Im havin problems cleanin the lil critters whats the best way to clean them??? thanks alot Lake

We used to cut a slit across the hide on the back and put away from the cut with 2 fingers each way. This would turn the hide inside out. Cut off the head, tail, and feet and finally a regular, but small, field dressing.
Bill

7MM mag usually does it HAHA
Steve Sr.

That is how I have always done it. But be careful. My brother stabbed me in the hand with his knife while doing it this way. I was holding the squirrel while he cut it and he slipped with his knife. He cleaned the rest by himself.

Well, I'll give this a try. It sure would be a lot easier to show you, but here goes. For years, I skinned them using the cut in the middle of the back method, then pulling in opposite directions. Now, here is the method I use. Either have a buddy hold both of the squirrel's back legs, or you can stand on both of the hind legs, and you need to hold the squirrel tail. Make a cut across the base of the tail, through the bone in the tail, being careful to not cut off the tail. Next, make a cut from each side of the base of the tail, around the sides of the squirrel, and stop the cut on each side on the inside stomach area. Next, as the person holds the hind legs, or you continue to stand on them, give a steady pull on the tail. If you have cut correctly, the skin should pull to the front legs. Now, cut the thin piece of skin connecting the hide from the front and back legs. Flip the squirrel around, grab the hide attached to the front feet, and pull this hide over the head. Cut the head off, and next grab the hide connected to the rear feet. Give this a pull, over the legs, and cut the feet and tail off. Now, gut the squirrel and you are done. This is a whole lot easier than I have made it sound. Once you have figured it out, it is the easiest method, and you end up with the least amount of hair on the meat. Sorry I have made it so complicated.

Get someone else to do it...that's the best way.

I'm like you...I have trouble skinning them.

Bills way is the way i always done it and works great for me, just clean up with cool water after words and put them a pot with salt water

I've used bmagee's method with varying degrees of success, but with a little practice it gets easier and faster. Here's a great video that shows this method...

http://www.huntingfootage.com/data/5...UACKS_0002.WMV

Just make sure you stand on the tail bone when you're yankin' on the critter - otherwise the hair will just strip off under your boot and it gets messy! I found that out Saturday morning

we normally cut a slit behind the tail and pull its hide off then stop pulling at the head and break its arms and cut its head off then cut a slit in its gut and gut it

Thank you all for your info!! its a great help! thx Lake

their hard to skin but i usually do you normal field dress. then cut the legs off. i like to keep the head skin and fur because it looks better! ( that is VERY hard though )

Here is a link to a how to video:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...videoid=3403188

With the boy getting a little older, I think we will be adding squirrels to the campaign. Need to learn and teach him how to gut and clean. Enjoy.

i guess i got lucky. as kid my grandpa said he'd clean them if i head shot them with the .22.
he hated it when people hunted tree rats with a gauge.

Ok, this is the easiest way, It really works.

http://www.gutpilestyle.com/ForumSMF/index...?topic=1968.new

Follow the instructions and if you got a head shot, there will be no hair on ht meat.