Re: Dressing out a squirrel
(continued from above)
11. Once the entrails and anything deemed undedible is removed, I'll trim out the belly flaps:
[img width=600 height=450]http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu54/WALTERRO/dressing%20out%20a%20squirrel/DRESSINGOUTASQUIRREL11.jpg[/img]
12. I'll split the legs / hip to remove any other unwanted "inerds", and to set myself up to remove the legs:
[img width=600 height=450]http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu54/WALTERRO/dressing%20out%20a%20squirrel/DRESSINGOUTASQUIRREL12.jpg[/img]
13. I'll hold the squirrel upside down by the rear leg, and start a fillet near the backstrap to get the most meat off. I'll then trim around the leg socket, then a simple twist and pull to remove:
[img width=600 height=450]http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu54/WALTERRO/dressing%20out%20a%20squirrel/DRESSINGOUTASQUIRREL13.jpg[/img]
14. Moving back up the body once the legs are removed, I'll trim up both the sides of the rib cage, making an arrowhead look. A simple breaking, twist and pull of the vertabrae seperates the two:
[img width=600 height=450]http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu54/WALTERRO/dressing%20out%20a%20squirrel/DRESSINGOUTASQUIRREL14.jpg[/img]
15. I'll remove the front legs just as the back, starting a fillet from the meatiest part where attached to the rib cage, under the shoulder blade, them trim around the socket. I'll also make the breast meat a part of that fillet.
16. You are now left with 5 pieces:
[img width=600 height=450]http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu54/WALTERRO/dressing%20out%20a%20squirrel/DRESSINGOUTASQUIRREL15.jpg[/img]
17. This is a total of 6 squirrels on 2 platters. Platters are slightly larger than a standard dinner plate. Unfortunately a few of the quarters had to be discarded due to too much damage from an off shot.
[img width=600 height=447]http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu54/WALTERRO/dressing%20out%20a%20squirrel/SQUIRRELONAPLATE.jpg[/img]
Re: Dressing out a squirrel
Very nicely done! Thank you very much for sharing!
If there's one thing I hate skinning, it's a squirrel!!! Love eatin' 'em, just hate cleaning the darn things.
Gonna have to copy and save this!
Thanks again
Re: Dressing out a squirrel
TP
My Dad taught me to cut through the tail and make small cuts toward the legs. Then you stand on the tail while holding the hind legs. This removes 90% of the skin. Then pulling the small strip of skin at the belly removes the skin from the hind legs.
Terry
Re: Dressing out a squirrel
Terry,
I've done it that way as well. It works real well except when you accidentally cut all the way through the tail!!!! ;D
Re: Dressing out a squirrel
Nice detailed instruction.
I have skinned mine a bit differently as well, but have also tried it your way(or close).
-My grandfather and I used to cut a ring all the way around the midsection, just deep enough to cut the skin into two halves(front and back if you will).
-Then work each way with a knife till you get enough to grab hold of.
-Then work each side back seperately, pulling with your fingers while trimming with the knife.(You can also at this point just grab the two sides and pull it apart by hand so it peels the skin off, but depending on the damage from the shot you could rip the squirrel in half. This makes a big mess...Ask me how I know! ::))
- The front half will pull till it goes up to the base of the head, which will also allow you to pull the front legs about halfway out. Leave alone for now and move to other section.
- The rear half will pull till you get down to the start of the tail, which will also allow you to pull the back legs about halfway out.
- Now you can just take your knife and cut the head off, and then also cut off the four legs right where the skin starts(you could also use side-cutters for the legs like my Grandfather and I used to do... ;D ;)).
You end up with the same result, just lots of ways to skin a squirrel I guess.
Thanks again for the detailed thread, and just this topic in general. Brings me back alot of memories of my first hunting partner...My late Grandfather who passed on about 6 months ago. While describing our way I could still picture us in back of his house skinnin them :) :'(.
Re: Dressing out a squirrel
I do similar to pdog,
I make one cut across the back, through the skin perpendicular to the spine. I then grab both sides of the cut skin and just pull apart. It works best when they're still warm. I stop pulling when the hide gets to the neck, feet and tail, and just cut them off there. I also skin before I open them up.
The same skinning method works great on rabbits as well.
I did top half a couple squirrels last season that I'd attempted head shots with my 223 Stevens, and pulled the shot. That was a bit of a mess.
:D
Re: Dressing out a squirrel
Are you eating Prairie Dogs?
Re: Dressing out a squirrel
Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry Balding
Are you eating Prairie Dogs?
there all from the rodent family
Re: Dressing out a squirrel
Heres a video that was emailed to me by "bythebook(Gordon)".
http://s158.photobucket.com/albums/t...elskinning.mp4
Re: Dressing out a squirrel
Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry Balding
Are you eating Prairie Dogs?
Sorry, just came back to this thread.
LOL
I hope (ahem), you know I meant I do the same proceedure as pdog06.
I'm sure you were just being a wise-n-heimer
I'd have to be pretty darn hungry to eat a prairie dog.