I kill and eat a LOT of squirrels. A conservative guess is about 400-500 in the past 10 years. As you might guess, I’ve cooked them several ways, but the easiest and most efficient method is with a pressure cooker. I cook 5 gray squirrels for 35 minutes. After they cool, I pick meat for about 30 minutes and end up with just 2 and half cups of shredded boneless meat - about 1 lb of meat.
I’ve made shepherd’s pie, jerky, burgers, and chili, but my favorite way to eat it is with bbq sauce on good rolls or with just a fork. It is delicious. Tastes like chicken thigh meat, but not as greasy.
Squirrels will eat eggs, nestlings and fledglings. The reason has to do with a lack of protein in their diet or some other deficiency.
How about the texture and appearance? Are they similar to chicken too?
Mr. Ludd you are my mentor.
My neighborhood is overwhelmed by them, and I bought a fancy high powered air rifle to assist.
Problem is my dog: when she sees me get out the air rifle, goes ape with excitement, and loudly scares the squirrels away.
My dog is very squirrel-centric. She loves the chase, loves the taste, etc.
If the squirrel is in her mouth by the time I get there, she gets to keep it, which is accordance with my rule of never eating anything that has been in a dogs mouth.
Sounds like good eating. You have a good plan for getting out the squirrel meat.... like picking over a turkey carcass after Thanksgiving
I think it would be good in a quickie type Shepard’s pie topped with mashed potatoes or mashed turnips