Rabbits - Gutted in the field or not?

[FrenchieBoy]

I am registered on the "Giving Up The Game" page on Facebook so that I can source Venison and other game (When in season) now that I no longer shoot.
There is a debate going on there at the moment about gutting rabbits in the field as opposed to freezing them down in the fur with the guts still in.
I learned what skills I have from an "Old Country Boy" who was in his 60's when I was a young teenager back in the 1960's. He taught me that rabbits should always be gutted and hocked as soon as possible after dispatching them to help the meat cool down (And to save carrying the extra weight as well as to make carrying a bunch of rabbits easier) They would then when we got home be "stretched" and hung ready to be skinned the following day. This was the case regardless of if they were shot, ferreted or caught with a lurcher or hawk.
However some on Facebook say that they will freeze rabbits down in the fur and with the guts still in - Something I disagree with but everyone to their own.
What are your thoughts on the matter please, do you believe that rabbits should they be gutted in the field and then skinned or are you happy to freeze them down in the fur with the guts still in them if for human consumption?

 

[MAH]

I

What are your thoughts

I gut in the field, and skin at home. Be it rabbit or deer.

PS, if you edit you post and ADD Voting buttons, you'll get a quick summary of people's opinions.
M

 

[Andyquadra]

Local game dealer wants guts in, they are frozen and minced complete ready for dog food

 

[filzee]

I would always gut them in the field. I find it odd to get after they’ve defrosted

 

[FrenchieBoy]

Local game dealer wants guts in, they are frozen and minced complete ready for dog food

Yes I would agree with you on that but I was more concerned if they were to be used for human consumption!

 

[User00035]

Paunched in the field the moment I pick them up. Always. If we need minced rancid rabbit guts to produce dog food, it probably means we have too many dogs.

 

[FrenchieBoy]

I

I gut in the field, and skin at home. Be it rabbit or deer.

PS, if you edit you post and ADD Voting buttons, you'll get a quick summary of people's opinions.
M

Well thought out. I have done that now so please cast your vote and many thanks for pointing that out to me!

 

[The Singing Stalker]

My game dealer wants them with the guts in as the skin goes sticky otherwise and possibly risk of cross contamination.
If I keep them for myself then gut in the field. Less to get rid of at home.

 

[arron]

I always gut in the field , it keeps the meat better and reduces weight , ps frenchie if your want some venison , I have 3 roe bucks in my chiller , your welcome to one FOC

 

[long_range_rob]

Always in the field unless it’s requested otherwise for specific reasons such as scouts

 

[VSS]

I always skin them before gutting, because it's much, much cleaner and easier. So I do it back at base, not in the field.
But I certainly wouldn't freeze them down with their guts in for later processing, except if for dog food only (in which case I would be feeding them whole anyway).

 

[FrenchieBoy]

I always gut in the field , it keeps the meat better and reduces weight , ps frenchie if your want some venison , I have 3 roe bucks in my chiller , your welcome to one FOC

You have a PM inbound Arron with my thanks!

 

[RescueMe0007]

As with so many others I've always paunched and hocked the rabbits as soon as they're taken. Then I hang them up in the nearest tree (above the reach of any fox or cat) to promote cooling and retrieve them on the way home. I never occurred to me to freeze them in their skin, I only freeze them when fully dressed out and broken down into portions for eating. I do not sell any. I don't believe there's any market for them here.

 

[User00035]

My rabbits are for human consumption so apart from anything else, I gut in the field to make sure I'm not carting home an unusable carcass that's got disease or is full of parasites.
In fact, when I had ferrets, which ate a lot of my rabbits, I gutted in the field for the same reason.

I also try to skin them as soon as possible on getting them home. Tough rabbits - old bucks etc - I find easier to skin while they're still warm.

 

[LuckyEddie]

I saw that post, made me wonder!
I gut them and hock them where I shoot them.
Hang in nearby shade to cool and collect on the way back (lazy bu**er)
Reminds me, need to get back out on them. Not seen that many last couple of years.

 

[Overlay]

i always try for head / neck shots, stop every 30 mins or so to gralloch, let em cool down in the tray on the back of the truck, in a covered container to home in the chiller, skinned butchered up on day 2 freezers

 

[Longstrider]

I always empty rabbits ASAP after they're shot and then skin them at home. If you're going to leave them hanging from a tree to collect on the way back be sure to 'Hang 'Em High'. I managed to bag a couple one time with my air rifle after a very long belly-wriggle stalk through all sorts of muck and stingers. Paunched them and hung them up to collect on my way back.
On my return I was just in time to see Charlie wandering off with the both of them while all I could do was stand there helpless holding a sub 12ft/lb air rifle.

 

[andy R204]

I always empty rabbits ASAP after they're shot and then skin them at home. If you're going to leave them hanging from a tree to collect on the way back be sure to 'Hang 'Em High'. I managed to bag a couple one time with my air rifle after a very long belly-wriggle stalk through all sorts of muck and stingers. Paunched them and hung them up to collect on my way back.
On my return I was just in time to see Charlie wandering off with the both of them while all I could do was stand there helpless holding a sub 12ft/lb air rifle.

 

[andy R204]

Paunch & hock mine in the field when ferreting straight away & hang them from a high point & collect on the way back.
Shooting in the summer..the .204 does it for me

 

[VanGogh76]

I would specify when sold and mark any packaging not for human consumption animal feed only if guts are to be left in