Break the rabbit´s neck ...

[Johnyxxx]

Hello,

The text I would like to ask a good soul to help me with is as follows:

"And then, abruptly, from the boar-hound over in the far corner, there came a terrible yelling howl of agony, followed instantly by a sickening, breaking noise, and an immediate silence. If you have ever, when out shooting, broken a rabbit's neck, you will know the sound — in miniature! Like lightning, the thought sprang into my brain:— ..."

The House Among The Laurels by W.H.Hodgson, 1912

I understand the text but what I can not make head or tail of is why, during a rabbit hunting trip, one should break a rabbit´s neck if one can shoot it with one´s rifle ... My grandfather used to breed rabbits so I know the way he used to kill them but he never did it by breaking the animals´ neck. I am confused! :-D

Thank you for help

 

[teechar]

I fail to see how this could be a language-related question. :-(

 

[Tarheel]

My grandfather used to breed rabbits so I know the way he used to kill them but he never did it by breaking the animal's neck. I am confused! :-D

My wife's stepfather used to go squirrel hunting. She never ate any of the squirrel meat.