Just another day in Shadow country

[Randino]

Thanks, What kinda things should I look for, to ensure the meat is safe? I'm hoping to start taking some once my gun comes back =)

[longislandhunter]

One of the easiest ways to detect a rabbit or squirrel that may not be fit to eat is to check the liver when you clean the animal.  The liver should be a nice consistent color and clean in appearance.  If the liver has white, or sometimes yellowish, spots on it then there is a  good chance that the animal has some sort of disease or internal parasite and you should probably not eat it.  Other than that other indicators would be the general overall appearance of the squirrel.  Plainly put,,, it should look healthy,,,,, fur clean and full, free of lesions  and the animal should appear normal and healthy when observing it's ability to run, climb, etc.  

It's very rare that you will run across  a squirrel that is unfit to eat.  Mother nature is very efficient when it comes to eliminating, or culling, sick or diseased animals.  They usually don't last long or are easily killed and taken by predators.  

Hope this helps ya.  

Jeff

[shadow]

Most if not all squirrel meat is good for eating, younger squirrel's meat is not as tough. I've found that what ever the squirrel's been eating a lot of like sweet corn and even fruit's, the meat will have a taste of it. The squirrel's around here eat sweet corn and there's a few pear tree's and a black walnut tree around me. Just remember, when you harvest your squirrel and you field dress him, keep the meat as cool as possable. Warm meat will spoil. I've never had a squirrel with meat problem's myself but if there's a something on the meat that seem's unusual best pass on it. Jeff will jump in with some info also, he's has great advice also. Good luck and happy hunting and cookin. Ed

[Randino]

Thanks again guys, always good to be sure the game I am eating isn't gonna kill me ;)

Randy

[longislandhunter]

Hey Randy,

Finally found that squirrel skinning video again, take a look at this, this is the technique Shadow and I were talking about.

http://members.localnet.com/~nickdd/

Jeff

[p8ntballernwpa]

Never seen a video like that before. Pretty neat

[longislandhunter]

Works like a charm.  The key is not to make the cut any larger than the guy in the video demonstrates,,, otherwise when you go to pull up the skin will just tear....

Jeff

[p8ntballernwpa]

Got it, I'll try it out the next time I bag a squirrel.

[Randino]

All right, Thanks, that made it allot clearer. Now I just need to convince my mom into cooking them for me ;)

Randino - 7/27/2007  4:12 PM

... Now I just need to convince my mom into cooking them for me ;)

Hey Randy, I bet you'd score some points with your Mom if you were to come up with a coupla good sounding recipes for squirrel, and do the cookin' yourself (you may want to do a practice run once or twice). It's never too early learn the art, and I expect you'd enjoy the hunt that much more, too- besides, chicks dig a guy who can cook  ;~)

Bryan

[Gene_SC]

Better yet Bryan, I think Randy should hunt down a few rabbits or squirrels, skin em and wait till his mom and dad are away for a day and then he should prepare them a nice dinner. Of course not telling them what they are eating...:) They would probably just love it until he was asked what kind of meat is this... hehehe

Gene

[shadow]

LOL buddy, that' how my little woman came to love squirrel too........don't tell me what it is, just give me a taste to see if I like it. The rest is history, squirrel for two please. Ed

Definitely a better idea, Gene.

Go for it Randy, and make sure if you do to let us know how it turns out. If you could come up with some fancy French-sounding name for the dish, she'd never have to know and you'd be in like Flynn; LOL!

Bryan

[Randino]

That sounds like allot of fun. I will try it, if I get a good chance. How long can I keep a squirrel froze? I'd hate to kill my parents, who would be left to buy me air guns? ;)