Squirrels

[ArmySon]

Does anybody know of an easy way to remove the annoying little hairs off the squirrel meat after cleaning? I've tried rinsing it under water to no avail. Basically, all these years, I've been rolling the damn hairs into one area and then plucking em off with my fingers.

Any ideas?

[BadMedicine]

This just about covers it all:) This topic was covered less than a month ago:)


http://www.silverstreaksports.com/squirrel_cleaning.htm

[CJO]

I scrape with my pocket knife while holding the squirrel under running water....Works OK for me...Even if it dosen't work its not something I worry too much about anyway...If you can eat chicken, then you can eat anything....

[Coolray]

My family orignates in the south,I grew up in Montana. I never thought of eating a rodent,Why do people eat rats when there is other edible game around?

[ArmySon]

:rolleyes:

[BadMedicine]

Well first of all, alot of people like "rats" as you call them, second of all, I guess you have never tried them or you would know. I like to hunt them, and I don't like shooting little cute things unless I plan to eat or skin them, (this generally depends on my mood, prarie dogs are fair game, and sometimes I do "feed the yotes".)
Somepeople like to shoot them to brush up on their "off-season" skills, and some just like Plinking while enjoying time with their kids. Alot of the year (about 11 months) there is other big game around, but you can't shoot it. Your family is from the south and you never thought of eating squirrel? Where we lived it was a staple food:D

[CJO]

Kind of snotty attitude Coolray...Maybe you should try it before knocking it....

[Coolray]

Please, I Understand about Squirrel hunting, You are correct I have never tried eating/shooting Squirrels. Not many in Southeastern Montana. I equate that to the prarie dogs I grew up shooting, I never thought of eating them. I ment no Ill will Just poking fun.

[CJO]

OK, no prob Coolray...I sure wish we could see each other when we communicated, it would convey intent a lot better..
By the way headshooting squirrels with a .22 is quite a challenge and whole lot of fun...Really sharpens your scoping skills.....

[PaladinX13]

Well, doesn't seem much like a trick, but just keep the whole process under running water- prevention is the key... it keeps the membrane from drying out and allowing the hairs to stick.

[beertrucker]

Getting rid of squirrel hair ain't no problem. Just flik your bic and singe em off. Someday I'm gonna make a video on squirrel cleaning. Until then there is my long winded version of the correct way to skin a rat at shooters on the smallgame bd. Been saving a couple pints worth of squirrel legs for when we can up venison. Today is the day and glad someone reminded me so I will take em out of the freezer. Should end up with about 50 pints and 30 qts af canned venison. Yes of course I cut the backstraps and best steaks from the hind quarters before canning the rest. Even the shank meat is tender and tasty after canning. beertrucker-x

[shortround73]

The easiest way that i have learned to clean squirrel without gettin hair on them is to make a cut across the middle of the back and have a buddy hold one end and you pull on the other. I guess you can do it by yourself if you step on the tail. In my opinion very little hair gets on the squirrel and its quick and easy.

[swampgator]

But the million dollar question is: Do you leave the heads on when you cook them?

I could tell you a story about my grandma, but as we say this is an open board and I don't want to offend anyone.

BTW I work with a woman who raises squirrels for pets. Needless to say this topic always comes up.
"I just don't see how you can hate squirrels."

"I don't hate squirrels, they TASTE wonderful!"

Gator

[BadMedicine]

swamp gator, was your grandma native? The natives would boil down the heads of squirrels, rabbit, and birds into a broth. Since the head contained the brain, it was very nutritious. On larger animals they just scooped out the brain and cooked it.

and no, I never eat the heads, if I was ever that hungry I'd.....stay hungry, atleast until I found something else worth eating.

[shortround73]

The first time i ate squirrel and dumplins at my friend's grandmother's house she dug me out a spoonful and low and behold there was the skull. I was shocked.

[ArmySon]

lol I could just picture the looks on your face when seeing those cute little skulls lol!!!

I smoke my ducks with the heads on. One time, I served a duck and rabbit that way to some non-hunting, PC friends. The looks on their faces when they saw the heads was worth a million bucks! :D

[swampgator]

Sounds kind of pornographic doesn't it?

Anyway she wasn't native but she'd boil them heads and all.
I remember her taking the head and cracking the skull with her teeth and she would suck the brains and eyes out!

YUCK! And I've eaten some lousy grub!

My Mother-in-Law's mother loves to tell how my mother-in-law used to fight with her brother to see who got to suck the brains out! (My ma in law gets a little embarrassed about that one)

Gator

[beertrucker]

I'm sure that I could handle these 'specialy' prepared dishes, just can't deal with the hangover from all the pre dinner cocktails that it would REQUIRE. Course I'd have ta start using a diffrent aiming point. No wonder grandpa insisted in head-shots-only. beertrucker-x

[dongun]

When I was a boy, there was an old man that deer hunted with us. He fried the heads, then cracked them open with his pocket knife, sort of like cracking a walnut. I tried a taste of brains once, but wasn't impressed.

As a young man, there was an older couple that were neighbors with my hunting partner. Once or twice a season we would clean a mess (leaving the heads on) and take to them. They argued over who would get the heads.

Now in the prime of middle aged, I only take one shell with me when I go squirrel hunting. After the first one, I just throw heads at the rest.

[PaladinX13]

You're not supposed to eat squirrel brains... there's a strain of "Mad Cow" like disease running its rounds through the squirrel population right now.