first kill!!!!

[bunkerboy23]

im 15 and just killed my first animal with my christmas gift a gamo air rifle i killed a niced sized bunny with 2 shots now i was wandering is theres anything i can do with it and i would post pics just donmt kno how ps: i had buckfever like u wuldnt believe any help on what to do with it greatly appreciated

[IronSpirit]

Eat it! and you can't get Buck fever with a bunny...lol if shooting small game with an air gun gives you buck fever hunting isn't for you my friend :)

[RUSS0079]

If you get excited about hunting a bunny that is just fine. I will say this, If you kill it, you better eat it! If you don't, that is a waste and hunting is not for you. Be it a bunny or not. Killing is only a small part of real hunting. If you don't have one, I suggest you get a hunting mentor. Come on Iron Spirit, don't you remember what it was like to be 15?:D

[njgolfer]

Bunkerboy, congratulations. In case you have not already done so, you should take the hunter education course. There is some useful information there.

You should definitely eat the rabbit if you also properly cleaned it. As you will find out as you get older, there are many people out there that hate hunters. We have to be responsible and respect the game by only killing responsibly. For me that means only killing what I will eat.

You can also save the hide by rubbing borax on the skin side. Scrape away any meat, fat or blood and then rub in borax. There are trappers on this site that may have better advice on handling the this.

I hope your airgun leads you to other hunting - .22, shotgun, etc. It is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and have fun.

[bunkerboy23]

thanks guys so much im planning to get a 20 gauge when i get my hunting safety liscense in the spring i also would like to kno how i should cook it. i also would like to no do you guys cut of the feet and head when drying skin thanks.

[ub1243]

take off the front legs, back legs and bread and fry.

as for the pelt
hang by the back legs
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/ub1243/rat.jpg
cut the fur around the back ankles
make a cut from the ankle to the vent, both legs.
cut off the front feet with wire cutters
start pulling down the fur and carefully cut with the knife
you want very little meat and fat on the hide
take your time
work the pelt down
the front shoulders may be a little tricky, pull out the front legs
work the pelt down around the head
find the ear bases, cut through
find the eyes, cut through to the skull. if you do it right the eye lids will stay with the pelt
cut the bottom lip off
cut at the nose, right were te bone ends. you want the nose on the pelt
clean off all fat and large meat. the saddle can stay
rub with borax
put on a rat wire or board, you want fur out
let it dry
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/ub1243/shortrat.jpg
it should look like this small rat, but fur out
if you put up on wood use a belly wedge, or it will never come off.

ask more questions if you need to
also there are rat skinning videos on youtube, check them out