New to hunting

[xoxide2]

Hello everyone, im 14, and live in Jacksonville Florida. Recently after ready the dangerous book for boys ive taken up intrest in rabbit, squirrel, and dove/pigeon hunting. I live on about 8 acres of wetland/forest, and there are millions of rabbit trails running through there. I also found deer tracks and deer poop. I read on how squirrels in urban area's could have rabies, how can I make sure they dont before I kill, then eat them. Also any guides as to how to clean the animals with pictures or videos would be cool, and any tips to.
Thanks

[Dookiebutt]

Have you taken a hunter safety course? You should do that before you do anything else. Does anyone in your family hunt? There is nothing like learning from someone on the field who is experienced.

[xoxide2]

My best friend is a major hunter and ive taken saftey coarses.

[two-70]

have him take ya on a few hunts to familiarize yourself with it if he will

[bigbuddy21]

this shows a wisdom beyond your years to be able to ask strangers for info. on hunting. i can see a long future for you in this sport. learn all you can because when you thought that you know it all you'll learn something new. welcome to hunting, there is no greater feeling than making a [clean kill], especially after a long stalk. have fun and be carefull.

[irish murphy]

Its always tops to see young fellas wanting to get into hunting.I remember the first time i went hunting still to this day.I hope your first day hunting is a safe pleasurable day.

[ArkansasHunter]

Hi feller Thanks for Joining GUN and GAME !!! You've come to the right place yall help him out...A.H

[jamesw]

Hey! I'm from jax florida too, what side of town do you live on?

[Troy]

nice to have a youngster in the mix looking to learn. welcome and enjoy the forum.

[webs]

Welcome to the site young man.It has been said that small game is a good way to start in the hunting world,but to some of us small game is a lifetime pursuit.I enjoy hunting for small game now just as much as I did when I first started.I have never heard much about squirrels being a carrier of rabies.Maybe some one else can answer this.There is a past post here entitled '' Skinning Squirrel" that will show you a good technique for cleaning them.Be safe and do let us know how your small game hunting is going.

[DWARREN123]

They are some good books out there for small game. One I have is " Field Dressing and Butchering Rabbits, Squirrels, and Other Small Game".
It's a step by step and it's by Monte Burch.
Also hands on training by a older experience hunter is probably best.
Good luck in your search.

[Lepa4013]

Have fun cleaning the tree rats thats my most disliked small game but still worth the eating.

[xoxide2]

Thanks aton guys. Expecially for thje help, im going to the used book store asap to pick up a few books. I was just there picking up some fishing books for my florida keys trip!

[NHmsj]

Hey, welcome to the site! A long, long time ago I was stationed at the NAS in Jax while the Navy tried to teach a dumb-ass Marine how to fix and maintain aircraft. Don't know if the air station still exists, but I did like Jacksonville. Unfortunately, however, my interests at the time did not include hunting. (Well, I was, in a way, on the prowl.) Nonetheless, follow Webs advice, check out the thread "Skinning Squirrel". Trust me, if you're going to dress squirrel, start out using the method demonstrated there. I find it to be the easiest way to get the task done. Again, welcome to the site. Have good (and safe) hunting!

msj

[xoxide2]

Thanks. Yep NAS is still there and kikin'.

Ok so on the squirrel part... How do I eat them like do I eat the legs or the bodyy, like what cant I eat? And How long would I put it on the grill for with som BBQ sauce and seasoning on it?

[Momoney567]

Welcome to Gun and Game. I think you've come to the right place to get some info on hunting these guys could tell you any and everything you would ever need to know about it. As far as skinning squirrels goes you could do a search for it on gooogle should come back with a few results and I wouldn't worry about the rabies. I have never heard of a case with a squirrel carrying rabies in my life.But if a squirrel jumps out of a tree and tries to bite you it's a good indication.

Oh lord as far as the preparation and cooking goes if you break it down just about the entire squirrel is edible minus the fur and tail. You can make a gravy,fry em,grill em,roast em,eat em raw.Ok no dont eat it raw its not as good as it sounds but again if you look it up on the internet you can get recipes and the how-to on everything.

[ArkansasHunter]

Feller you might like them better if you fry them like you would a chicken or country fried stake.
Once the squirrel has been fried (good luck) pour off the grease and sprinkle about a 1/4 cup of salted and peppered flour over whats left in the skillet, you may have to had a little of the left over grease to cook the flour.
Turn the fire up to about medium heat and watch the flour, it needs to cook a little.
(You'll learn this) When it looks like it's starting to brown pour 1 cup to 1 & 1/2 water
over the flour and start stirirng until it comes to a boil and you desolve what was left in the skillet after frying the squirrels.
Hopefully it is getting thick by now.
Next put your all ready fried squirrel in the skillet with the gravy and if the gravy is to thick add a little water to thin it a bit.
Put the lid back on the skillet of squirrel and gravy and let simmer and steam.
Turn that fire down to simmer and leave covered for 30 minutes to an 1 hour.

Go buy you some Jumbo buttermilk bisquits if you don't know how to make them and you'll think you died and went to heaven.
You'll wanna woller in it cause they'll be so good...A.H

[Lng Rng]

Also, there are a number of recipies on the internet, just do a google search for squirrel recipies, and you will get a lot of them. You could also go to a book/sporting goods store, and they will probably have cook books that are for small game. Good Luck.

[NHmsj]

Originally Posted by xoxide2

Thanks. Yep NAS is still there and kikin'.

Ok so on the squirrel part... How do I eat them like do I eat the legs or the bodyy, like what cant I eat? And How long would I put it on the grill for with som BBQ sauce and seasoning on it?

Ah! BBQ Squirrel! Honestly, one of my most favorite ways to consume my little prizes. When grilling the suckers, go easy on the heat. The ends of their legs - the ends the paws used to be on - will char a bit if too intense a heat is applied. Grilling squirrel is one of the simplest ways to go. Again, a little BBQ sauce, any sauce of your liking, introduce the marinated squirrel to fire for an appropriate amount of time and then you have meal. I particularly like to serve my BBQ squirrel on a bed of white rice. Hmmmmmm....yummy.

Be assured Xoxide, you can be as elaborate or as simple in your preparation of squirrel as you care to be. Bottom line, of course, is squirrel is meat. Handle accordingly. Below is a link to some other recipes you might care to try your hand at. But, I am sure that like most folk, once you get a little experience with bagging, preparing, cooking and eating game, you'll settle into a taste of your own regards how you cook things up. Bon appetite!

Squirrel Recipes

msj

[elmer fudd]

for skinning the look at the one post in small game hunting that guy could skin them faaaaast!