nutter eaters

[tedshred]

I'm just wondering if you guys actually clean, skin and cook nutters?

[bassethound423]

Yeppers, nutt'n better!

[Progun]

Absolutely.Grey and Fox Squirrels  have fed millions on this continent since the Pilgrims landed. They are an excellent source of nutritious protein and very tasty. A young squirrel is as tender as frog legs. They are considered a game animal by nearly every state that has them and are subject to the laws concerning season dates and bag limits.Before the restoration efforts of the various State Game and Fish agencies brought back the Whitetail deer and Wild turkey to todays numbers the Grey and Fox squirrels were the number1 game animal in the U.S. Many decades ago when The American Chestnut tree was the dominant mast producing tree on this continent squirrel numbers were in the untold millions.Leonard Lee Rue accounts in his excellent book on North American Game Animals of a three day squirrel hunt that took place in Indiana in (I believe) the 1840's in which the top hunter took over 900 squirrels and the 2nd place finisher bagged over 700, all with single shot muzzleloading guns.Squirrels deserve our respect as a viable game animal that should not be casually dismissed as vermin or rats. I like 'em skillet fried with gravy and biscuits and if the squirrels are old and tough they make a delicious dish when made with dumplings. As a lad growing up in Tennessee, The opening day of squirrel season was as highly anticipated as Deer season is in todays world.In the post depression days when rural Americans eagerly bagged squirrels for the table, it was an unwritten SIN to shoot a squirrel and not eat it. This rule still applies in my domain.But then ...I love squirrels!

[tedshred]

Wow, I had no idea. good information.

[shadow]

I was raised on farms and mountain's out west and I was alway's told if you shoot it, you clean it and eat it. Squirrel and other wild critters have alway's found a place at our dinner table and to be honest it's been some of the best food I've eaten and will continue to eat.:) Ed

[bassethound423]

Thanks Ed, I was trying to find a way to say just that but everytime I tried to type it, the word just didn't come out right.

[JOHNNY QUEST]

Try this reciepe...


Squirrel Sauce Piquante

2 squirrels, cut up
2 large onions, chopped
½ cup bell pepper, chopped
½ cup oil
1 Tbs. flour
1 small can tomato sauce
1 small can Rotel tomatoes
Water
Salt and pepper

Season squirrel with salt and pepper. Using a Dutch oven, add oil and squirrel. Brown pieces of meat well on both sides. Remove meat. Lower heat to medium and sauté onions, bell pepper and flour in same pan until brown. Return squirrel to pan and add tomato sauce, Rotel tomatoes and enough water to cover meat. Cover pot with a tight fitting lid and simmer for at least 1 hour, or until meat is tender. Add onion tops and parsley just before serving. Serve over rice.

Note: You can also use this recipe for Rabbit Sauce Piquante.

 bon appitite

[tjk]

Hey Ted, With an emphatic yes, Squirrel is a culinary delight if prepared correctly. Although it is of the rodent family, it is without a doubt one of the cleanest meats you will find. With a diet of mostly nuts and berries, the meat is very high in protien and naturally lean,...like venison. One thing that bothers people these days is the close resemblance to mice/rats,...but after skinning both, you will realise that there are many differences between the two. Check on-line and you will see many sites that offer wonderful recipes for this tasty little critter. After a while you'll feel better about cooking/eating them and will want to experiment/subtitute them for other meat varieties. One tip that I think is the most important, is to degland them under the armpits,..(you gotta dig them out some), and around the hind quarters after splitting the pelvic bone (the whitish tissue). Best and easiest dressed out when they are still warm, then soak over night in a saltwater solution in the fridge. Best wishes, and I hope you will enjoy them as much as alot of us do!!!!!tjk

[TexasShooter72]

Randall, damn dude!  That sounds tasty!  I gotta use that one...   almost sounds like you can make tacos out of it!  Now there's a thought...   nutter tacos.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Jaymo]

What they said. I like squirrel better than deer. I've eaten a lot of both and NEVER had a gamy squirrel. Whitetail buck killed during the rut is nasty. Testosterone ruins the flavor. While you're at it, you should try eating beaver. Get your minds out of the gutter. Barbecued beaver is very tasty. Then there's beaver burgers, stew, etc. I gotta get to whacking squirrels.

Speaking of Dutch ovens, has anyone used the TexSport brand cast iron Dutch oven? Are they any good, or are they lead and mercury laden? (made inChina) I just wonder if they're worth 40 bucks at the army surplus store, or if I should just suck it up and buy a good old, American made Lodge for a lot more money.

I see now that wally world dot com has Lodge cast iron dutch ovens for 40 bucks. Only problem is that they're not the camping dutch oven, which has a lid made to hold hot coals and allows hot coals on top of and under the cookpot.

[Jaymo]

OK, I'm going to have to substitute garlic for the onion, since onion gives me 3 day incurable heartburn and garlic doesn't. Also I'm going to have to use olive oil for the oil, just because I like olive oil. The greener, the better. I'm thinking of making a pasta sauce using squirrel.
I'm also thinking of making squirrel sausage.