seems like squirrel hunting is a big deal in some places. what's the meta here? are there good recipes for squirrel, and are they good eating? what's the weapon of choice to bag them?
squirrel hunting
seems like squirrel hunting is a big deal in some places. what's the meta here? are there good recipes for squirrel, and are they good eating? what's the weapon of choice to bag them?
I enjoy it, for me it’s more of a way to go outside and enjoy nature with the excuse of carrying a gun. A savage model 42 or any combination gun of that sorts would work. I carry a 22 myself since am cheap. When it comes to recipes I’d say either fry it, stew it, or makes biscuits and gravy using it. Just make sure to make use of your kills or you’re no better than gorp core sissy's.
biscuits and squirrel gravy sounds great
The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.
Proverbs 12:27
I don't hunt squirrel myself, but in a survival context, it would be better than starving to death.
The Indigenous tribes hunted squirrels in times of scarcity and hunger.
You don't have to wait for lean times squirrel is easily the most tasty thing in the woods. Imo it's better than deer, rabbit, and turkey.
Meta? Be quiet, don't walk so loud, don't walk so fast. Shut the frick up. Bring a little chair/stool to try to elevate your ass from the ground because ticks. Realize it doesn't do jack shit. Bring some cheap shooting sticks. Wait. Scan. Wait some more. Wait 15 minutes. Eventually one will start eating a nut. Either wait for more to come out or try your luck slowly sneaking over to get a clear shot. Shoot it right behind the front arm in the chest with a .22 hollowpoint and you'll have it down easy.
Recipe for squirrel gravy?
>And in many places they are not protected at all so anyone can go out with a 22, a pellet rifle, BB gun or even a slingshot, and legally harvest them. No license or permit or tags required.
That is not true at all here in the US. My state has a season as do at least a few others I know the rough seasons of. If they're on YOUR land and they're "being a pest", sure, you can shoot them, but otherwise, not without a loicense.
>but I think the carry the plague.
West coast? Yeah they can.
Why not .22lr with a scope? .410 prices a shit. And even 12ga would make more sense. .22lr might have better range if you spot one in brush at a distance, though.
Neat, how'd you do it? I accidentally got a similar looking result after cooking squirrel meat in oil and then drying it too quick but often wondered if I could make cracklings as well after that.
Take the squirrel. Skin and gut and rinse. Remove the lymph nodes. Put it in a baggie, don't leave it soaked. Put olive oil and spices in the Ziploc baggie. Be sure to press the air out. Put in fridge. The longer you leave it the more tender it gets. 5-7 days is my usual IIRC. Too much longer and it gets gross. Too tender, strange taste, or "slimy".
I over did it so it was a bit dry. Since it has a lot less fat than pork it only works if you eat it quickly after frying. I toss it in some garlic and onion powder and it was quite good that way. Interesting to try but I wouldn't be doing it with every squirrel as it's a bit of work to prep and get the hair off. You gotta scald them and scrape off the fur like you're doing a hog.
Well they breed like rabbits, so there's tons of them. And in many places they are not protected at all so anyone can go out with a 22, a pellet rifle, BB gun or even a slingshot, and legally harvest them. No license or permit or tags required. And they are pretty tasty when prepared right.
The classic recipe is to toss them in some flour, fry in oil, make a gravy, then add the squirrel back in and simmer. Or if you're lazy just toss them in some water with veggies and make a stew.
i have quite a few tree rats around my house. the red ones are pest animals only, but the greys have been left unmolested as i know theyre a foodstuff if need be. the thing is, i dont see so many greys anymore
Usually its the opposite -where are you?
I saw a marmot today in my work parking lot. Ive seen lots of marmots before in the mountains but never one in a parking lot before. Lots of meat it looks like but I think the carry the plague.
groundhog lookin thing
Handsome looking fella IMHO. I like his tail. Surprisingly fat for this early in the season. I dont believe in reincarnation but I wouldn't mind being a marmot I dont think.
No, it's clearly a woodchuck.
They taste like chicken but only the dark meat.
I am considering hunting squirrels this season since I have never hunted before and it seems easy
easy to find, hard to kill with a pellet gun. .22lr is a better pick but you still need to aim perfectly
I was considering using a single shot 410 with field loads actually. I am an actual poorgay so it is important that I take lots of them without wasting ammo in order to fill my freezer with squirrel. If a 410 shotshell is 5x as expensive but infinitely more forgiving than a 22 in terms of shot placement, I think that'll give me the most bang for my buck
Most people use .22lr for these .17hm2 is much better at almost any distance for squirrels. If you are in a big area and see them over a long distance then .17hmr is your best bet.
POST RECIPES
If you're a poorgay why aren't you using a 12ga. 410 prices are stupid
>hard to kill with a pellet gun
why
They get skittish in areas they have been hunted. 22lr let's you shoot father but imo most my squirrel shooting is like 30-40 yds and if you're patient and have a good break barrel pellet gun it'll work.
I've never seen a red squirrel
What about a black one?
I've been seeing a LOT of black squirrels in Wisconsin, and white ones too. Is this a different breed, genetic aberration, or invasive species? Used to be only greys and reds around here.
It's a generic aberration. Most don't survive because being plain white/black ruins their camouflage against predators.
All the squirrels in Vancouver are black so at least there, they're a breed. No idea about elsewhere.
The black squirrel is endemic to the PNW. I remember the first time I got robbed by one...I relaxed.
They are smaller then grey and black ones. We have grey and red around here in south Québec.
>Interested in popping some squirrels w/my .22
>have to find some boomer with hundreds of acres who will let me hunt his land or drive for 4 hours to do it
LAND OF THE FREE (TM)
Squirrel is one of my favorite species on the difficulty to meat quality axis. I usually use shotgun early season and a .22 the rest. I usually brine them and discard the brine after 24 hours then cook however. Easy to overcook but a delicate slightly nutty meat. My favorite recipe is substituting a couple of squirrels into a carnitas recipe
>nutty meat
heh
You will eat the squirrels and will be happy
I tried to make some cracklings from some squirrel I got last fall it was ok.
Fried up the rest. Turned out ok but I think I like slow cooker better.
looks tasty
Word of advice: Fried squirrel is recommended by a bunch of people, but they always fail to mention that young-of-year squirrels are best for frying and older squirrels are tougher and better braised.You can still fry old squirrels of course but I find them a bit too chewy.
Raw is the true patrician choise.
you guys are literally eating rats
True rats eat garbage--that makes a huge difference in meat quality. I also don't eat tree rats though.
>literally
I don't think you know what that word means. Also what
said. Rats eat garbage, forest squirrels eat nuts and seeds. Pretty big difference.
Theres normally a fair amount of chase involved in a good tree chicken hunt. Hunting them with a good dog is the best. Mountain cur us the all American tree dog. Can hunt anything that climbs with them.
Wife is actually cooking up some coon I shit the other right rn. That's good eating brother.
>cooking up some coon I shit the other right rn.
nothing like a nice warm coon straight out of the ass
Once I start working my land I’m gonna just camp there and try to subsist on squirrel as my main protein, had it stewed once and it was bretty good