When my family and friends take our beagles rabbit hunting, we have a noontime tradition of roasting rabbits for lunch. We normally hunt bottomlands, and are usually miles from the truck when lunchtime arrives.
So each person carries part of the lunch. One carries a 2-pound coffee can with a zip-top bag of water inside, as well as a small bag of coffee. Another carries cornbread or biscuits. Another carries small cans of beans and a big red onion. Each hunter carries a small container filled with half seasoned salt and half black pepper, plus a metal or
plastic cup.
Wherever we happen to be at lunchtime, we prepare a safe fire site and build a campfire. We cut long-forked green sticks, and thread each rabbit onto the stick so it is spread wide and flat. We make deep cuts every 2 inches over each rabbit, and give it a heavy coating of the salt and pepper mix. Next we roast the rabbits over a medium fire for about 40 minutes or until little juice is dripping from the meat. While the rabbits cook, we boil the coffee in its can.
Whether you’re old or young, nothing is better than sitting around a warm fire with good friends, good food and a much-needed rest for the dogs and ourselves.
When we finish lunch, we put all trash in the can and pack it home. The only sign we have been there is the ash pile and the logs where we sat.
Gary W. Hart
Edmond, Oklahoma
From—Real Hunting with NAHC Members