Squirrel Hunting
- Thread starter hehz0r
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arizona hunter
New member
cleaning
Clean it as soon as it's dead-much easier to skin that way. I always wear a medium back pack and bring water to drink and to wash the animal after skinning it.
Clean it as soon as it's dead-much easier to skin that way. I always wear a medium back pack and bring water to drink and to wash the animal after skinning it.
Death from Afar
New member
WHat does squirrel taste like ? ( Apart from chcken that is)
I once saw a video of some brits doing Squirrel fishing which involved a rod, a reel, and line baited with an acorn ( no hook though
)
I once saw a video of some brits doing Squirrel fishing which involved a rod, a reel, and line baited with an acorn ( no hook though
)Ohio Annie
New member
Yummy
Don't believe that "squirrels are rodents and therefore don't taste good" malarkey. Squirrels mostly eat nuts, where I hunt they are mostly white oak and hickory nuts. Squirrel meat is delicious and very low in fat, tastes a lot like wild hassenpfeffer.
I sear the meat in some oil, deglaze the pan and then braise the quartered squirrel in stock (water with chicken bouillion works well). When the meat is tender, reduce the stock and serve on your favorite starch food. For the snootier set if you want to impress people, serve with sourdough bread and tangerine slices and a red wine.
Don't believe that "squirrels are rodents and therefore don't taste good" malarkey. Squirrels mostly eat nuts, where I hunt they are mostly white oak and hickory nuts. Squirrel meat is delicious and very low in fat, tastes a lot like wild hassenpfeffer.
I sear the meat in some oil, deglaze the pan and then braise the quartered squirrel in stock (water with chicken bouillion works well). When the meat is tender, reduce the stock and serve on your favorite starch food. For the snootier set if you want to impress people, serve with sourdough bread and tangerine slices and a red wine.
FirstFreedom
Moderator
Really? How do you figure?
"Deer are ungulates - don't eat ungulates."
"Crow are birds - don't eat birds."
Makes about as much sense, IMO.
Thanks for all of the advice, but I when I went out there it didn't see a single squirrel. The area looks to be mostly managed for birds and there just aren't enough trees that produce mast. I was able to see the hunters before me on the sign in sheet and they didn't do too well either (1-2 squirrels at most).
UniversalFrost
New member
One trick I learned a long time ago was to call squirrels. Yes, start the laughing now...
Seriously, get a call (I have one that you held in one hand and hit the bellow of the call with the other). You have to learn how to do it just right so that it sounds like a squirrel is challenging the others to a fight. Squirrels are just like people and they will come to see a fight (or what they think is a fight). This will also attract the big squirrels who will want to kick invading squirrels tail... I also learned how to mimic the same sound by "clucking" with my mouth as well (learned it on some hunting show think buck mcneally)that way it sounds like 2 squirrels fighting each other. Russle the leaves a little to sound like commotion and the other squirrels come running. Also sit with your back against a tree and try not to move too much and have a lot of camo clothing and a face net/camo (just like turkey hunting).
This works great for me and when I do use a shot gun I go with a 20gauge or 410 with #7 or 8 shot. I would recommend a good 22LR or 22 Mag auto with iron sights or a large 40-50 mm red dot. My main squirrel gun growing up was a bolt action 22LR ; but I now have a ruger 10/22 with a 18"adams&bennet heavy barrel and a hogue stock with a 42mm BSA red dot. This setup is ultralight and the red dot allows for a huge sight picture.
For cleaning squirrels I prefer a smaller knife with a guthook on one end. I skin them and save the pelts and tails (you can sell these to Loomis and other flyfishing companies who use the hair to make flyfishing lures).
When cooking I through them in a slow cooker with potatoes, carrots, onions and a can of condensed mushroom soup. Salt and pepper to tatste and cook until the meat is tender. MMMmmm MMMMmmm good.!!
Happy hunting.
Seriously, get a call (I have one that you held in one hand and hit the bellow of the call with the other). You have to learn how to do it just right so that it sounds like a squirrel is challenging the others to a fight. Squirrels are just like people and they will come to see a fight (or what they think is a fight). This will also attract the big squirrels who will want to kick invading squirrels tail... I also learned how to mimic the same sound by "clucking" with my mouth as well (learned it on some hunting show think buck mcneally)that way it sounds like 2 squirrels fighting each other. Russle the leaves a little to sound like commotion and the other squirrels come running. Also sit with your back against a tree and try not to move too much and have a lot of camo clothing and a face net/camo (just like turkey hunting).
This works great for me and when I do use a shot gun I go with a 20gauge or 410 with #7 or 8 shot. I would recommend a good 22LR or 22 Mag auto with iron sights or a large 40-50 mm red dot. My main squirrel gun growing up was a bolt action 22LR ; but I now have a ruger 10/22 with a 18"adams&bennet heavy barrel and a hogue stock with a 42mm BSA red dot. This setup is ultralight and the red dot allows for a huge sight picture.
For cleaning squirrels I prefer a smaller knife with a guthook on one end. I skin them and save the pelts and tails (you can sell these to Loomis and other flyfishing companies who use the hair to make flyfishing lures).
When cooking I through them in a slow cooker with potatoes, carrots, onions and a can of condensed mushroom soup. Salt and pepper to tatste and cook until the meat is tender. MMMmmm MMMMmmm good.!!
Happy hunting.
I have put together a few of the 10/22's with both the 20" and 16" fluted bull barrels but they are to barrel heavy are way to heavy of a squirrel rig for me.
I've heard a few people talk about having good luck calling squirrels in but out of 27 years of hunting them I have never tried it. I think I will give it a try this year as I have been thinking about this for a while. I usually just walk horse trails and look for them but it would be a nice change to call them to me. Season opens here this week so I am getting pretty anxious for next Saturday morning. I will search the net and see what I can find about squirrel calling. Anyone have any advice on a good "how-to" video and where a good place is to purchase a caller?
I picked up a call named the Squirrel Buster last time I went to the Bass Pro. It works fairly well. They come runnin' to my backyard when I get on it. Too bad I live in a subdivision... I have yet to try it in the field though. I paid like $15 for it and it does the bark, warning chatter, and distress scream. It also comes with an instructional CD.
UniversalFrost
New member
Try out the hougue stock and one of the carbon fiber barrels. I have one on another 10/22 and it is very light weight, but a little too lite for me. My "squirrel gun" 10/22 with the setup I described in the previous post was barrel heavy, but you can fill the buttstock with a counter balance and it evens out.
And fo those in a subdivision get a good pellet gun and take onlyh headshots. Your neighbors will never know where all the squirrels went to.
One of the local gunshops near me builds some 10-22 ultimates and sells them on their shelves. One day I was in there I held one with a laminate stock and a carbon barrel but it felt like a toy it was so light.
One day I plan to build a 10-22 with the sporter barrel that has a bull diameter at the very last 4-6 inches of the barrel. I can't remember what that barrel is called but it looks pretty neat and would probably balance real well. The 10-22's are a fun gun to shoot and tinker with.
One day I plan to build a 10-22 with the sporter barrel that has a bull diameter at the very last 4-6 inches of the barrel. I can't remember what that barrel is called but it looks pretty neat and would probably balance real well. The 10-22's are a fun gun to shoot and tinker with.
You won't be disappointed with the call. One good way to use it is to use the alarm chatter. Squirrels in the vicinity will either move or answer you, or both. Another good thing to use is a Hawk scream, they also sell them at Bass Pro. Give a couple cries on that and squirrels will scatter. It's real good when you're not seeing any, a real good locater.
My squirrel call is on the truck for delivery! The brown box should be slumbering next to my front door when I arrive home after work!
I'll be in the woods scouting a potential deer hunting location. I'll bring it with me to see if I can stir up some critters. Season doesn't open 'til Sept 16th, but I've got plenty of time to practice.
I'll be in the woods scouting a potential deer hunting location. I'll bring it with me to see if I can stir up some critters. Season doesn't open 'til Sept 16th, but I've got plenty of time to practice.
DobermansDoItGoofy
New member
You don't have to quarter it...BUT
After cleaning it, I cut the little squirrel into pieces - quarter it(you don't have to...But otherwise it'll look like a rat on the dinner plate:barf: )
Get a small plastic bag, lightly dip the meat in egg&flour, add some minced garlic, a little salt and pepper, maybe a Basil Leaf and onion - put it all in the plastic bag and fill the bag about half full with Blackberry Wine. Shake it up and put in the fridge and let it stay there about 2 to 3 days.
Dump it then in an iron skillet with a little butter or oil and some veggies- and cook it ! I do the same with quail and have even cooked'em both up together.
Wild Brown Rice and some yams on the side ! weee doggies
After cleaning it, I cut the little squirrel into pieces - quarter it(you don't have to...But otherwise it'll look like a rat on the dinner plate:barf: )
Get a small plastic bag, lightly dip the meat in egg&flour, add some minced garlic, a little salt and pepper, maybe a Basil Leaf and onion - put it all in the plastic bag and fill the bag about half full with Blackberry Wine. Shake it up and put in the fridge and let it stay there about 2 to 3 days.
Dump it then in an iron skillet with a little butter or oil and some veggies- and cook it ! I do the same with quail and have even cooked'em both up together.
Wild Brown Rice and some yams on the side ! weee doggies
Another thing about eating squirrel . . .
I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the glands on these little critters. Most of the time they'll come off with the skin, but sometimes (especially on big old fox squirrels) you have to remove them manually. Otherwise you might get to experience that gamey taste that some people - usually those who have never tasted squirrel - complain of.
Anyway, for those that don't know, squirrel glands are found in two locations: behind each foreleg (looking like a dime-sized piece of grey tissue) and on the back side of the hind legs above the knee. This one looks like a grey piece of gristle about like a grain of rice, and will be embedded in the flesh. Lift it out on each side with the tip of a pocketknife. I also soak the meat in salted water (about 2 tbsp. salt to a half-gallon) for a few hours before cooking, changing the water every now and then.
As mentioned above, this is more important on larger squirrels. Young, tender grey squirrels may not need the extra attention. Your mileage may vary. As for how I hunt them, I use a 20-gauge with #6 shot when the leaves are on the trees and a scoped .22 later in the fall and winter. I like to fry up the young ones, make gravy out of the drippings, and serve them with buttermilk biscuits; I use the older ones in stew. Either white wine or beer makes a good braising liquid when used in equal parts with chicken stock, and a little garlic and rosemary is a good thing. I personally find squirrel to have much more flavor than the pale, corn-fed factory birds they try to pass off as chicken in the store these days, but I can understand the stigma that surrounds eating them. It just means more for me.
I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the glands on these little critters. Most of the time they'll come off with the skin, but sometimes (especially on big old fox squirrels) you have to remove them manually. Otherwise you might get to experience that gamey taste that some people - usually those who have never tasted squirrel - complain of.
Anyway, for those that don't know, squirrel glands are found in two locations: behind each foreleg (looking like a dime-sized piece of grey tissue) and on the back side of the hind legs above the knee. This one looks like a grey piece of gristle about like a grain of rice, and will be embedded in the flesh. Lift it out on each side with the tip of a pocketknife. I also soak the meat in salted water (about 2 tbsp. salt to a half-gallon) for a few hours before cooking, changing the water every now and then.
As mentioned above, this is more important on larger squirrels. Young, tender grey squirrels may not need the extra attention. Your mileage may vary. As for how I hunt them, I use a 20-gauge with #6 shot when the leaves are on the trees and a scoped .22 later in the fall and winter. I like to fry up the young ones, make gravy out of the drippings, and serve them with buttermilk biscuits; I use the older ones in stew. Either white wine or beer makes a good braising liquid when used in equal parts with chicken stock, and a little garlic and rosemary is a good thing. I personally find squirrel to have much more flavor than the pale, corn-fed factory birds they try to pass off as chicken in the store these days, but I can understand the stigma that surrounds eating them. It just means more for me.
By the way, Bigfatts -- I'm good with the call in that I can reproduce exactly what was instructed on the CD.
However, I've yet to get a squirrel to bark back. This sucker is loud. When in the woods it doesn't sound natural at all to me - both because it's too loud, and because the sound doesn't seem accurate. I've heard similar noises in the woods maybe... but only slightly similar.
I'll be out after work this evening... hopefully I can post pictures of a few hamburger heads.
However, I've yet to get a squirrel to bark back. This sucker is loud. When in the woods it doesn't sound natural at all to me - both because it's too loud, and because the sound doesn't seem accurate. I've heard similar noises in the woods maybe... but only slightly similar.
I'll be out after work this evening... hopefully I can post pictures of a few hamburger heads.