How many squirrels do you have to kill to make a good y2k meal for five. I have zillions and envision eating many in Jan and Feb. How do they taste? Wild and gamey? What is best way to cook? Broiled, fried or blackended (in my fireplace)? what is best way to eliminate...pellet gun, shotgun or bazooka.

-- Rod (rspain@webcombo.net), November 28, 1999

Answers

Squirrels skin and gut like rats with bushy tails,the meat is a bit gamey and usualy is tough so a marinade will enhance enjoyment.Shotgun is the quickest way to harves squirrels but then you have to pick out that damn shot,I recommend .22lr instead..22 long rifle will also reduce the overall cost of each squirrel harvested and is always good for developing shot placement.

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), November 28, 1999.

for five mouths on meat alone you'd want 10-20 tree rats

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), November 28, 1999.

You can also fry squirrel as you would chicken. Dip in flour, salt and pepper then fry. Can also stew squirrel, slow simmer for 2 hours, then add carrots, celery, onion, bay leaf, potatoes, salt, pepper, and garlic.

Marinade

2 cups burgundy wine, 1/4 cup oil, 1 tbs. coarse ground pepper, salt to taste, 1 tbs. lemon zest (grated lemon peel), 6 cloves crushed garlic. Mix well, pour over squirrel and marinate for 6 hours. Place on grill over hot coals. This marinade can be used for all types of meat.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), November 28, 1999.

Juniper berries make a nice seasoning agent in a wine marinade for game. They're yummy in bell peppers stuffed with rice as well.

-- flora (***@__._), November 28, 1999.

Or, you could always hang around a power transformer in SF and just wait a while at the Kentucky Fried Squirrel [tm] takeout window.

-- The Whistler (I'm Here, I'm There, I'm Everywhere@so.beware), November 28, 1999.

If you're a good shot, try "barking" the squirrels. "Barking" is a term for shooting next to the squirrel, but not hitting it. The concussion waves from the shot hitting the tree will kill the squirrel without the shot tearing up the animal and ruining the meat.

My brother has used this technique, in fact, he killed an albino squirrel from ~ 50 yards.

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), November 28, 1999.

Q: Why did the squirrel turn onto his belly?

A: To hide his nuts.

-- baa (qwe@rt.y), November 28, 1999.

Tremble!!!Tremble I say at the Might which is the Fowl-Rodent Revolution!!!I have seen your Disgusting Remarks, and Have decided that the pink and brown Furless Apes will be ripped asunder!!!Fear Us, as we Prepare to Finalize our Greatest Attack EVER!!!I will have you bow Before me Monkey men!!!(and women!!!)To us, you are nothing more than Long Pig!!!You will be the Meat for Our Table!!!Surrender Now!!!Long Live the Fowl-Rodent Revolution!!!

-- The Squirrel King (StillNuts@upina.Tree), November 28, 1999.

For young squirrels, after skinning and cleaning, I leave whole, soak in vinager water for half an hour, then in fresh water for half an hour. Grease the squirrel with bacon fat, and lay on a low heat grill spread eagle for half an hour, turn over and cook another half an hour. Do not let the heat be too hot for this will burn and dry the meat. One squirrel feeds one person if they are hungry, but not famished. Shotgun with #4 shot is what I use.

-- chicken farmer (chicken-farmer@ y2k.farm), November 28, 1999.

thanks for all the advice on squirrels.Hope I dont ever have to kill one of the little fellers...much less have to eat one.

-- Squirrel Lover (rspain@webcombo.net), November 28, 1999.

Yeah, NOW you sign yourself as "Squirrel Lover," huh, Rod? Wimping out, are we? Thanks a lot. SK has our numbers now. I hope you're happy. (And just for that, you don't get my recipe for "Thin 'n' Crispy" squirrels, either.)

-- The Whistler (I'm Here, I'm There, I'm Everywhere@so.beware), November 28, 1999.

...and forget about my exclusive source for the Amazing Squirrel-O-Matic [tm]!

-- MMmmmmm (That's@Good.Squirrel), November 28, 1999.

Wife of a hunter recommends soaking wild game in Pepsi! Vinegar is a second choice.

-- 2cents (asif@its.needed), November 28, 1999.

A word to the wise -- Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and eating squirrel brains; Kentucky Doctors Warn Against Regional Dish: Squirrels' Brains; Doctors probe squirrel-eaters

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), November 28, 1999.

Anybody got a pattern for a squirrelskin cap? :-)

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), November 29, 1999.