Author Topic: Can you eat squirrels year round? (Read 5511 times)

outdoorman · « **on:** February 05, 2006, 04:53:34 AM »

Is there anytime of year that you shouldnt eat squirrels?
I'm new to squirrel hunting and was wondering if they carry diseases have enlarged glands during say the spring or summer?
Truth is even though the season will be over, I may do some around the home squirrel control to keep em from eating all my apples.
And so why not eat them?

SQUACKS · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2006, 08:03:09 AM »

legalities aside, i believe that some states only close the squirrel season for 2 months a year. i think those months are usually march and april.

several states have a spring season that usally opens in may.

you should realise that you may be killing nursing squirrels and the young will die off as well although not as quickly as the mother.....

njanear · « **Reply #2 on:** February 15, 2006, 11:43:24 AM »

Depending on where you are at, in the warm months of the year, you may also find squirrels that have 'wolves' on them. These large open sores are actually from botfly larvae buried under the skin of the poor squirrel; they stay with the squirrel for some time and can leave huge open wounds after they abandon the 'nest' (it doesn't seem to hurt the squirrel). While I have since heard that such infected squirrels aren't dangerous to eat, I used to leave those for the woods predators.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2006, 01:05:05 PM »

Squirrels in California carry fleas which are infected with Blue Bonic Plague. The campgrounds North of Lake Tahoe have been closed a number of times because the Plague has been detected in squirrels. Normally these are found in the common ground or digger squirrel. I have not heard of it being carried by Tree Squirrels. Other campgrounds in the State have been closed but it seems more common in the Truckee River Drainage.

Back before "correctness" settled on our socity they use to shot the plague carrying squirrels with .410 shotguns and dispose of the squirrel. Now days they just close the campground for the season. You cannot put posion bait out for them because of the exposer to children, pets, birds and other non-targetted critters. The common ground squirrel is not considered a game animal. But they make great target practice. I had not heard of anybody eating them until a large population of people from South East Asia moved to California in the 70's.

The Gray Squirrel season is in the fall in California.

flintlock · « **Reply #4 on:** February 15, 2006, 03:28:50 PM »

Of course you can eat squirrels year round....That's exactly what your forefathers did!!!

corbanzo · « **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2006, 09:18:34 AM »

Squirrels arent like other animals that change their diets. This is why they always have huge stores of food. Disease and infection aside, the squirrel themself doesn't change much over the course of a year.

TC Cowboy · « **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2006, 04:22:14 PM »

yes you can eat squirrels year round, allthough you may want to wait till may at least so like another poster said you dont kill mothers who are still tending young. But if their nuisance "tree rats, FIRE away :-D by the way since your new to this here is a good no frills recipe. skin and clean squirrels, remove any stray hairs that cling under cold running water, cut the sguirrel into 5 pcs. ,2 front qtrs. and 2 rear. plus the back and rib section, salt and pepper them, shake them in flour and cook about 6-7 minutes per side in a cast iron skillet if possible about 1/4 " inch of oil on medium heat, drain the squirrels on paper towels , make gravy from the drippings and eat with rice and biscuits, then you will be in for the long haul and your yard rats will be wary of your hungry eye

good hunting!

outdoorman · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2006, 12:20:00 AM »

Thanks for the recipe. Actually cooked a couple just like that and man were they tough.

PA-Joe · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2006, 02:18:07 AM »

Can you hunt squirrel all year round? Not is the east. We only get 5 months max.

flintlock · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2006, 01:13:24 PM »

outdoorman...try boiling the squirrels in water for about 30 minutes...or until you can stick a fork in them...then fry them up...they will be tender..

outdoorman · « **Reply #10 on:** April 08, 2006, 05:10:55 PM »

Thanks Flintlock.
I will try boiling the next batch.
Also I'm trying to hold off from shooting anymore till after May but man are they out in numbers all around my yard.
They just better not get in my apple trees or....'it's on'. :lol:

Game_Stalker · « **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2006, 05:43:09 PM »

I had some living in my attic a while back. My scoped .22 and some CB shorts took care of the problem quietly and I cooked them in the pressure cooker. It was the first time I ever tried it and had to fight the kids over it.