This BIG egg filled lizard destroyed my 15x15 screened in gazebo tent sunning itself as I watched (them darn razorblade claws just shred stuff!) and then made it's way down to my shooting range.
That wasn't a particularly good choice! Normally I can't safely take these in the neighborhood, but, when it's literally on my range... That's a different story!
The Leshiy 2 .30 made this critter do the random-floppy-dance, and allowed me to subsequently turn this critter into lunch, and a nice skin.
For the tacos:
Just put the good meat (legs, tail, whatever you can get off that's worth cooking up, the 'bacon' can be really pretty good on these too) into a zip-lock with some bay leaves, a garlic clove, some chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper, some olive oil and butter, then keep it in some not-quite-boiling hot water until the meat is falling off the bone tender.
Take the meat off, chop up the taters, and then fry up that goodness in some light oil in a non-stick pan on medium/medium-high until lighly browned and crispy - serve with pico de gallo and/or whatever else you like on tacos. Good stuff!
For the skin:
Carefully pull the hide off the body with your hands, before gutting the lizard (cut along the spine, so you keep the belly as one peice, and it's WAY eaiser) - invert legs, to expose interior, if keeping legs as tubes, then clean all the remaining flesh off, as best you can, and soak in 50% glycerin and 50% alcohol for around 2-3 weeks, then scrape lightly to remove loose material on scales, and pick off remaining meat from skin, and flex to soften. Dry with paper towels.
That wasn't a particularly good choice! Normally I can't safely take these in the neighborhood, but, when it's literally on my range... That's a different story!
The Leshiy 2 .30 made this critter do the random-floppy-dance, and allowed me to subsequently turn this critter into lunch, and a nice skin.
For the tacos:
Just put the good meat (legs, tail, whatever you can get off that's worth cooking up, the 'bacon' can be really pretty good on these too) into a zip-lock with some bay leaves, a garlic clove, some chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper, some olive oil and butter, then keep it in some not-quite-boiling hot water until the meat is falling off the bone tender.
Take the meat off, chop up the taters, and then fry up that goodness in some light oil in a non-stick pan on medium/medium-high until lighly browned and crispy - serve with pico de gallo and/or whatever else you like on tacos. Good stuff!
For the skin:
Carefully pull the hide off the body with your hands, before gutting the lizard (cut along the spine, so you keep the belly as one peice, and it's WAY eaiser) - invert legs, to expose interior, if keeping legs as tubes, then clean all the remaining flesh off, as best you can, and soak in 50% glycerin and 50% alcohol for around 2-3 weeks, then scrape lightly to remove loose material on scales, and pick off remaining meat from skin, and flex to soften. Dry with paper towels.
