The squirrel hunt.

[Alleyyooper]

Saturday morning I got ready to take the dog out for her first walk of the day at 7:00 AM. A bit windy out but otherwise a nice morning. Returned the dog then got dressed in my light weight camo, got the 20ga. Beretta silver snipe OU and a hand full of shells. Went out on the screen porch to pick up the bucket I had painted flat black for doing just this. Walking down the trail thru the vacant field to the spot where I wanted to start it began to sprinkle. Since it was only a sprinkle I continued on my way figuring it would stop soon. By the time I arrived where I wanted to start it started raining harder so I crossed the creek went up the hill to one of my deer blinds. Got settled in the deer blind got the windows open ready to go. Took about 15 minutes and a gray phase fox squirrel was going up a wild cherry tree out the south facing window. Up the tree and out on a limb, the 20ga. spoke to collect squirrel #1. About 10 more minutes there was a nice red phase squirrel hanging on the side of a Oak tree out the west facing window. Again the 20ga. spoke to collect # 2. Rain isn’t letting up in fact there are tiny ice pellets falling with the rain, After a half hour of seeing no more squirrels a lull in the falling rain seemed to be the time to head for the house. Open up the blind door and see two red phase squirrels about 20 yards away. Again the 20ga. spoke collecting # 3 and # 4 Collect the squirrels and put them in my pail and head to the pole barn. At the pole barn I put the knowledge I had gotten from Mister squawks video to use. Boy is that a slick way to clean a squirrel I did all four in about 10 minutes and it was my first time. Not badly shot up either probably had something to do with trying for head shots with 7 ½ shot. Once the squirrels were clean it was time to pay attention to the shot gun. In my gun room I break it down and run a couple patches thru the barrels and wipe down the entire medal parts with an oily rag I keep just for this. While there decided to clean up something and put stuff away as it was still raining with no quit in sight.
Whoa hoo, I discover a new unopened box of 500 22LR shells 36gr. hollow points just the ticket for squirrels. Since it was raining and cold I didn’t go get the camera for pictures.


  Al

[kebee]

 Shot a lot of squirrels when I was younger with a 22 and air rifler, shake to much now though, and even ate them when I was a kid, would not touch them with a ten foot pole now when I learned they were a over size rat, quest I am taking all the fun out of hunting for food, took down a few dear in my life time of hunting, like eating them some good meat there.

ken

[iddee]

Just waiting for first frost here. Squirrels in a pot of dumplings is a lot better than squirrels in my deer corn pile.

[Alleyyooper]

People sure get funny ideas on eating wild meat. once the skin is off the meat is like about any other reddish in color and cooks up very well with the right spices and tempture. I like to wrap them in bacon and bake them. also really good in a sauce over rice. then there is time tested squirrel and bisket.

Makes a great pot pie too.

   Al

[Jen]

Hey Alley    do you keep honey bees?

[iddee]

I'll let Al answer that, Jen. I'll just say "big time". 

[Alleyyooper]

12 out yards say any thing?

   Al

[Jen]

Good Nuff      I was just curious cause I was seeing all these wonderful recipes, and no questions about bees

12 outyards! Good Grief you are a busy guy! How do you find the time to hunt and skin all those squirrels? 

I'm always looking for cooking and baking recipes with honey and not sugar 

[Alleyyooper]

Bees don't require much time at all. In fact I had two colonies I thought had died last spring. Didn't do any thing with the equipment as I was going to recycle the frames. Went to get the stuff 3 weeks ago and they are bursting at the seams. Got meds on them for winter now.
I figure the less I go fooling with them the lass chance of harming the queen.
I skinned 4 squirrels in less than 10 minutes and that included cutting them up to cook.

   Al

[LazyBkpr]

A buddy of mine from the Navy had a Ma that could make squirrel and dumplings that makes my mouth WATER even though its been 30+ years since I ate at her house...
   Squirrel, as stated, wrapped in Bacon, and filled with chopped onion, butter and a wee bit of garlic, then baked to perfection.. of course, I cook my rabbits this way as well.. provided they dont get deep fried.

[Alleyyooper]

I have seen the squirrel and dumplings recipe around. I would probably try to use my moms chicken and dumplings recipe and change out the chicken.

  Al