Great way to skin a squirrel!!
- Thread starter ajshoots
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Yep I have used that method before to skin squirrels. He gave a little more detail to the process to make it easier. That is making sure you have some skin above the tail to stand on before pulling. I will have to try that method again. Bill
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I've done it this way, with a couple of modifications, for 48 years. My dad taught me. It is critical with squirrel to keep from cutting hair as much as possible because unlike rabbits, the hair of squirrels is much more difficult to remove once it gets on the moist, unfurled skin.
Before I make that cut through the tail (be so careful not to cut the tail off!), I pinch off a bare spot between anus and but of the tail. This way when I make my initial cut, I don't cut hair that sticks to the knife or my fingers. I also keep the knife blade wiped free of hair, on my pant leg (don't tell my wife).
The next key things is to do like the fellow does, work the knife under the hide, along the back to get a good spot to put your heel between the back hide and the tail bone butt (if you stand on the tail you'll break the skin and lose your tail hold).
When I've pulled the hide down pas the neck I stop. Then I pull the hide to the front ankles and cut the feet off at that joint. Then I cut the head off. Then I make sure my hand is without squirrel hair and pull the bottom hide (there will be a "triangle" of hair on the belly to get hold of). I pull the hide to the ankles here and cut off the same as front. Then, again making sure my hand is hairless, I gut the squirrel.
I always take a couple of ziplock bags and put the squirrel in the bag. I even have a wash cloth or paper towels and bottle of water to clean my hands. I clean each squirrel as I pick them up. This slows me down (I've stopped to kill several while cleaning his forest-mate).
I've seen more people mess up squirrel dressing than any other game animal. I don't like anyone to help me clean them. I have the solo method down and don't want someone holding legs, etc.
Before I make that cut through the tail (be so careful not to cut the tail off!), I pinch off a bare spot between anus and but of the tail. This way when I make my initial cut, I don't cut hair that sticks to the knife or my fingers. I also keep the knife blade wiped free of hair, on my pant leg (don't tell my wife).
The next key things is to do like the fellow does, work the knife under the hide, along the back to get a good spot to put your heel between the back hide and the tail bone butt (if you stand on the tail you'll break the skin and lose your tail hold).
When I've pulled the hide down pas the neck I stop. Then I pull the hide to the front ankles and cut the feet off at that joint. Then I cut the head off. Then I make sure my hand is without squirrel hair and pull the bottom hide (there will be a "triangle" of hair on the belly to get hold of). I pull the hide to the ankles here and cut off the same as front. Then, again making sure my hand is hairless, I gut the squirrel.
I always take a couple of ziplock bags and put the squirrel in the bag. I even have a wash cloth or paper towels and bottle of water to clean my hands. I clean each squirrel as I pick them up. This slows me down (I've stopped to kill several while cleaning his forest-mate).
I've seen more people mess up squirrel dressing than any other game animal. I don't like anyone to help me clean them. I have the solo method down and don't want someone holding legs, etc.
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These guys make it look easy, but I've seen guys pull the squirrel in half trying it. It's like the push gut rabbit method, it's not as easy as it looks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dekMT72WcE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dekMT72WcE
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I;m with Gamyrick on it now always being as easy as it looks.
I carry a strong piece of twine with me. I tie one end to a branch of the right height and the other just above the rear ankle (toward the squirrel body, not his foot) in a real tight knot. Then the squirrel hangs from that leg and you can use essentially use the same procedure without needing to hold the squirrel or stomp on the tail/skin flap. Also, it makes gutting easier as everything falls to the ground and you always have both hands free to work with instead of needing one to hold the squirrel.
I carry a strong piece of twine with me. I tie one end to a branch of the right height and the other just above the rear ankle (toward the squirrel body, not his foot) in a real tight knot. Then the squirrel hangs from that leg and you can use essentially use the same procedure without needing to hold the squirrel or stomp on the tail/skin flap. Also, it makes gutting easier as everything falls to the ground and you always have both hands free to work with instead of needing one to hold the squirrel.
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