desert jacks...

[sonoransixgun]

Itchin to get out, so this afternoon I took my son for a jaunt in the desert where we live...Our desert is a little sparse on small game because of the abundant coyote population, but we still managed to bring home some meat. I took my .45 Blackhawk (overkill for sure!, but fun to shoot), and my son had his Ruger 10/22. We each got two rabbits. My second one was a cottontail. Holding a dead jack in one hand, I used the other hand for a 20 yard single-handed shot, aiming for the head. I missed a few shots too....My son didn't, though. That 10/22 is a nail driver...

https://i.imgur.com/rxGku2c.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/DcBqGcU.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Wwtu1DC.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/gVIbH5n.jpg

[Winger Ed.]

Cool.

I've learned that dinner always tastes better when you kill it yourself.

[FLINTNFIRE]

That looks like fun , those 10-22 rifles are accurate , so are blackhawks , good day congratulations.

[Texas by God]

Looks like a good time, thanks for sharing.

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[Uncle Grinch]

Nice thread. Good pictures to go with it.

[smithnframe]

How does a Jack rabbits compare in taste to a cottontail?

[MrWolf]

Great thread and memories. Congrats

[sonoransixgun]

Thanks guys....smithnframe...I can't answer that too well. We always cut them into small pieces and put them all in the crockpot, so I can't tell which is which. I would say probably the jacks are a bit tougher, but they all make incredible stew and end up tender after being in the crock....

[1616s16]

great looing hunt. where's that kids shoes at?

[sonoransixgun]

1616s16...these darn kids of mine don't believe in shoes....

[Thumbcocker]

Were there fleas on the Jacks? I have read that is an issue.

[sonoransixgun]

Thumbcocker, my son cleaned them all. I just asked him, and he said he didn't see one. That may change as the summer progress, I don't know. I've also heard internal parasites can be an issue in the warmer seasons.

[marlin39a]

Not many jacks seen in Paulden, Az. Area lately, but plenty of coyotes. I shoot the jacks for fun, and leave for the vultures.

[sonoransixgun]

I live near Tucson. There are plenty of bunnies near the residential areas. We have jacks and cottontails hanging out in our yard (protected by me of course...I like critters in the yard), but out in the desert...mighty scarce. I've gone many times and come home without even a shot at one. Maybe it was the full moon this time, I don't know. But the coyotes, yes, I hate those buggers. I've always felt there were too many and that they kept the desert clean of the desirable crits. I've shot one from our house that was getting our chickens, but maybe I should get a caller and take up yote hunting...

[unclemikeinct]

Yes, Target the Coyotes. Use a piece of bacon in w the rabbit parts when you crock pot them.. that & if you like, small can of small diced tomatoes tender things up pretty well slow cooked .. Good pics & story bro. uncle mike

[sonoransixgun]

Thanks for the cooking tips, u. mike...the bacon is something we haven't tried, but it sounds good....they always end up tender in the crock (just asked my wife and she said she always puts in tomatoes of some sort)....

[brewer12345]

How does a Jack rabbits compare in taste to a cottontail?

Cottontails are white meat, jacks are red meat. Cook them differently and you will be happy. For example, I can do a jack cut into cubes with a beef stew recipe (subbing jack for beef) and it comes out great. Cottontails work better with more delicate dishes, like rabbit stewed with hard cider and apples (lapin au cidre). I also run some of the jacks through a meat grinder and make stuff like sloppy jack, jack chili, jack bolognese, etc.

[quilbilly]

Young of the year are pretty good but beyond that, they are pretty stringy. They can be carrier of tularemia and other diseases so it is best to wear gloves and/or keep you hands clean. I never worried about the diseases much except in the population explosion years because those diseases come with crowding. If a jack is acting strangely such as unafraid, stumbling around, uncoordinated, etc. put him out of his misery and clear the area to avoid the disease - period. BTW - cottontails get the same diseases so beware when there are too many of them as well.

[Gray Fox]

Many years ago when I went to HS up in Snowflake, AZ a buddy's mother par boiled jacks then pressure cooked them and then slow cooked the boned meat with fresh green chillies for some fantastic green chilli burros. Served with fresh cooked pinto beans and ham it was great fare for hungry teens in from the high desert. We sure did wear boots, though. GF

[sonoransixgun]

Thanks for the additional cooking tips. Will definitely keep them in mind. Wife got a insta-pot recently, basically a pressure cooker, so that will come into play no doubt. We do keep a good supply of green chiles...Gray Fox, these kids even hike rigorous rocky mountain trails barefoot. Guess I grew up that way and passed it through the genes...

[brewer12345]

Jack makes fantastic red chile posole. Drool, might have to nixtamalize some blue corn and make some of that this week.