i have always heard not to eat rabbits during the summer because of worms. there are a few lingering around my house so i was wondering yalls opinions on eating rabbits right now. any help is appreciated

I've always stuck by the old rule of only hunting rabbits in the months that end with R. Don't know about worms, but they are covered up with fleas during the sumer

It is BS. I eat rabbits year round and never had any issues. No worms or anything. Me and 1Fowlhunter killed one 2 weeks ago and cooked it up. Tasted great.

Cook 'em good you'e fine. I, too, eat rabbit year'round. As far as the "only in months with an "R" in them," I don't believe that'd hold true this far south, anyway. The idea was that it's cold enough to kill off parasites....down here we get 90+degree days in months with R's in them.

If they are going to have worms they are going to have worms year around. I shot a rabbit in 81 the coldest winter on record. I shot it right behind the head, and I saw the ugliest fastest worm come crawling out it the entrance hole.

I've heard the same thing about hogs, I shoot and eat hogs all year long, just have to ice them down soon.

Fleas and ticks would be a bigger concern to me. They taste pretty good feeding on greens.

the worms they speak of are called warvels. they actually bed in the top layer of the skin. all you have to do is cut around it. also, ALWAYS check the liver of rabbits for spots or blotches or anything else that doest look normal. they can carry rocky mountain spotted fever.

finaly someone with some sense.
A worm or parasite doesent pack up and leave its host when weather gets cold, what do you think they are snow birds and vacation down in mexico during colder months.
An animal with worms will have them year round, only a vet and medicine will make them go away.
The months with R in them are for oysters. because of some bacteria thats present in warmer weather, but cooking them kills it, as with any meat, cook it and it kills all parasites.

i have heard of the rule only eat em with months with a r but if ya clean em really good we never had any problems just check em out good

can we sticky this thread as it has come up for at least two years in a row at this time....

I grew up hearing not to eat them unless the month ended in R, but I've eaten them year round and never had a problem or seen one with worms. As already mentioned I have seen some in the summer months that were covered in fleas.

I have never hunted them but in the winter but I think it would be ok. I have killed one in early winter that the meat was a ugly grey green, need less to say it was the coyotes dinner not mine. I just look at the meat and use common sense (yes a few people still have a little).

ill just reinforce what others have mentioned. check liver for spots. worms are just in the skin, or just under. skin wabbit, clean wabbit, cook wabbit.

I have always heard growing up never eat a rabbit till the first hard freeze.... But i dunno thats just what i go by...