Yes, definitely freeze in water fully submerged. I've had squirrel 8 months later and they tasted like they fell out of the tree yesterday. I soak them over night in salt water as well.
Never squirrel hunted before
- Thread starter Steelheadtracker
- Start date
Thanks for the info finelyshedded and everyone! This is a very friendly site and I appreciate it!
No problem man! Jump in on any discussion you want and join the fun. Everyone here tries to help one another.
I haven't hunted squirrel for years, but with my new Gamo, I will this season. I just hate the cleaning.
Do any of you guys bother keeping the fur? I've heard they are good to learn how to tan with which id like to learn. I'll definitely be keeping the tails though because my uncle ties flies and he could use the fur for them.
The hide is not in the best shape when I'm done with them, so I toss it out. I do keep tails for my collection if they're worthy.
Big_Holla
Senior Member
I'm like Jesse on the hides, not much left to do anything with when I get done LOL! As far as the tails it's best to strip the fur off of the tail bone while it's still attached to the squirrel. Then I pack the inside with Borax to cure it best.
.......then tie one on your vehicles radio antennae. Chuck is right about stripping off the tail TOO.
You are bound to kill a few squirrels with warbles(grub like worm that burrowed itself into the hide or meat). In my early years I just threw them away not thinking it was edible or it kinda made me wanting to yak but over the many years I've changed my stance on the subject. If a squirrel has just one warble lets say in the neck, why would I throw away all that delicious meat if it wasn't effected in anyway. If I kill one with 3-4 warbles I'll just leave it lay for the varmits which is hard to do. They say the frost kills them but that's not true cuz I've killed many with warbles after a hard frost. Some areas I've hunted I've never came across one with a warble and others seem to have them on every squirrel I killed so go figure! I've also seen evidence after skinning out a squirrel with one that it never penetrated the flesh and was removed during the skinning process. I've removed many by squeezing it carefully like it was a great big zit but that was in my younger years. Lol
Just know this will eventually happen but the decision is yours as to what you want to do with it when the time comes.
You are bound to kill a few squirrels with warbles(grub like worm that burrowed itself into the hide or meat). In my early years I just threw them away not thinking it was edible or it kinda made me wanting to yak but over the many years I've changed my stance on the subject. If a squirrel has just one warble lets say in the neck, why would I throw away all that delicious meat if it wasn't effected in anyway. If I kill one with 3-4 warbles I'll just leave it lay for the varmits which is hard to do. They say the frost kills them but that's not true cuz I've killed many with warbles after a hard frost. Some areas I've hunted I've never came across one with a warble and others seem to have them on every squirrel I killed so go figure! I've also seen evidence after skinning out a squirrel with one that it never penetrated the flesh and was removed during the skinning process. I've removed many by squeezing it carefully like it was a great big zit but that was in my younger years. Lol
Just know this will eventually happen but the decision is yours as to what you want to do with it when the time comes.
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Once again thanks guys for the great info and help! I would have never known to keep an eye out for warbles. Over the years I have driven through new London a lot and every time I go through there I see black squirrels. My wife and I were driving through there recently and we saw a black squirrel with an orange tail. It looked pretty cool.
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Big_Holla
Senior Member
I will say one thing about black squirrels, they have darker and tougher meat!! :smiley_chinrub:
In all honesty, I don't care to cook them any more as they taste a lot different to me.
In all honesty, I don't care to cook them any more as they taste a lot different to me.
That's interesting that their meat tastes different. Good thing I haven't seen any around where I'm going to hunt lol.
Your in for a ton of fun and some great eating!!!! Just think the season is less than two months away!!! Welcome aboard!!!
Big_Holla
Senior Member
Sounds good on paper that way but there is definitely a difference in the meat between a grey and a black squirrel....IMO!!
You might want to check out some squirrel cleaning youtube vids so you can see how to clean them if you don't have anybody to show you how.