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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,034
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,034 |
Mostly Grays where I hunt. Normally I'm only out for squirrels for an hour or two and skin when I get back to the truck. A slit across the back and pull the skin off in opposite directions stopping at head, tail and feet, cut or snip these parts off. Skin everything I shot first. Sometimes I need to use my knife to free up hide that doesn't want to cooperate. Then I gut them. Rinse them with fresh water and store in gallon zip lock and in the cooler they go. During warm weather Hornets incent me to speed up this process.
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 73
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 73 |
I like to dunk them in water first. I then use a hatchet to cut the legs off then make a slice in the middle of the back and peel the hide off each end. then cut the tail off and same with the head. Then gut. You need a nice stump or log as your skinning station.
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 404
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 404 |
Goes much faster when you aint trying to video it. https://youtu.be/QlGs9dBnoaI
Last edited by Longcarbine; 05/25/21.
"The reason a dog has so many friends, He wags his tail instead of his tongue."
"I don't always listen to Black Sabbath, But when I do so do the neighbors."
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,694
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,694 |
You don't need the fish skinning pliers. The pliers are unnecessary in the skinning process. It's a simple thing to grab that bottom half skin on the belly with your fingers and pull the hide off.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,874
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,874 |
This has been a very helpful thread, as I struggle with squirrels.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,694
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,694 |
When I was a kid I would wrestle, tug, pull yank, jerk, beat them on tree trunks and come away exhausted with a hairy mess. Cleaning them was the one thing I disliked about squirrel hunting. Once I discovered the best method, it's an easy peasy couple minutes per squirrel and nothing but clean hairless meat. I do the chore at a creek or lake nearby and only take home the processed meat so there isn't any mess to throw away and deal with at home. Nothing to it!
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 404
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 404 |
You don't need the fish skinning pliers. The pliers are unnecessary in the skinning process. It's a simple thing to grab that bottom half skin on the belly with your fingers and pull the hide off. Maybe on a perfect skin, but I've had it rip in half there and by the time you get both legs pulled out one at a time you have hair everywhere, the pliers just make it easier.
"The reason a dog has so many friends, He wags his tail instead of his tongue."
"I don't always listen to Black Sabbath, But when I do so do the neighbors."
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,297
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,297 |
squirrels shin better when they are still warm period,as do all animals.
LIFE NRA , we vote Red up here, Norseman
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 5,024 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 5,024 Likes: 1 |
I use my hatchet and chop off the feet, head, and tail. Slit across the back and pull their pants and shirt off. Takes less than a minute each. Gut them and rinse them off.
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Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 190
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 190 |
I skin them both ways, whatever I feel like at the time. I don't see any difference in work involved but these old boys here in southeast Missouri defend their method like it was their sisters virtue, or breed of dog. The rimfire/shotgun debate is another topic around here I shy away from.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,242 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,242 Likes: 3 |
I have a little insulated nylon fanny pack cooler that I stick an ice pack and some ziploc bags in when I go squirrelin'. Skin and quarter and put them on ice as soon as they hit the ground. They shuck right out of their hide lickety split when freshly killed and I don't have to deal with skinning/dressing nasty stiff squirrels when I get home.
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Joined: May 2021
Posts: 191
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 191 |
I've skinned a plenty both ways since the late 60's. I prefer to keep a pair side cutters, cut off the feet and tail. Cut across the back and pull apart, ring around the neck, pull head off, and dry. They are a little easier fresh killed, and blackhearts idea is a good one. I've used a hatchet also, but I've used the same side cutters since my dad used them when I was a boy. You pull as far apart as possible first pull, then work on each end separately, and with tail and feet gone, the hides gone in a jiffy. And what hair does get on dry meat, comes off much easier. Get it wet, lot harder get hair off.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 77
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 77 |
I saw this on Meateater’s YouTube page, and it’s worked well for me: https://youtu.be/FtspCxIfWuI
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,694
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,694 |
You haven't read through this thread, have you?
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 77
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 77 |
I had, just didn’t click on your link to the same video.
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