#2761613 - 02/19/12 04:11 PM
Toughest squirrel I've ever skinned
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Poser
14 Point
Registered: 07/28/10
Posts: 8171
Loc: Tennessee
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Was out rabbit hunting this morning in some bottomland. We sat down to eat some lunch on the edge of this marsh:
As we were getting up, my buddy spotted this big Fox Squirrel on the edge of the tree line. I think this is the 2nd largest squirrel I have ever killed and definitely the toughest -took me 25 minutes to skin her down. I tried the step on the tail method and the hide just would not give, So, I went to work on her with my knife. Getting the front shoulders clear was rediculouosly tough. I put a note on the vacuum bag "x tough, stew only"
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It doesn't have to be fun to be fun. Wild & crazy, can't be stopped. Only the strong will survive. Keep your knife sharp and your skillet greasy. http://www.GoCarnivore.com
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#2761655 - 02/19/12 05:05 PM
Re: Toughest squirrel I've ever skinned
[Re: Poser]
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Carlos Viagra
16 Point
Registered: 11/20/04
Posts: 12934
Loc: Cumberland Plateau
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That's why I never shoot them anymore, like skinning a steel toed boot.
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Do not be slothful- for yesterday and tomorrow are thieves of today.
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#2761659 - 02/19/12 05:07 PM
Re: Toughest squirrel I've ever skinned
[Re: Carlos Viagra]
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easy45
18 Point
Registered: 11/06/07
Posts: 23855
Loc: Medon
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That marsh looks crazy familiar, where is that at
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#2761675 - 02/19/12 05:22 PM
Re: Toughest squirrel I've ever skinned
[Re: easy45]
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Poser
14 Point
Registered: 07/28/10
Posts: 8171
Loc: Tennessee
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That marsh looks crazy familiar, where is that at
Hatchie Refuge.
_________________________
It doesn't have to be fun to be fun. Wild & crazy, can't be stopped. Only the strong will survive. Keep your knife sharp and your skillet greasy. http://www.GoCarnivore.com
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#2761681 - 02/19/12 05:31 PM
Re: Toughest squirrel I've ever skinned
[Re: Carlos Viagra]
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Poser
14 Point
Registered: 07/28/10
Posts: 8171
Loc: Tennessee
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That's why I never shoot them anymore, like skinning a steel toed boot.
I'm usually pretty good with the step-on-the-tail method, though, some squirrels are so tough that you'll rip their bodies apart before the hide comes off. It is helpful if you skin them in the field while they are still warm. When they get cool, they get tougher. Unfortunately, I waited until I got home with this one.
_________________________
It doesn't have to be fun to be fun. Wild & crazy, can't be stopped. Only the strong will survive. Keep your knife sharp and your skillet greasy. http://www.GoCarnivore.com
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#2761688 - 02/19/12 05:39 PM
Re: Toughest squirrel I've ever skinned
[Re: Poser]
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timberjack86
12 Point
Registered: 06/20/11
Posts: 5611
Loc: Grundy county
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I killed a couple like that earlier this year. I left the squirrels whole after the 30 min skinning job put them in a big bowel coverd them with water and left them in the fridge 4 days. Then quarterd them and fried them like a young squirrel. That old squirrel cam out as tender as the young squirell.
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Way down yonder in the land of cotton...
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#2761704 - 02/19/12 05:51 PM
Re: Toughest squirrel I've ever skinned
[Re: timberjack86]
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Poser
14 Point
Registered: 07/28/10
Posts: 8171
Loc: Tennessee
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I killed a couple like that earlier this year. I left the squirrels whole after the 30 min skinning job put them in a big bowel coverd them with water and left them in the fridge 4 days. Then quarterd them and fried them like a young squirrel. That old squirrel cam out as tender as the young squirell.
My most common squirrel dish is to place a skewer through each set of legs to keep them butterflied and roast them whole on the grill. Before I do that, I brine them for a day and then marinade them for at least 8 hours. Regardless of what I do with a squirrel, I've found brining to be mandatory, though, I'm a little afraid of this tough ol' gal...
_________________________
It doesn't have to be fun to be fun. Wild & crazy, can't be stopped. Only the strong will survive. Keep your knife sharp and your skillet greasy. http://www.GoCarnivore.com
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#2761714 - 02/19/12 06:00 PM
Re: Toughest squirrel I've ever skinned
[Re: Poser]
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timberjack86
12 Point
Registered: 06/20/11
Posts: 5611
Loc: Grundy county
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I killed a couple like that earlier this year. I left the squirrels whole after the 30 min skinning job put them in a big bowel coverd them with water and left them in the fridge 4 days. Then quarterd them and fried them like a young squirrel. That old squirrel cam out as tender as the young squirell. My most common squirrel dish is to place a skewer through each set of legs to keep them butterflied and roast them whole on the grill. Before I do that, I brine them for a day and then marinade them for at least 8 hours. Regardless of what I do with a squirrel, I've found brining to be mandatory, though, I'm a little afraid of this tough ol' gal... 
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Way down yonder in the land of cotton...
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#2761735 - 02/19/12 06:12 PM
Re: Toughest squirrel I've ever skinned
[Re: timberjack86]
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Poser
14 Point
Registered: 07/28/10
Posts: 8171
Loc: Tennessee
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Timberjack, I don't understand how that process would tenderize the meat. You could age it in cool air or brine it, but sitting in cool water would, to my knowledge, not substantially break the meat down. It would absorb some moisture, but not near as much as in a brining process.
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It doesn't have to be fun to be fun. Wild & crazy, can't be stopped. Only the strong will survive. Keep your knife sharp and your skillet greasy. http://www.GoCarnivore.com
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seriously, parboil it and then fry it.. good eatin! 
