He lived thru the depression and was very, very poor. At times, all he and his family had to eat was a squirril or rabbit. He hunted out of an area in Texas, Anhuac. The 30's were very difficult times and he did all he knew to provide for his wife and 3 kids.
As far as his rabbits, he would never hurt them in any way. He really did love the animals. But when it came to providing food for the table, it was his nature to provide.
I remember my grandmother would can preserves, figs, wild plums, peaches. She would freeze peaches. Dehydrate apples. It was her nature not to waste anything. She gave much of it away, but neither she nor my grandfather wasted anything. I am sorry to say I am not as careful with my bounty.
I am trying to do better. I see that I waste so much food, even when I'm trying to be economical. We don't finish what's in the fridge but go shopping for more. I find stuff hidden away that I forgot I bought.
I think we are too used to having special foods and interesting meals all the time; we forget that the idea is to provide sustenence. If I had to go out and hunt it or raise it, or hope that what I had now would last til next season, I'm sure I'd be more careful.