of different ones including a "Curing & Smoking" one for the same price which I fancy doing as well

Any thoughts, good or bad ?

Wild Meat Day
Course Tutor

Marc Frederic

What you will learn

Wild meats are becoming increasingly popular, but lack of familiarity often puts people off from buying these tasty meats. Your tutor demonstrates the skinning of a deer carcass, and teaches you how to skin and joint a rabbit, and pluck game birds. This is a hands-on day as you will be skinning and plucking yourself! There’s a lot to fit into this day. As well as preparing the meats, you will be shown how to create attractive roasting joints, make venison sausages, potted meats (rillettes), and try your hand at making a game pie. Marc has done some game keeping himself, so can answer all your questions about where to buy game and what to look for. At the end of the day, everybody takes away a selection of the foods made during the day.

The range of game animals covered on this day varies through the year, as different animals come into season. Summer days usually include venison, rabbit, pigeon, and if available, squirrel and hare, while winter days usually include venison, rabbit, pheasant, and partridge.


Administration

The numbers on these days are limited to 12 people so that everybody can see what is going on and ask questions.

Most of the day takes place in the butchery which is not heated so warm clothing and thick socks are needed! We provide protective clothing.

The price includes all tuition, course notes, light lunch and refreshments during the day

[diamond lil]

It's a lot of money CC but if you've got it then why not? Make it a xmas treat for yourself. The good thing is that it's all there in one place on one day. But for that one day and one price, you will have the knowledge in your head forever, so I think that's ok.
I can't be assed plucking birds - its a nightmare, I get my son to skin them instead.

[the-gnole]

Sounds like a good course CC, do you get to take home any of the meat would be a question I would ask of the organisers, £120 is not bad for a two students to one instructor day with no take-aways, but £1440 for an instructors days pay and twelve students with no take-away is quite a lot IMO.

I am naturally a bit of a cynic when it comes to some of these courses and the fee's they charge

I'll take a look at the link though, might be some useful info

[luxor]

I've never prepared a rabbit (or much at all to be honest) but there is a course on preparing various wild animals run by a company not to far from me which I will attend when funds allow.

might i suggest a weekend of demo camping,
then those who know can teach the others.

[luxor]

So who wants to see how it is done, Dead birds and rabbits skinning, plcking etc.

cracking post the-gnole we need more like this

Sounds like a good course CC, do you get to take home any of the meat would be a question I would ask of the organisers, £120 is not bad for a two students to one instructor day with no take-aways, but £1440 for an instructors days pay and twelve students with no take-away is quite a lot IMO.

if its the only way you can get the skills then its money well spent,
i would rather have less money in the bank come eotwawki and the skills to help feed myself.