Shawnee Squirrel Hunt in Its Tenth Year

Associated Content ^ | October 12, 2011 | Jayn Bigler

[MosesmomS]

Ask the guys at the annual Shawnee Squirrel Hunt in Southern Illinois, and they will tell you that there is no finer pastime than squirrel hunting - and no finer group of people than the hunters who attend the Shawnee hunt.

The Shawnee Squirrel Hunt, based at the Pine Hills campground in the Shawnee National Forest in Union County, was begun 10 years ago by Dan Kilgrove, who posted the hunt on the forum at Rimfirecentral.com. A decade later, the hunt has a core group of hunters who try to attend every year and who welcome newcomers to the annual hunt and to the sport.

[Red Badger]

But this year will be different.......................

[from occupied ga]

Ask the guys at the annual Shawnee Squirrel Hunt in Southern Illinois, and they will tell you that there is no finer pastime than squirrel hunting

Southern Illinois must have very few pastimes. As a person who has hunted and eaten squirrels, I can tell you I can think of fewer pastimes that are more boring or where the result was less appetizing (unless you like really tough meat).

[Nervous Tick]

But this year will be different.......................

Nah. Same ol', same ol'.Squirrels lose.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Squirrel Hussein.

Nice hat. Must have stolen in from Badger Bob.

[momtothree]

“As a person who has hunted and eaten squirrels...”

Okay, I have got to ask.... does it taste like chicken?

[from occupied ga]

does it taste like chicken?

No - tastes like rat. :-)

[Georgia Girl 2]

Actually it tastes a lot like squirrel. LOL!! Mighty tasty with gravy and rice.

[onedoug]

Squirrelly!

[dfwgator]

"SQUIRREL!"

[dfwgator]

Go Rangers! Death to the Squirrel!

[roostercashews]

< img src=”http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5758/1287/1600/hum075.1.jpg”;>

[Tainan]

Squirrel casserole. Layered with country ham sliced real thin and mushrooms. Chicken stock and a little bit of garlic. Add some potatoes slices. Lots of stock and save it for deglazing and sauce when its finished.
Slow cook it, thats the secret.

Same recipe works well for rabbit also.

[itsahoot]

Shoot all of them, fry the young ones, stew the old ones. Same with rabbit, and if it is a jack rabbit forget how old it is, because there is no way to make one etable except stew. Possum is really sweet and greasy, but they themselves eat anything. Raccoon, tastes a little like cat, but who didn’t know that?

[from occupied ga]

Of all the game that I've eaten, quail is probably the best, pheasant, the second best and squirrel at the bottom of the list (with duck just above squirrel)

Fish is a different story. I'd prefer most fish to almost any game. Wahoo, dolphin and grouper are my favorites, although triple tail, sheepshead, kings, and snapper are really good too. I've never caught a tuna or a swordfish, but I like the grocery store versions of these OK.

[from occupied ga]

Shoot all of them, fry the young ones, stew the old ones.

Are you talking about squirrels or liberals?

[Tainan]

I pretty much agree with most if what you have said. Squirrel might be an acquired taste;and it heavily depends on where the squirrel comes from, forest/tree/what its been eating and how its cooked. Done up right with ham or bacon and slow-cooked its good.
Most game is heavily dependent on how its cooked. Also where it comes from and what its been eating.
Agree about the fish. Although I have had some fish that was barely eatable...again, I place the blame on how it was prepared(cleaned) and cooked. Most people over-cook fish. Or add weird stuff to it and make its taste go off.

And don't even get me started on other things found in the water and/or along the shore...'arghhh!'

[kennyboy509]

It taste good but its so tough you can floss your teeth with the squirrel as you eat it.