squirrel skinning 101

[ThunderStick]

    Growing up I learned the "cut across the back and pull both ways method", I always seemed to end up with hair everywhere! Then when a little older I learned to skin out animals for the fur and switched to that method, it's very clean, but is time consuming. (As a side note I have tanned squirrel hides and made several nice small bags etc. from them, the Fox squirrel is pretty tough) About 3 or 4 years ago I stumbled across this method and have been using it ever since. On a head shot gray I can skin it almost as fast as I can take off my own shirt and there's usually no more hare than a store bought chicken!
    Here's something I have never seen mentoned on any of the fourms I vist, so I thought I would pass this along. My favorite way to use squirrel is to can them! I boil them, take the meat from the bones, pack this into pint or 1/2 pint jars and follow the recomended home canning process for chicken or rabbit. I can use the meat in stew, gravy, squirrel salid (yes just like chicken salid), BBQ, and my favorite, squirrel pot pie! Basically anything you would use that canned chicken in. Another hint, if you use wide mouth jars you can raw pack on the bone. When you get ready to use the meat, you can't beat this! Gently drain and shake out the pices roll in a little flower and brown them in a little bacon drippings! Melts in your mouth tender!

[hammerless99]

I've watched this video a bunch of times and want to give it a try. However; I don't see where/how the hind legs are skinned. A little explination would help me.

[SHOOTALL]

I have done as GB and also have made a cut across the butt under the tail , grab the legs - step on the tail and one naked critter comes out with all the fur under your boot . this way head and all are clean . Both work about as quick as a couple heart beats .

[SQUACKS]

I've watched this video a bunch of times and want to give it a try. However; I don't see where/how the hind legs are skinned. A little explination would help me.

 the belly skin is pretty loose and i just stick a finger under the skin, pinch it between my fingers and give a quick jerk. normally pulls right off.

                                                      luck!

[jenkst]

Many years ago me and father-in-law was a road huntin for squirrells. After we killed a few he drove down to a creek. He got out and took them squirrells and throwed um in the crick. I though whats this old coot up to? Found out pretty quick he new what he's doing. If you getum good and wet the hair don't stick to the meat like it can do if the hair is dry. And fish clean up the guts.    Jenks

[jenkst]

P.S.  Forgot one thing. This works great on the turkeys to. Geter soaking wet and you won't get one single feather on the meat.

[catdaddy]

when i do your way squacks i always end up tearing the body in half. what am i doing wrong

[SQUACKS]

try cutting the flap of skin out further and angle it down on both sides. the end of the cuts should be just in front of the hips and slightly under them.


                                            good luck.

[halfshot]

I'VE  SKINNED SQUIRREL  OVER  FORTY YEARS  ,,THE LAST 25  I HAVE USED A MR. SQUIRREL  SKINNING  HARNESS. YOU HANG IT FROM A TREE AND HOOK THE BACK LEGS IN IT  AND THEN CUT AROUND THE BASE OF THE TAIL AND PULL DOWN . WORKS  GREAT.VERY LITTLE CHANCE OF HAIR GETTING ON THE MEAT.   THEN I CUT THE SHOULDERS OFF, THEN  PUT THE HEAD IN THE HARNESS  ,PULL THE HIDE OFF THE BACK LEGS  ,PUT ONE  BACK LEG  IN THE HARNESS , CUT  THE BACK OFF AT THE RIB CAGE AND THROW ,,NO  GUTTING , THEN CUT THE BACK LEGS FROM THE BACK  ,, YOU HAVE SKINNED , GUTTED AND  PIECED OUT  YOUR  SQUIRREL  IN  LESS THAN TWO MINUTES. I DO THIS AS I HUNT , I CARRY A FANNY PACK  WITH A DAMP CLOTH IN A PLASTIC BAG TO WIPE MY HANDS OFF IN A HURRY IN CASE ANOTHER SQUIRREL  PRESENTS A SHOT. THEN WHEN YOUR DONE HUNTING FOR THE DAY , YOU GO HOME AND YOU DON'T HAVE THAT DREADED JOB  OF  CLEANING GAME.

[SQUACKS]

howdy all!

 since squirrel season is once again upon us, i will bring this back up for folks who may have missed it and need a little help when it comes to skinning squirrels.


                                                luck!

[SQUACKS]

Folks:

 A friend of mind shot a new video of me cleaning a squirrel from start to frying pieces.
This is an old tough fox squirrel and since it was Feb. when we hunted, the squirrel is bout as cold as squirrels get! lol! So was I.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcwuLF8fkMY

 The shears i was using were Fiskar and riveted so they don't come apart. Those are several years old.

                                    Luck!

[Ranger99]

if you didn't already know, you
can pass your cleaned squirrel
over a flame, and the hairs will
wash off easy then.


if you just get one squirrel, it
makes the best ramen noodle
ingredient you ever tasted.
i use the beef.


good luck

[jpshaw]

Liked the video. Very helpful. Got one for rabbits?

Rabbits are easy.  It's a wonder they don't skin themselfs running through the briars.  Just use GBs method of the middle of the back.  Squirrels I use the tail method though.

[52bagman]

I just watched the second vid and seen the shears being used, was going to bring up that trick. However I don't pull the legs completely through the skin and shear the feet off leaving them on the skin, head stays with the skin also and it is knifed off.
After the skin is removed the carcass goes into a bowl and is taken to the kitchen sink. Put the strainer in the sink and gut them there, running water keeps everything a lot cleaner and you can remove the hair.
I did the across the back fro years and an oldtimer showed me the tail cut method and I haven't looked back.
Just about forgot, there are two leaders/tendons that run up the back that work the tail and if you can keep from cutting through those you will have less tail pull offs.