Eating jackrabbits

[model 70]

No kidding. Has anyone ever tried one?

[Jonesy]

Yeah, I've ate jackrabbit. Wasn't really impressed, stick to cottontail. If you do eat one, put it in the crockpot with lots of onion and pepper.

[GoodOlBoy]

Jack Rabbits make good fajitas. Other than that ya pretty well have to barbque it or slow cook it in a pot.

GoodOlBoy

[Gunslingergirl]

For those who don't know, which I admit might be only me, what's the difference between a jackrabbit and a cottontail. Is it just size?

GSG

[BILLY D.]

Originally posted by Gunslingergirl
For those who don't know, which I admit might be only me, what's the difference between a jackrabbit and a cottontail. Is it just size?

GSG

GSG

Jacks are much bigger than Cottontails, their muscle structure is much different and they eat different foods.

I don't remember if I've told this before, but right after my wife and I were first married we visited her parents. They were farm folks, first generation Americans, Germans from Russia.

These people didn't have an easy life and were survivors. They added much to the American way of life, especially in the Dakotas. Good hardworking people and if you think the Scotch are frugal these people make them look like philanthropists. They can squeeze a nickel and make the Buffalo pass gas.

Anyway we got there a day early and it was suppertime and my mother-in-law was embarassed because they were having Jackrabbit for supper. I said so, I've eaten rabbit before. I thought she was going to faint. She had me pegged as a BIG city boy and was scared to death.

As GOB mentioned she cooked the rabbit in a pressure cooker with vegies and all her usual spices. She is a great cook and still bakes her own bread and shes in her 90's. Fact is she could cook an old boot and make it taste good. I guess in Russia that happened quite often.

The rabbit was absolutely scrumdiddleyumptious. You could cut it with a fork.

Crock pot or pressure cooker is the way to go though. I don't now how a Jackrabbit would be rated on the food value scale but I know they are low in fat and high in protein.

Compared to a Cottontail I'd say they are at least twice the size.

Are they edible, you betcha. Are they tasty, depends on the cook, like anything else.

Bon appetit.

Best wishes, Bill

[Gunslingergirl]

Bill,

Thanks.

I know that jackrabbits and cottontails come from different parts of the country, and I knew from pictures that jackrabbits were bigger.

I've heard a lot of people advocating eating bunnies, and not so many seemed as positive about eating jackrabbits, so I wondered what the difference was.

Now I'm a bit more educated.

GSG

[BILLY D.]

GSG

One other little snippet to add. Here in the plains area the Jacks eat much the same foods as Cottontails. Grasses etc.

However the desert Jacks have a different menu. I've never eaten a desert Jack so I can't give you a flavor comparison. I can imagine the desert and high desert Jacks taste totaly different from the plains Jacks.

Just a thought.

Bill

By the way, Cottontails and squirrel are excellent table fare. When fried properly, use bacon grease, and gravy made from the drippings, a nice side of vegetables, mashed taters and a sweet red wine and your next to heaven. Shucks, I just made myself hungry. Some of Vals killer biscuits goes good too.

[Cossack]

Growing up poor we ate everything we bagged.
Mom use to boit jacks slow with bay leaves, onion and celery. Cool the meat and strip from bone. Grind up. Season with salt pepper. etc. Add some sauteed onion, breadcrumbs and an egg. Mix together. Layer inside of bread pan with bacon. Put in ground, season jack meat and bake about an hour at 325 or so.
Made WONDERFUL sandwich "meatloaf".

[skeet]

Just couldn't be wrong. But I'll let them have my share!