when to eat squirrel

jaeger · 09-27-2009, 04:04 PM

I was talking with a friend of mine today and we decided to go bushy tail hunting tomorrrow. Another buddy of mine chimes in with "cant eat em this time of year, have to wait for first frost". My question is there a certain time of year when it is safe to eat squirrel.

ALR · 09-27-2009, 04:09 PM

Yes, certain time being, breakfast, lunch, dinner!
Had a lot of squirrel in summer, no problems. Have never heard, unless someone else knows different.
Rabbits on the other hand carry parasites and cold weather kills off the weak. Ask buddy why not.

LiveToShoot · 09-27-2009, 04:36 PM

I've eaten a lot of delicious rabbit...

...in winter season.

But, I've never dined on squirrel...

...and look forward to giving it a try.

The Rabbitstick folks are also encouraging me on in this...

...so I'm open to/looking for recipes that folks like to use for squirrel and other ground vermin.a

jaeger · 09-27-2009, 05:04 PM

well here was the plan. Bow hunt (deer) early wed morning. about 9 am cut out to wharton st forest. Small game is the only gun season open right now in NJ, and my buddy has never NEVER been hunting. So I figured I would break him in right with a 2 day pack in camping/hunting trip. We will be bringing in the bare essentials. 1 gal of water each..(camel backs) minor food. granola bars/jerky etc. 1 tent, and shotguns. he bought a mossberg 500, 12 and im taking a H&R 20 single tat ive had for 25 years. So should be a fun outing regardless.

sbowers5 · 09-27-2009, 05:10 PM

You eat squirrels righ after you kill them and clean them no matter what time of year it is and they are allways delicious expecially if you par boil them then dip in egg and milk lightly coat with seasoned flour and fry them tell lightly brown and then make gravy with the dripins in the skilet. Danged I'm making myself hungry.
Steve

jaeger · 09-27-2009, 05:12 PM

these will most likely be over open fire with season-all on them.

sbowers5 · 09-27-2009, 05:15 PM

You have salt an pepper dont you
Steve

jaeger · 09-27-2009, 05:16 PM

oh yeah.

LiveToShoot · 09-27-2009, 05:21 PM

How 'bout stuffed squirrel...

...filled with seasoned dressing and baked in a camp oven?

Any experience with or ideas for that recipe?

LiveToShoot · 09-27-2009, 05:22 PM

I'm putting together a smoker...

...and imagine that smoked squirrel would be tasty too.

Now, I've got to find some fruit tree wood...

...for seasoning the smoker.

jaeger · 09-27-2009, 05:23 PM

first time I had it was deep fried in peanut oil..........I will never be the same.... It was great. I think my dad dipped it in egg then italian bread crumbs....MMMMM

LiveToShoot · 09-27-2009, 05:23 PM

Any one in Texas able to mail me a small box of Mesquite pods...

...for using in the smoker?

I'll cover your costs for doing so...

LiveToShoot · 09-27-2009, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaeger

first time I had it was deep fried in peanut oil..........I will never be the same.... It was great. I think my dad dipped it in egg then italian bread crumbs....MMMMM

Oooo...

...this squirrel eating option is beginning to read like something I'm going to enjoy.

LiveToShoot · 09-27-2009, 05:26 PM

I've got the camp stoves fired up right now...

...and a moo roast in the oven warming up for our dinner.

Veggies will go on in about a half hour...

...and I'd include pix, but haven't taken time to perfect the science of how to do so on G&G yet.

rimfirenut · 09-27-2009, 05:31 PM

We canned some last year and they turned out excellent!! Almost as good as canned venison..

LiveToShoot · 09-27-2009, 05:31 PM

I did send pix to Rich and Craig earlier, via e-mail,...

...of my camp stove/oven cooking that's been happening this weekend.

Maybe they know how to include those pix in this thread...

...so you can have a see of what's happening?

The oven would be perfect for baking up some delicious squirrel treats...

...and I could skillet/deep fry them up atop the stoves.

rimfirenut · 09-27-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbowers5

You eat squirrels righ after you kill them and clean them no matter what time of year it is and they are allways delicious expecially if you par boil them then dip in egg and milk lightly coat with seasoned flour and fry them tell lightly brown and then make gravy with the dripins in the skilet. Danged I'm making myself hungry.
Steve

Now my pizza in the oven don't sound so good...

wcassidy · 09-27-2009, 06:04 PM

the correct time to eat squirrel is when they've stopped moving which leads to the old adage, a squirrel pot pie is better than two squirrels in the bush

jimkim · 09-27-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbowers5

You eat squirrels righ after you kill them and clean them no matter what time of year it is and they are allways delicious expecially if you par boil them then dip in egg and milk lightly coat with seasoned flour and fry them tell lightly brown and then make gravy with the dripins in the skilet. Danged I'm making myself hungry.
Steve

That's exactly how we eat ours.

kman · 09-27-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaeger

I was talking with a friend of mine today and we decided to go bushy tail hunting tomorrrow. Another buddy of mine chimes in with "cant eat em this time of year, have to wait for first frost". My question is there a certain time of year when it is safe to eat squirrel.

do not know about it up their where you are have heard only rabitis get the wolves i belive that is how it would be spelled, anyways down hear in mississippi squirrel and rabbit no good until first forst, but when i was younger and went with my great grandfather he would always let the squirrel lay their awhile and wait for them to crawl out then clean it and eat it. You can always tell if they are safe by fealing right behind thier head between the sholder blades for a knot if their is one their it is the wolve, this is what i was taught when younger

ps they come out because of the cooling of the squirrels body temp

09-27-2009, 04:04 PM	#1
jaeger Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 569	when to eat squirrel I was talking with a friend of mine today and we decided to go bushy tail hunting tomorrrow. Another buddy of mine chimes in with "cant eat em this time of year, have to wait for first frost". My question is there a certain time of year when it is safe to eat squirrel.

09-27-2009, 04:09 PM	#2
ALR STAIN'ALIVE,STAIN'ALIVE! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: St Charles MO Posts: 1,133	Yes, certain time being, breakfast, lunch, dinner! Had a lot of squirrel in summer, no problems. Have never heard, unless someone else knows different. Rabbits on the other hand carry parasites and cold weather kills off the weak. Ask buddy why not. __________________ AGENT ORANGE The last ghost of Vietnam ATF- Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, who is bringing the chips?

09-27-2009, 05:10 PM	#5
sbowers5 Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: sawyer, ok Posts: 1,236	You eat squirrels righ after you kill them and clean them no matter what time of year it is and they are allways delicious expecially if you par boil them then dip in egg and milk lightly coat with seasoned flour and fry them tell lightly brown and then make gravy with the dripins in the skilet. Danged I'm making myself hungry. Steve __________________ For those who never fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know. Last edited by sbowers5; 09-27-2009 at 05:13 PM.

09-27-2009, 05:15 PM	#7
sbowers5 Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: sawyer, ok Posts: 1,236	You have salt an pepper dont you Steve __________________ For those who never fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know.

09-27-2009, 05:23 PM	#12
LiveToShoot Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SE IDAHO Posts: 4,920	Any one in Texas able to mail me a small box of Mesquite pods... ...for using in the smoker? I'll cover your costs for doing so... Last edited by LiveToShoot; 09-27-2009 at 05:55 PM.

09-27-2009, 04:36 PM	#3
LiveToShoot Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SE IDAHO Posts: 4,920	I've eaten a lot of delicious rabbit... ...in winter season. But, I've never dined on squirrel... ...and look forward to giving it a try. The Rabbitstick folks are also encouraging me on in this... ...so I'm open to/looking for recipes that folks like to use for squirrel and other ground vermin.a

09-27-2009, 05:04 PM	#4
jaeger Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 569	well here was the plan. Bow hunt (deer) early wed morning. about 9 am cut out to wharton st forest. Small game is the only gun season open right now in NJ, and my buddy has never NEVER been hunting. So I figured I would break him in right with a 2 day pack in camping/hunting trip. We will be bringing in the bare essentials. 1 gal of water each..(camel backs) minor food. granola bars/jerky etc. 1 tent, and shotguns. he bought a mossberg 500, 12 and im taking a H&R 20 single tat ive had for 25 years. So should be a fun outing regardless.

09-27-2009, 05:12 PM	#6
jaeger Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 569	these will most likely be over open fire with season-all on them.

09-27-2009, 05:16 PM	#8
jaeger Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 569	oh yeah.

09-27-2009, 05:21 PM	#9
LiveToShoot Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SE IDAHO Posts: 4,920	How 'bout stuffed squirrel... ...filled with seasoned dressing and baked in a camp oven? Any experience with or ideas for that recipe?

09-27-2009, 05:22 PM	#10
LiveToShoot Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SE IDAHO Posts: 4,920	I'm putting together a smoker... ...and imagine that smoked squirrel would be tasty too. Now, I've got to find some fruit tree wood... ...for seasoning the smoker.

09-27-2009, 05:26 PM	#14
LiveToShoot Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SE IDAHO Posts: 4,920	I've got the camp stoves fired up right now... ...and a moo roast in the oven warming up for our dinner. Veggies will go on in about a half hour... ...and I'd include pix, but haven't taken time to perfect the science of how to do so on G&G yet.

09-27-2009, 05:31 PM	#15
rimfirenut Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: michigan Posts: 728	We canned some last year and they turned out excellent!! Almost as good as canned venison..

09-27-2009, 06:04 PM	#18
wcassidy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 352	the correct time to eat squirrel is when they've stopped moving which leads to the old adage, a squirrel pot pie is better than two squirrels in the bush