Hey guys,

A friend tells me that spring Rabbits have worms and that they shouldn't be hunted in the spring but rather only in the fall and winter.

Any truth to this?

Is there partial truth? If so how can you tell if you have a bad one?

I've shot several rabbits and none have had visible worms of any kind.

Thanks

Tom

I think that the issue is tularemia. I was taught not to hunt them until after the first good freeze. But then i am not sure how it would work for states where you never are unlikely to get a good hard freeze. And I am less sure how how things are supposed to work when you are transitioning from winter to spring.

With cottontails we have a season on them. Typically if we shoot them in season (winter) til end of Feb. they are fine. With jacks we shoot them with guns that will generally remove all worms, flesh/hair and large body parts.

Thanks for the info guys.

Tom

I have heard that as well. Not to long ago though I read an article that said the worms were there even in the winter. A hard freeze will kill the worms outside a body but not inside. The article said just cook the meat well done and you won't have to worry.

Anything with fleas will have worms eventuality.

The same heat that cooks the bunny also cooks the worms it may have, along with any pathogens. Bon appetit!

The worms, I mean the rabbit made an excellent stew. Yukon gold potatos, corn, sweet onions. Not too bad for worm infested lawn rat.

Tom

A rabbit has worms year round. In the summer they'll have fleas, ticks, & warbles (bot fly larva -uggghh!)as well. Actually the last few winters have been relatively warm here in VA and we've shot them w/ fleas most of the winter. After the rabbit is dead, the fleas jump off w/in a few minutes.