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

[snakebit]

Low and slow on indirect heat. Spritz with apple juice regularly. You can do it on a Webber kettle if you have one of those Jim.

I would add once temp is at about 120 degrees, wrap in foil or pink butcher paper. 160-165 is the target temp.

 

[Jim K]

Low and slow on indirect heat. Spritz with apple juice regularly. You can do it on a Webber kettle if you have one of those Jim.

All I have is a gas grill. I’m interested in getting a smoker though.

 

[snakebit]

All I have is a gas grill. I’m interested in getting a smoker though.

Gas grill probably would run too hot. I have no luck on them.

 

[Jim K]

Yeah, the squirrels I did on them were like eating leather. Not no mo.

 

[snakebit]

Yeah, the squirrels I did on them were like eating leather. Not no mo.

Can't say I blame you one bit. I can smoke pretty much anything I want on my Weber Kettles. Once you figure out the venting they are pretty easy. Only downfall to smoking, when people know you are smoking, the "random visitors" seem to increase.

 

[Coinneach]

Well there’s a good reason why I only watch that movie twice a year. Ya see, Henry Frapp’s cantankerous attitude has such an influence on me that I pick it up and it sticks with me for a while. Every time that happens, things get real ugly around here and I just about have to find another place to live.

If only it were as easy now as it was back then……trade a horse or a few blankets for a new wife.

 

[Coinneach]

Y'all don't eat the brains, do you? Not me - no way Jose. My wife's friend from KY said they ate them all the time growing up; they considered them a delicacy. Doesn't seem like much there but maybe a spoonful.

ETA: Safety issue there with CWD? Hoax? Article: LINK

'Y'all don't eat the brains.....Doesn't seem like much there but maybe a spoonful." So kinda like LGBT and Woke Biden supporters, but more colourful with rainbow motives....

 

[ETipp]

Ed, I’ve never tried smoked squirrel and don’t have a smoker. Are they dried out or tough? I like smoked meat. How do they come out. I’m interested and would get a smoker. I’ve heard wild turkey breast is great smoked too.
I grilled some squirrel one time. Tough as nails. Only did it once. I bought a pressure cooker and 15 minutes in there, debone and add barbecue sauce. Pulled squirrel sandwiches!

The smoked squirrel has me interested!

Jim, smoked squirrels are the best I’ve ever had. No doubt about it.

It has been said about smoking any kind of meat is, after the smoke flavor has gotten into the meat, you can take it out of the smoker and finish it in the kitchen oven if you like or are concerned of it out it drying out too much. I do not do this, however.

What I do is, after the smoke flavor has gotten into the meat (or fish) is I reduce the heat a little. Then keep them in there until done. Lower heat and a bit longer.

Considering they are so small, the front legs on squirrels will get done first. No big deal. The back and rear legs get done about the same time.

My marinade I make from Teriyaki BBQ sauce (the thick stuff ) not the thin stuff for cooking. I mix it with water and brown sugar to where it’s a little thin but still somewhat thick. This serves two purposes. It’s great marinade and after placing into the smoker, I brush some on the meat, as well as half way though the smoking process. Allow the meat and marinade to sit covered up in fridge overnight.

I have a sensitive stomach so I avoid pepper, onions and some other spices many folks like. But those can certainly be added into the marinade.

I prefer hickory chips for meat and apple wood for fish.

One thing I have never tried is boiling squirrel meat before placing into the smoker. I do plan on trying one squirrel like that then compare to the other squirrels in the smoker.

 

[ETipp]

'Y'all don't eat the brains.....Doesn't seem like much there but maybe a spoonful." So kinda like LGBT and Woke Biden supporters, but more colourful with rainbow motives....

I remember my dad talking about eating squirrel brains when he grew up.

I haven’t went quite that tribal yet.

 

[ETipp]

All I have is a gas grill. I’m interested in getting a smoker though.

Jim, I don’t recommend getting a smoker with a window in the door. They don’t work out very well. My current smoker has a window and a digital thermometer/timer. Neither work out the greatest. The window is impossible to keep clean and the digital thermometer has a long lag time. I’d like to install an analog thermometer on mine.

This time I went the electric route, which is fine. My last smoker was a propane model. That worked out well for out west up in the mountains when I was camping/hunting.

One thing is for certain, I love eating smoked meat when I’m up in the woods or out in my boat fishing for hours on end. Due to the smell, I do not take smoked meat along when big game hunting.

 

[gonpce]

I remember my dad talking about eating squirrel brains when he grew up.

I haven’t went quite that tribal yet.

When my wife and I were first married I took her grandmother some squirrels and she was very upset that I'd thrown the heads away. She said the brains were the best part

 

[snakebit]

Jim, I don’t recommend getting a smoker with a window in the door. They don’t work out very well. My current smoker has a window and a digital thermometer/timer. Neither work out the greatest. The window is impossible to keep clean and the digital thermometer has a long lag time. I’d like to install an analog thermometer on mine.

This time I went the electric route, which is fine. My last smoker was a propane model. That worked out well for out west up in the mountains when I was camping/hunting.

One thing is for certain, I love eating smoked meat when I’m up in the woods or out in my boat fishing for hours on end. Due to the smell, I do not take smoked meat along when big game hunting.

Im still a charcoal and wood smoking kind of guy. I did think about one of the Masterbuilt charcoal smokers with the electric fan/temp control. As the family gets smaller, can't justify buying one. I'll probably have all 4 going in early May. My daughter is graduating from college and her party menu keeps growing.

 

[Chmachin]

When my wife and I were first married I took her grandmother some squirrels and she was very upset that I'd thrown the heads away. She said the brains were the best part

We still eat them here.

 

[Jim K]

Jim, smoked squirrels are the best I’ve ever had. No doubt about it.

It has been said about smoking any kind of meat is, after the smoke flavor has gotten into the meat, you can take it out of the smoker and finish it in the kitchen oven if you like or are concerned of it out it drying out too much. I do not do this, however.

What I do is, after the smoke flavor has gotten into the meat (or fish) is I reduce the heat a little. Then keep them in there until done. Lower heat and a bit longer.

Considering they are so small, the front legs on squirrels will get done first. No big deal. The back and rear legs get done about the same time.

My marinade I make from Teriyaki BBQ sauce (the thick stuff ) not the thin stuff for cooking. I mix it with water and brown sugar to where it’s a little thin but still somewhat thick. This serves two purposes. It’s great marinade and after placing into the smoker, I brush some on the meat, as well as half way though the smoking process. Allow the meat and marinade to sit covered up in fridge overnight.

I have a sensitive stomach so I avoid pepper, onions and some other spices many folks like. But those can certainly be added into the marinade.

I prefer hickory chips for meat and apple wood for fish.

One thing I have never tried is boiling squirrel meat before placing into the smoker. I do plan on trying one squirrel like that then compare to the other squirrels in the smoker.

Thanks for that Ed. Gonna get a smoker. Any recommendations on propane or electric?

 

[Jim K]

Ha. Didn’t read far enough before asking this question. You already answered it. Thank you!

 

[longcruise]

Thanks for that Ed. Gonna get a smoker. Any recommendations on propane or electric?

I'm not Ed, but I had an electric one and it tried to electrocute me.

 

[ETipp]

Ha. Didn’t read far enough before asking this question. You already answered it. Thank you!

Pretty sure a propane smoker would be easier to maintain a certain temperature, just like a gas stove. I decided to go the electric route this time due to the hassle of propane tanks. Electric is easier for me.

 

[ETipp]

I'm not Ed, but I had an electric one and it tried to electrocute me.

Demons!

 

[longcruise]

Or squirrels!

 

[ETipp]

Or squirrels!

But they are such cute little critters.