Clean squirrels as soon as possible after they've been shot.
Warm squirrels are easier to skin than cold squirrels.
1. Turn the squirrel upside down and lay its tail on a counter,
tailgate, tree stump, etc., so that the underside of its tail is facing
up. Cut through the base of the tail, being careful not to cut
through the skin on the other side. Next, slice a few inches of the
skin on both sides of the tail down its back and use your fingers
to help separate the skin from the meat.
2. Lay the squirrel on the
floor. With one foot, step
on the tail, and with your
hands, hold the squirrel's
back legs. Using your foot as an anchor, pull the squirrel's legs upward to peel
the skin up to the base of its head. Continuing to hold onto the legs with one
hand, use your other hand to pull the front legs free out of its skin. Stop at the
base of the paws.
3. Continuing to use your
foot to hold the tail, peel
the skin off its hind legs
upwards, stopping at the
base of the paws.
4. Next, cut the front legs
from the paws by cutting
away from you. Then
separate the body from the
head. Then cut the paws off
the hind legs. If the squirrel
is male, trim off its testicles
and penis.
5. Hold the now skinless squirrel
abdomen side up in one hand. With
a sharp knife, blade turned upward,
cut through its sternum and all the
way down to the anus. Be careful
not to puncture any innards.
6. Then pull the entrails out,
starting from the windpipe and
separating at the rectum, and
discard.
7. Rinse squirrel under cold water and pat dry. Freeze in vacuumed
sealed bags if you're not going to use it soon.
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Squirrel Cleaning Steps
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By Jenny Nguyen
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2015 • NEBRASKAland 53
PHOTOS
BY
JENNY
NGUYEN
