Gerber Small Game Shears GET A BIG THUMBS DOWN!!

[Joeyman]

No need to cut through any bone just seperate the feet at the joints.

thats a new one for me warddog

[S.R.Patch]

The first thing i do is twist off the head and cut the front feet off at the joint.
Hang the rabbit on the skinning post by pushing the tendons on the hind legs by the ankles over the two headless nails and skin the rabbit down right over his shoulders, you can work it off, all in one piece of hide this way. Cut through the breast bone and clean out the innards, cut off the hind feet at the ankle joint, wash and soak in salt water over night...

[huntall50]

There are better shears out there...I have Amway shears, they have a semi-circle at the rear of one blade that I use for cutting off feet. Stays sharp, comes apart for washing.


/img]

[B&D Kennels]

Joeyman,
We use heavy duty Game Shears by Outdoor Edge. They are built strong and are holding a good edge after being used on about 10 rabbits. The shears come with a nylon sheath and are offered for sale by Cabelas. So far, a worthy $20. investment.

Bob

B&D Kennels
"Where controlled speed is appreciated"

[huntall50]

Oh and Joey, you clean more rabbit in a month than most of clean all season so don't expect to much from your shears. lol

[B&D Kennels]

Huntall50, I recommend and use heavy duty Game Shears not Hedge Shears - LOL but admit, we run more than we shoot. The shears appear to be well made and holding a sharp edge.

Bob

B&D Kennels
"Where controlled speed is appreciated"

[warddog]

I do it the same way as Patch described but we have normally already twisted off the heads and squeezed out the innards in the filed. I also push the back legs onto nails with heads on them on the skinning post. I like a head on the nails to keep the carcass from slipping off the nails when pulling the hide or removing the feet. Once the carcass is hung on the skinning post which is at shoulder height it doesn't come off until the last hind foot is removed and it goes directly into the pan of salt water. The knife is stuck into the skinning post between carcasses so it is always at the height that I am at while cleaning the carcasses.

[Swampman]

I have a cleaning board with two spikes above the sink in the basement. Snap the back legs, between the bone and tendon, onto the spikes.
pull the hide down over the head, cut the front shoulders off, back straps, and finally the hind quarters.
I use a knife to cut the tendons at the joints then just pop the joints to remove the feet, no sharp bones this way.
When you're done, you just have a carcass and hide left and drop it in a bucket.
Never need to mess with the head or guts, they all stay intact on the carcass.
This takes about 1 minute/rabbit.
Rinse the meat with cold water, then place in a bowl of salt water overnight.
Rinse in cold water the next day and freeze in a ziplock bag filled with water, make sure there isn't any air left in the bag. The meat ends up freezing into a little block of ice and will not freezer burn or dry out.
This saves a lot of room in the freezer too.

Swamp

[Terry Long]

Joeyman,
We use heavy duty Game Shears by Outdoor Edge. They are built strong and are holding a good edge after being used on about 10 rabbits. The shears come with a nylon sheath and are offered for sale by Cabelas. So far, a worthy $20. investment.

Bob

B&D Kennels
"Where controlled speed is appreciated"

Joeyman I have the same shears that he is talking about and they are great if you buy a pair you will never go back to Gerber here is a link Cableas also carry them

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... 0123456789

[hogbody]

I got a pair of cabela's game shears. $19.95. If you watch their sales flyers, you can get them for $9.95 sometimes. Buy a couple at that price!

[rinkydink]

Why do you soak rabbits in salt water????

I open up all blood clots,etc with my fillet knife and rinse them under running water. Cool out in water in the frig for a couple of hours, bag in zip lock bags which are then filled with water and frozen.

The key to good flavor is "field dressing" the rabbits. I pull off the head, us my folding fillet knife to open the rib cage, fling out the innards. I never put rabbits in a pouch, which I consider especially critical on days over 32 degrees. I carry them on a stick that I thread through the hind legs between the bone and the tendon.

It takes me more time at the sink to properly ensure a thorough cleaning than all the other steps combined.

Tom aka rinkydink

[hogbody]

soaking in salt water helps draw the blood out of the meat

[Keystone Kid]

only took 20rabbits and they are now dull. THey did great on the first 5. Doubt I could get alot of use out of them with as many as we clean. Think I'd need 20 small game shears for the entire season.

What do you all use for cutting thru the bones? I do not like snapping them with my hands. IT can pierce your skin.

I have two pair and I have had them for 15 or so years. I also have other brands of game shears. A lot of knife sharpeners also have a shears sharpener on them. I just sharpen them when needed. It only takes a few minutes. Then they're good for another 20 squirrel, rabbits or chickens. I think I can clean more than 20 rabbits on one sharpening though.

[Bunnyblaster]

soaking in salt water helps draw the blood out of the meat

I was always told the same thing............and that most people do this because you don't "hang" a rabbit like you do a deer. Right or wrong???????

[rinkydink]

the way I clean them, I never have blood in the tissue or any where else. And I do not soak them in salt water.

Tom aka rinkydink