Will333 1 Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 Hi everyone I was just wondering what is best for the meat (rabbits and pheasants): How long is best? Do you gut them before you hang it? Thanks! Quote Link to post
paulus 26 Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 Hi everyone I was just wondering what is best for the meat (rabbits and pheasants): How long is best? Do you gut them before you hang it? Thanks! rabbits don't need to be hung and pheasants are out of season, if they were in season the length of time to hang them would depend on the weather and your personal taste, Rabbits do benefit from 24hrs in salt water after being paunched and skinned, pheasants are hung as they come guts and all Quote Link to post
walshie 2,804 Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 I always paunch rabbits as soon as I can. Still think they're tasteless. Quote Link to post
Will333 1 Posted June 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 What is the point of the salt water? Quote Link to post
paulus 26 Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 What is the point of the salt water? Because they originally come from a lot warmer climate than ours, they evolved to cope without an abundance of water. As such they rarely if ever drink and can survive on the moisture from their food. As a Rabbit doesn't have much 'free' fluid it rarely has to pee, so the Urea (the bit that turns your pee yellow) builds up in the blood stream. This is what can make a Rabbit taste bitter/funny after taste. By soaking the carcase in salt water, you draw out the blood from the meat and with it the Urea, dramatically lessening the 'odd' taste that puts so many off eating Rabbit. Quote Link to post
walshie 2,804 Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 What is the point of the salt water? Because they originally come from a lot warmer climate than ours, they evolved to cope without an abundance of water. As such they rarely if ever drink and can survive on the moisture from their food. As a Rabbit doesn't have much 'free' fluid it rarely has to pee, so the Urea (the bit that turns your pee yellow) builds up in the blood stream. This is what can make a Rabbit taste bitter/funny after taste. By soaking the carcase in salt water, you draw out the blood from the meat and with it the Urea, dramatically lessening the 'odd' taste that puts so many off eating Rabbit. I really didn't know that. I thought the salt water was to put a bit of taste into the meat. I thought the funny taste was if you didn't piss them as soon as you shoot them or catch them. Live and learn Quote Link to post
paulus 26 Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 What is the point of the salt water? Because they originally come from a lot warmer climate than ours, they evolved to cope without an abundance of water. As such they rarely if ever drink and can survive on the moisture from their food. As a Rabbit doesn't have much 'free' fluid it rarely has to pee, so the Urea (the bit that turns your pee yellow) builds up in the blood stream. This is what can make a Rabbit taste bitter/funny after taste. By soaking the carcase in salt water, you draw out the blood from the meat and with it the Urea, dramatically lessening the 'odd' taste that puts so many off eating Rabbit. I really didn't know that. I thought the salt water was to put a bit of taste into the meat. I thought the funny taste was if you didn't piss them as soon as you shoot them or catch them. Live and learn it was on a fortune cookie Quote Link to post
walshie 2,804 Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 What is the point of the salt water? Because they originally come from a lot warmer climate than ours, they evolved to cope without an abundance of water. As such they rarely if ever drink and can survive on the moisture from their food. As a Rabbit doesn't have much 'free' fluid it rarely has to pee, so the Urea (the bit that turns your pee yellow) builds up in the blood stream. This is what can make a Rabbit taste bitter/funny after taste. By soaking the carcase in salt water, you draw out the blood from the meat and with it the Urea, dramatically lessening the 'odd' taste that puts so many off eating Rabbit. I really didn't know that. I thought the salt water was to put a bit of taste into the meat. I thought the funny taste was if you didn't piss them as soon as you shoot them or catch them. Live and learn it was on a fortune cookie That Confucius knows his stuff. Quote Link to post
kanny 21,731 Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 rabbit can sour very quick I find even when punched n skinned cooked rabbit will spoil in hours if just left in the pan so get them eaten or frozen asap ... pheasant and hare you can hang for a week or two but only in the colder months when all the fly's have been killed of .... ive had 2 week old pheasant and it was very nice but those 2 weeks the temperature didn't get much above freezing ..... ideally a proper cold room would be great . atb kanny Quote Link to post
AR177 588 Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 (edited) With rabbits I personally don't hang mine, but my shooting buddy hangs his for up to 2 days if the weather is warm and 5 if its cold He says it increases the flavor but i just think it makes the house smell ATB Adam Edited June 13, 2013 by AR177 Quote Link to post
porkycrook 466 Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 As has already been said, rabbits I always clean them asap after shooting. Pheasants are a different matter, these can be hung for as long as you want the longer you leave them the more "gamey" they become. For me I have always hung mine for two days hot or cold, any longer and it them becomes far too strong for my liking. Quote Link to post
Giro 2,648 Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 I don't hang nothing.. Its away to the game dealers same night.. If I want a something for the pot its killed and cooked on the day.. I "once" hung a hare in the shed . I cant remember how long no more than 2/3 days it was awful The smell was sickening and the guts came out like treacle... Slung in in for the dogs and they never ate it either Quote Link to post
AR177 588 Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 I don't hang nothing.. Its away to the game dealers same night.. If I want a something for the pot its killed and cooked on the day.. I "once" hung a hare in the shed . I cant remember how long no more than 2/3 days it was awful The smell was sickening and the guts came out like treacle... Slung in in for the dogs and they never ate it either Rabbits and Hares need to be gutted before hanging mate If you leave the guts in for a cupple of hours they stink and the smell is hard to get off your clothes / hands.. bit like the smell of ferret Quote Link to post
Giro 2,648 Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 (edited) Rabbits yes & hares no Edited June 13, 2013 by Giro Quote Link to post
AR177 588 Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 why would you do rabbits and not hares? Quote Link to post
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