The Great Squirrel Hunting Thread

[frank bullitt]

Great shot Jim!  Good luck with the coming season, too!

I got a shot on one yesterday, about the same way, he was carrying a pair of hick nuts, took the shot and busted the nuts right out of his mouth!

[achigan]

He must have been left with a headache  

[achigan]

Where along the Little Muddy are you?

[frank bullitt]

Just north of ya , Jim.

Covington, along I-74.

[achigan]

Gotcha. Good luck come Thursday...  

[bucknut]

DOC, its all in how you make the first cut that decides how well they are gonna peel down. Make the cut through the tail at the base and don't get into the hind quarters with your blade. After cutting thru the tail joint cut about 1" on both sides of the tail slightly angled downward. It doesn't happen over night but you will get the hang of it. I have literally skinned thousands this way and wont do it any other way. Hope this helps.

[Slickhead]

Great Thread
I see 50 squirrels a day
Maybe 1 deer.

Do the math    

I love deer hunting
But going after these guys can be a nice change.

[Doc Nock]

Bucknut,

Thanks. I hate to waste any game... and I've made such a mess of a couple of late season PA squirrels, I don't wish to mess up another.

Might be different story here in TN... I may have to give it another try or 2...

Thanks for the encouragement...and clarification on technique.  I have a video somewhere I watched repeatedly from OH I think... the guy was slick, but in shirtsleeves making me think they were early season critters that skinned that sweet!

[Jakeemt]

here is one from a few season back.  

[Jakeemt]

try this video man

 

[Brianlocal3]

I do the step and pull method, it's already been said but I'll repeat.
Cut full thru the tail base, but t
Do not cut the hide on the back side of the tail, then angle those started cuts a good ways down, pull steady up. Once you get it, it's like light goes off

[Brianlocal3]

Oh and jake,
OUTSTANDING video brother!! You did very good , and it's videos like this that really help people out

[Doc Nock]

The location of the tail cut and not nicking the meat of the hind quarters, appears to be a key, if you will.

I won't do another winter Northern Squirrel that way, but might try a early season before they get the horrific thick hide!

Thanks guys!

[bucknut]

Nice video , but FYI it is much easier to skin the back legs out before you cut the head off. It  helps keep the body held down while you are pulling up and keeps the hair off the meat. When I'm done with one you could essentially take it straight to the pot. In my prime killing years I could skin one in less than a minute. Try it sometime! Like I said before I've skinned a pile of em'. Hope it helps.

[Jakeemt]

Buck I used to do that too. However I found I like to remove the leg skin by wiggling my fingers underneath it. Just preference. I too have killed and skinned a pile of them. Before I quite hunting them with firearms I counted 84 that last season. Lol now I am lucky to snag 10 but, it sure is fun!

[Rustic]

Originally posted by Doc Nock:
Anyone have a GOOD squirrel skinning process? I have seen the vids of cutting across the vent/tail and standing on the tail and pulling the legs... with Northern winter squirrels (thick hide I guess) all I got was a ripped off hing "quarter"!   :(  

I've tried it several times and always had dismal results so I don't shoot them perishers...

That and the hair gets all over the meat!  Nasty!

Flavor wise, better then rabbit which I like a lot!

Hey Doc,

Try the Koontz Squirrel Skinner...

[shoot4fun]

Originally posted by Gordon Jabben:
Our wildlife dept. has a tv show called Outdoor Oklahoma and they filmed three of us squirrel hunting with bows last year.  The show should air at the end of this month or the first of next month.  It will be available on a podcast. I don't know how it will turn out but we had pretty good success and a lot of fun. Since it is for the general public, they don't show kill shots but there are plenty of misses they can show.      

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CQp8U9jOI4&feature=share

[T Sunstone]

I shot 1 last year head on eating an acorn with a tuff head.  Was just practicing coming to full draw without spooking the squirrel.  But said what the heck and let go in the head and out a ham.  Squirrel still jumped around and got off the arrow and made it 2 feet.  Shot was 26 yards was very pleased with myself.  
Shot one years ago with a 65# long bow and a judo point.  Hit square in the shoulder and he didn't move for a solid minute then came too and crawled out of site.  Came down later and looked all over even up trees never found him or my arrow.  
 

[Jakeemt]

Man that video was just awesome!

[Gordon Jabben]

Thanks Jakeemt, we had a lot of fun with the Outdoor Oklahoma guys making it.  I don't watch many hunting videos and I just never realized how hard it is to make one and how much can go wrong but in the end I thought it turned out well. In it, if you're not from Oklahoma or Texas you probably won't be able to understand me.