How do you skin a squirrel?

[Thunderflight]

I'm going to attempt to thin out the local squirrel population with my recurve.

It's been 20+ years since I killed a squirrel and for the life of me I can't remember how to skin them. I kinda remember there was a way to pull them outta their skin.

Does anyone have any squirrel recipies too?

TF

[Caribou Dreamer2]

Check with LinkR us we just traded some squirrels for somw saugeye(and man was that a gooood trade)He has a recipe he will trade for:D

As for skinning them out ,I don't think there is a easy way ,I just start at the belly and skin them around the back legs once those are free you can pull the hide back towards the head which is not to easy either.but good luck and have fun.

Step 1. Soak squirrel in water or spray and pluck hair from the base of the tail.
Step 2. Make a cut through base of tail bone; don't cut hide on top of rump.
Step 3. Place squirrel on board or stump and make small cut toward head.
Step 4, 5. Cut skin in front of hind legs
Step 6. Peel hide toward head, exposing both front
Step 6. Cont'd
Step 7. Stand on the tail and pull hide down to back feet. Pull the front legs through and cut front feet off, then hind feet and head.
Steps 8 and 9. Make sure carcass is free of hair, then remove entrails and wash body cavity

[M.Magis]

Here's a thread from a while back.
http://www.ohiosportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2368&highlight=skin+squirrel

[Thunderflight]

Man this sounds complicated!!

TF

[noboatdave]

I do it the way M Magis does. Very easy. If you have a buddy with you let them grab the skinned end while you pull the hide from the belly and back legs. That way you never touch the skinned part with your hands which will undoubtedly have loose hair on them. You skin, they gut, no hair on the carcass. If you are by yourself do all the skinning first then go back and gut them.

[Thunderflight]

I may shoot a few squirrel late saturday morning.

TF

[bill dowler]

the way that i skinn them is pretty easy, take your knife and cut at the base of the tail,and make the cut go down the back legs some to...then lay the tail on the ground, and place your foot at the base of the tail..grab the back legs and pull up.....

[ohcurhunter]

The last post was right on. Cut around the base of the tail, then make two 45 degree angle cuts from the vent to the belly, about an inch and a half long each, step on the tail and pull up on the legs. Takes only a few seconds, and the hide will tear up on the belly side. This is how the Indians used to do it.
Get two buckets of water, and before you gut them(but after you skin them), put them in the first bucket, after you gut them put them in the next. Hairless meat.

[Thunderflight]

Thanks!!!

I'm going to try to go next weekend.

TF

[shotgun]

just cut the hide across there back grab on too both pieces and pull in opposite directions, It takes all of 30 seconds if youre slow at it.

[Duffy]

The way I do it is to cut off the legs at the "knee" joints, cut off the tail and head. Cut the underside of the squirrel from the neck to the tail (assuming you haven't field dressed it), and make another cut along the back. Grab both sides of the skin at the neck, and pull apart like antough banana, and you're done. No soaking necessary, but obviously rinse the squirrel before freezing or cooking.

[esox lucious]

I skin a squirrel by cutting a ring around the body, through the skin halfway between the rear and back legs. I then pull the skin in opposite directions. I don't bother with the rib/front leg meat, only the back and rear legs. This is fairly easy when done when the animal is still warm.
So far as cooking? Crock pot.

[Redhunter1012]

I agree shotgun. It's the way my dad taught me. just rinse off any excess hair in the sink.

[Duffy]

So did you ever get out for squirrel, Thunderflight? How did you do?

[Thunderflight]

I'm yet to get out.

Every time I've tried the wife had other plans for me.

Squirrel season stays open until 28 Feburary so mabye I'll make it out, but I doubt it. I'm pretty busy.

TF

[Hoytme2]

Assuming you hit the little bugger in the head, you can make a small slit near the neck large enough to slip the nozzle of your blow gun from your air compressor into. Blowing air under skin will seperate skin from carcus. Be careful of BLOWBACK! Skin comes right off.

[Mathewq2]

i just shoot them up close with a goose gun and they will be skinned like a suit case. no skinning ness.



:D :D :D

[Q2XL]

let CARIBOU shoot them :D i saw him hit a couple a while back that were skinned and gutted all with one shot:eek:

[Thunderflight]

At this rate I don't think I've ever going to get out. Ever since January first I've been so busy that I barely have time to shoot.

TF