|
|
Post by swilk on Aug 20, 2009 13:14:40 GMT -5
My earliest hunting memories are of going squirrel hunting with my dad when i was 5 or 6 years old.
As I got to my teenage years my squirrel hunting became less and less ..... seemed there was always something else to do.
This year was the first time in a loooooong time that going hunting for tree rats has gotten me excited.
Which brings me to the question ..... how does everyone clean these dang things?
Seems that the "cut em around the middle and pull" method os pretty popular now but I have yet to try it. I still do the start at the hind end and hope you dont pull the tail off method.
So ..... how do you do it?
|
|
|
|
Post by drs on Aug 20, 2009 13:45:36 GMT -5
The way I clean or dress Squirrels is first I remove the front paws with a pair or prunning hand shears. then I lay the Squirrel on it's belly and make a cut behind & under the base of the tail. I then carefully loosen the skin around the tail and loosen the skin or hide up to the middle of the Squirrel. I then cut the loosen hide completely around the Squirrel's mid section. Then I place my foot on the loose hide around the tail and pull the hide up enough to where I can pull the front legs free of the hide. I then cut the head & back feet off and lay the Squirrel on it's back and make an incision from the keck down to the where the tail was. Carefully remove entrails by pulling the heart/lungs where the rest will come out easily. Wash away all blood and fur, then soak overnight in a solution of 1/4 cup of lemon juice with enough water to cover Squirrel. It take me, on average, about 8-10 minutes to clean a Squirrel.
|
|
|
|
Post by duff on Aug 20, 2009 19:47:51 GMT -5
I cut a horizontal slit half way down and work the skin over the hind quarters and then the same way over the front quarters, cut off the front paws, back paws, head and tail. Then follow David's steps the rest of the way. I spray the animal down before skinning to wet the fur. Seem to get less fur on the meat that way.
|
|
todd
New Member
Posts: 15
|
Post by todd on Aug 20, 2009 21:35:01 GMT -5
I cut threw the tailbone and go down the back about two inchs then stand on the tail pull all the way till the front legs show. Then i pull the legs out and cut with a pair of shears. There will be a v shape on the belly i will pull the skin toward the hindend. My dad showed me how to do this there is alot less hair on the meat.
|
|
|
|
Post by Decatur on Aug 20, 2009 21:46:10 GMT -5
The last couple of years, I've been skinning mine right after I kill them. They skin so much easier, plus you don't have to dread doing it when you get home. A few more bonuses are, that you don't have to dispose of skin and parts at home, they cool really fast and the time it takes to skin them allows the woods to calm a little. I carry a gallon freezer bag and hand sanitizer with me, Works great!
|
|
|
|
Post by inrecordbookbuck on Aug 22, 2009 12:34:52 GMT -5
I cut threw the tailbone and go down the back about two inchs then stand on the tail pull all the way till the front legs show. Then i pull the legs out and cut with a pair of shears. There will be a v shape on the belly i will pull the skin toward the hindend. My dad showed me how to do this there is alot less hair on the meat.  and like Duff says, if you wet first. there is less hair to clean off. |
|
|
|
Post by gilder on Aug 23, 2009 9:56:03 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by hoosier on Aug 23, 2009 10:25:17 GMT -5
This works best for me. Cut the tail, feet, and head off. Soak in a bucket of water till drenched (helps hair stay where it belongs...off the meat). Cut hide across the back long enough to slip 2 or 3 fingers between hide and tissue. Pull hide in opposite directions at same time (toward front and aft ends). Pull hide completely from torso. Gut and rinse.
As noted, this works best FOR ME. There is a lot of ways to skin them. The old fasioned way of cutting through the tailbone, stepping on tail and pulling is a GREAT method and very fast. I can successfully do this about half the time. The other half of the time, I make a real mess out of them, so, I prefer my method.
I have friends that can whip a squirrel out of its hide cleanly and quickly every time with the tail-stripping method. I seem to not hold my mouth right some of the time this way. I envy my buddies that have it down pat!
|
|
|
|
Post by swilk on Aug 24, 2009 7:25:06 GMT -5
I will say .... I tried the "small slit across the back and pull both ways" method and it works much better for me than the other way.
Now I need to try the "wet them first and you wont get as much hair on them" trick.
I also cleaned my last 3 as soon as they fell from the tree ..... seems a bit easier as well.
I think I will start carrying a plastic bag (so I dont get blood all over my fanny pack), a pair of snips (so I can cut off feet and tail easier), and a sharp knife.
|
|
|
|
Post by tenring on Aug 24, 2009 10:57:43 GMT -5
This works best for me. Cut the tail, feet, and head off. Soak in a bucket of water till drenched (helps hair stay where it belongs...off the meat). Cut hide across the back long enough to slip 2 or 3 fingers between hide and tissue. Pull hide in opposite directions at same time (toward front and aft ends). Pull hide completely from torso. Gut and rinse. Do the same here, except my bucket of water is very warm, tends to loosen up the skin, making it come off easier. YMMF |
|
