For those curious about squirrels

[Jakeemt]

Fox squirrel video

[njloco]

That's good info, now if you could just show me how to do that with a whitetail deer, I'd be a happy camper !

Really, good information.

Thanks for posting it.

[JDow3]

Nice video OP.  I've tried that a few times and need more practice.  I think I'm not getting that initial cut through the tail deep enough.  You mentioned cutting towards the legs a bit and that makes sense.  

I'll give that a try next time.  Thanks for sharing.

[tracker12]

I have been cleaning squirrels that way for a few years now.  It is easy but if you do not get the cut right is won't work.  With a little trial and error most can get it right.

[Jakeemt]

Originally posted by JDow3:
Nice video OP.  I've tried that a few times and need more practice.  I think I'm not getting that initial cut through the tail deep enough.  You mentioned cutting towards the legs a bit and that makes sense.  

I'll give that a try next time.  Thanks for sharing.

Yeah like I mentioned in the video you really have to make sure you cut all the way through till along your whole cut you can just see skin. Lol been there done that. Ripped the tail off plenty!

[mgf]

Good job.

I've been using that same basic method for about 50 years now but I do a couple of things a little different.

After cutting through the tail, I skin up the back a couple of inches or so...to make sure that I have enough to stand on.

then, I continue my cut along the ribs toward the front leg a bit on each side (toward the arm pits). That leaves you with a cleaner tab to grab on the belly to get the pants off.

I don't remove the head yet. I again stand on the tail while I grab that belly tab to get the pants off.

With a gut shot squirrel or with an old tough fox squirrel it doesn't always go quite that smooth but, with a young fox or a grey, it's easy going as long as they aren't shot to pieces.

the backstraps are some good meat,depending on the squirrel you can get 4-6 inches of stap. I rip the ribs back toward the head and end up with just backbone and straps. the ribs just sheer off the backbone. thanks for the video, I still haven't tried to peel one like that. but I will.

[2bird]

Great video !!!!

[McDave]

Thanks Jake, this is what I was looking for.

[Msbow]

That's how my grandaddy taught me to skin squirrels. I've been doing it this way since I could hold a knife. Once you get the hang of you can clean your mess of squirrels in no time.