Are squirrels good eatin ?

They taste pretty good (I wouldn't say great), when prepared properly, but the problem with squirrels is the meat-to-butchering/skinning-work ratio is rather low, since they're not real easy to butcher, esp. as compared to other animals yielding about the same amount of meat, such as quail or doves, which are easy to rip the flesh back and expose the breast.
 
ANY small game + crock pot = best easy eating EVER!!!

1 squirrel, cleaned, skinned, decapitated
5 chopped carrots (~8" each)
2 sliced onions
1 package mushrooms sliced - any kind, morels are best (~15 +/- mushrooms, I love stewed mushrooms)
4 sticks chopped celery
1 tspn garlic salt/pepper
1 clove garlic
shot of brandy

Let stew slowly for 4-5 hours :D
 
make sure you have enough gun. In my experience a .22 isn't enough unless you shoot them in the head. I have some wild stories about wounded one's. THey go farther than you expext.
 
Ate a lot of squirrel years back. Great in stew as others have noted. Not bad broiled on a spit but takes some time to get it done. I have added them to freeze dried foods when packing and that really helps the freeze dried! Have done the same with porcupine and more!
 
make sure you have enough gun. In my experience a .22 isn't enough unless you shoot them in the head. I have some wild stories about wounded one's. THey go farther than you expext.
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In my experience a 22hp kills them DRT with a solid body hit. I've lost a few when using a shotgun and shot too small, but never with a 22. (No 5 shot works well out of shotgun.)
 
It depends on how hungry you are.

Very good answer to a very subjective question Arub. ;)

Then again, I'm much more likely to shoot a dog if I was that hungry. :D
 
usually i will clean them and then cook them, the best way i have found by simply microwaving them for 10 minutes on high with a little butter.
Just kidding. Imo the best way to eat them is in brunswick stew
 
check out a guy called mr. squaks or something like that, his method works great for skinning them, then just gut out like a fish basically. may i suggest a few things.

when skinning, first get the whole thing soaking wet then skin, it helps keep the hair off the meat which it sticks to very easily, having a bucket of water available..or a stream/lake...really helps.

2) just use the legs and back strap near the spine... i cut it out like you would a deer the backstrap on top of its back. then cut off the legs and chuck the rest. there isnt anything on the inside near the spine. the 'rib meat' (not that there is any really) is pretty nasty its very elastic like ect, so i just chuck that away.

plus when people see it cooked if its just legs and back strap its much easier to 'deal with' than seeing what looks like a rat floating in some gravey =)

easy and simple recipe. coat in flour, put in one of those oven bags they have... dump in a 1/2 cup of h20 and your fav BBQ sauce. cook on low for an hour and a 1/2. tastes really good.

the meat is kind of like a pork-ish type meat.
 
That's just the basic recipe, feel free to add whatever herbs and spices suit your taste. It can also be done at higher heat for less time or lower heat for more time, I do it a little different every time I cook up some squirrel.

If you cook the potatos for the full time, they can fall apart a little. If you like your spuds to maintain an oval shape, you can wait until the last few hours to put them in.
 
I like the legs fried up like chicken wings. Fantastic.
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That's my favorite way, too. Discard the middle part with all of the rib bones -- they just get in the way. Also good anywhere you'd use chicken parts, like in a slow cooker for gumbo, etc. Don't let anyone discourage you from using a pellet gun. With the right pellets (.22, heavy, and pointed), it will take out a squirrel as well as anything out to ~30yds.
 
make sure you have enough gun. In my experience a .22 isn't enough unless you shoot them in the head. I have some wild stories about wounded one's. THey go farther than you expext.


I would have to say a 12 gauge 3 1/2 in slug is pushing it.
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Wow, I don't know what the squirrels are eating where you are at, but if a .22 has problems knocking them down I want a wack at them. :eek:
 
make sure you have enough gun. In my experience a .22 isn't enough unless you shoot them in the head. I have some wild stories about wounded one's. THey go farther than you expext.
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Mabe ill start a thread on what caliber is best for killin squirrels but then again i dont want to stir up the 40 S&W fans.:D

seriously i like to use high velocity #6 in my 12 gauge with full choke
 
.38

Low velocity .38 wadcutters do a durn fine job on those little suckers.

I love stew, I like pan fired, but I also like them broiled stuffed with blackberries and wrapped in bacon. MMMMMMMMmmmmmmm...tasty.
 
If you use a .22 use subsonic or short hollow points. Full speed hollow points tear them up and regular bullets may not kill them before they go in a hollow.
 
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