2024/2025 Squirrel Hunting Thread...........

yellowhammer said:

Hey Ed, just noticed that time. Are you using an InstantPot? If so you don't need to run them that long. Big ole tough dry chicken breasts I only run 10 min. But, hey, I can't argue with success if 35 worked.

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I reckon it’s kind of the same, Stan. IDK for sure. The ole gal just got it and today was the first try out. After she took the squirrels out of the pressure cooker and started frying them, they smelled so good even neighbor nasty that hates me came over for some.

Yep. Humor me and try this:

1. Use your wire trivet, put in squirrels and 1 Cup tap water, sprinkle 1 tsp Tony Chachere's "More Spice" (LINK)
2. Pressure Cook, Pressure High, Temp Set High, Keep Warm Off, Delay Start Off, 10 Minutes, Start.
3. Manual vent when finished

....then fry like you did. I dunno, maybe squirrel is more tough and may need more time, but I doubt it.

yellowhammer said:

Yep. Humor me and try this:

1. Use your wire trivet, put in squirrels and 1 Cup tap water, sprinkle 1 tsp Tony Chachere's "More Spice" (LINK)
2. Pressure Cook, Pressure High, Temp Set High, Keep Warm Off, Delay Start Off, 10 Minutes, Start.
3. Manual vent when finished

....then fry like you did. I dunno, maybe squirrel is more tough and may need more time, but I doubt it.

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Thanks. They were plenty tender. Just took a little longer to fry up than she thought.

Cant argue with success. Sure looks tasty in the photo.

ETipp said:

Thanks to you my friend.

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I watched my ma and grandma cook all those squirrels we'd drag home when we were feral marauders. They get all the credit.

Never tried or own an instapot. I use a pressure pot. Put in just enough water to cover the squirrel pieces. Let the hula dancer on top jiggle for about 10-12 minutes. Pullem out, pat dry with paper towels, dip in egg and dredge with flour (I like Kentucky Kernel seasoned flour), then fry them jokers in oil or shortening. Then chow down like a hungry heathen.

ETipp said:

I reckon it’s kind of the same, Stan. IDK for sure. The ole gal just got it and today was the first try out. After she took the squirrels out of the pressure cooker and started frying them, they smelled so good even neighbor nasty that hates me came over for some.

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Neighbors tend to put their superiority complex when you've got some good stuff cooking. Funny how that works.......

ETipp said:

Now you’re tracking right. There’s nothing better than squirrel hunting with a small caliber, traditional ML. It is as challenging as it gets and the absolute most rewarding hunting I’ve ever done.

Hunting along a body of water can pay off big time.

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I have hunted anything but white tail with the muzzleloader, I can't wait it's going to be a blast.(pun intended)

Gum Slough Muzzleloader said:

Glad to hear your back in the Game.
I've a lot good things about the Cherokee.

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It's a little tack driver,I realy enjoy shooting it, 20 gr 3f spit lub patch it's the ticket for this one.

ETipp said:

No pressure, bud. But don’t go home unless you bring back a few squirrels.

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Well I recon a few is 3 or more, but I did get 1.

Earlier today I took Henry and the Crockett Rifle and just kinda scoped things out. We sat here and there. We didn't see anything. Very hot and humid, we did get a slight breeze now and then.

I found a couple spots to sit for an early evening hunt. I made a spot under a hickory tree where I could see several big oaks and a 4 or 5 hickories. I figured that they would use the oak trees to get to the hickories.

I was sitting on little folding stool a few minutes after 6. I saw some movement in the top of an oak. I patiently watched for a few minutes and saw some little birds moving around. Convinced myself that's all it was. Then I saw cuttings falling from the top of a hickory. The sun was shining on the leaves and you could see the cuttings raining down. I could not see him. I had some cover from tree I was sitting under using that I made my way the ti left. Now a big oak was between me and where I believe the squirrel was. I made about 10 or 12 yards to the oak. I peeked around and saw him moving, then he started make his way to an oak about 15 yards from where I was standing. I saw him jump.to the oak, thinking to myself, did he see me? He act like it, I lost sight of him and thought d@#& it. So I just chilled a few and then I saw his head in a fork of a good sized branch. I put the sights on him, just about ready to squeeze the trigger. 2 squirrels, one chasing the other straight towards my squirrel, again thinking they busted me. They ran right past him and ran off in the tree tops.

Looked up in the fork and he was still there cutting away. Put the sights at shoulder and chest and pow he came falling down, thud, got him just behind left shoulder and it pretty much took his right leg off.

Patience paid off big time.

Gum Slough Muzzleloader said:

Well I recon a few is 3 or more, but I did get 1.

Earlier today I took Henry and the Crockett Rifle and just kinda scoped things out. We sat here and there. We didn't see anything. Very hot and humid, we did get a slight breeze now and then.

I found a couple spots to sit for an early evening hunt. I made a spot under a hickory tree where I could see several big oaks and a 4 or 5 hickories. I figured that they would use the oak trees to get to the hickories.

I was sitting on little folding stool a few minutes after 6. I saw some movement in the top of an oak. I patiently watched for a few minutes and saw some little birds moving around. Convinced myself that's all it was. Then I saw cuttings falling from the top of a hickory. The sun was shining on the leaves and you could see the cuttings raining down. I could not see him. I had some cover from tree I was sitting under using that I made my way the ti left. Now a big oak was between me and where I believe the squirrel was. I made about 10 or 12 yards to the oak. I peeked around and saw him moving, then he started make his way to an oak about 15 yards from where I was standing. I saw him jump.to the oak, thinking to myself, did he see me? He act like it, I lost sight of him and thought d@#& it. So I just chilled a few and then I saw his head in a fork of a good sized branch. I put the sights on him, just about ready to squeeze the trigger. 2 squirrels, one chasing the other straight towards my squirrel, again thinking they busted me. They ran right past him and ran off in the tree tops.

Looked up in the fork and he was still there cutting away. Put the sights at shoulder and chest and pow he came falling down, thud, got him just behind left shoulder and it pretty much took his right leg off.

Patience paid off big time.

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Heck yeah brother Fred! Chicken of The Tree is on the menu!

Henry, wouldn't guve me the squirrel, he took it to the back door, this is the first time my little buddy didn't just drop it in front of me. I think he wanted to show it to "Mommie."My wife came out and praised him, plus gave him a treat.

The squirrels are cutting on acorns also. Seen a few on the ground all gnawed up.

snakebit said:

I watched my ma and grandma cook all those squirrels we'd drag home when we were feral marauders. They get all the credit.

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Agree 100%
My Brother from another Mother!

yellowhammer said:

Cant argue with success. Sure looks tasty in the photo.

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No ya can't. Tasty looking Is right..

Gum Slough Muzzleloader said:

Agree 100%
My Brother from another Mother!

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I'd give up most of my worldly possessesions to go back for one day to that big farmhouse kitchen. Platters of fried squirrel, cast iron skillets of corn bread, huge red matters sliced up, green onions, biscuits and wild honey, pipe smoke. 15, 20 people talking. When the grub hit the table, it got as quiet as midnight.

ETipp said:

Something to consider.

PATIENCE!!!
Much easier said than done sometimes in a game that I certainly do not always win. It reminds me of an old cartoon funny of two emaciated vultures sitting on a limb where one says “patience hell, I’m going out and kill something”.

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I'm usually quoting that old vulture.

Not today!

snakebit said:

I'd give up most of my worldly possessesions to go back for one day to that big farmhouse kitchen. Platters of fried squirrel, cast iron skillets of corn bread, huge red matters sliced up, green onions, biscuits and wild honey, pipe smoke. 15, 20 people talking. When the grub hit the table, it got as quiet as midnight.

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That's what made what we are today.
Fortunately we can relive them days from yesteryear.

Shortly after I moved down here, I was reading the for rent adds in the newspapers.
I had to ask someone what they ment by an eat in kitchen. They laughed at me and said it's a kitchen you can eat in. I said what the hell, I never lived anywhere that didn't have an eat in kitchen. Never knew there was such a thing.

Big Ole Farmhouse.

ETipp said:

Oh my gosh. 35 minutes in a pressure cooker, then roll in flower and cornmeal mixed, in a skillet for 35-45 minutes on medium low.

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Yep, works real well.

Gum Slough Muzzleloader said:

Well I recon a few is 3 or more, but I did get 1.

Earlier today I took Henry and the Crockett Rifle and just kinda scoped things out. We sat here and there. We didn't see anything. Very hot and humid, we did get a slight breeze now and then.

I found a couple spots to sit for an early evening hunt. I made a spot under a hickory tree where I could see several big oaks and a 4 or 5 hickories. I figured that they would use the oak trees to get to the hickories.

I was sitting on little folding stool a few minutes after 6. I saw some movement in the top of an oak. I patiently watched for a few minutes and saw some little birds moving around. Convinced myself that's all it was. Then I saw cuttings falling from the top of a hickory. The sun was shining on the leaves and you could see the cuttings raining down. I could not see him. I had some cover from tree I was sitting under using that I made my way the ti left. Now a big oak was between me and where I believe the squirrel was. I made about 10 or 12 yards to the oak. I peeked around and saw him moving, then he started make his way to an oak about 15 yards from where I was standing. I saw him jump.to the oak, thinking to myself, did he see me? He act like it, I lost sight of him and thought d@#& it. So I just chilled a few and then I saw his head in a fork of a good sized branch. I put the sights on him, just about ready to squeeze the trigger. 2 squirrels, one chasing the other straight towards my squirrel, again thinking they busted me. They ran right past him and ran off in the tree tops.

Looked up in the fork and he was still there cutting away. Put the sights at shoulder and chest and pow he came falling down, thud, got him just behind left shoulder and it pretty much took his right leg off.

Patience paid off big time.

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Congrats, bro. Sounds like you did everything right. I’m happy for you.

Was that a young squirrel or is that the normal size in Florida?

Henry is quite the dude.

yellowhammer said:

Hey Ed, just noticed that time. Are you using an InstantPot? If so you don't need to run them that long. Big ole tough dry chicken breasts I only run 10 min. But, hey, I can't argue with success if 35 worked.

View attachment 344480

Click to expand...

Stan, I’m not much of a cook.