Myths, lies and old wives’ tales loom large in the outdoor pursuits. Here at MeatEater, we’re dedicated to separating facts from bullsh*t, so we created this series to examine suspect yarns. If there’s a belief, rumor or long-held assumption you’d like us to fact check, drop us a note at factchecker@themeateater.com.
Claim
It’s unsafe to eat wild rabbits or hares before the first hard frost of the year. If you eat a wild rabbit sooner, the meat...

A smart hunter who values their meat supply would never intentionally avoid field dressing a big game animal for an entire day. Quickly removing the hide and guts from big game animals cools the meat quickly, which prevents spoilage and poor flavors. Many hunters, however, are not nearly as careful with their small game. They often let small game animals such as rabbits, grouse, and ducks ride around in their truck or hunting vest for an entire...