Help Squirrel!!!!

Jolyon

Life Member
Feb 1, 2010
66
0
wokingham
Hi all,

bit of a call out, I have a wild camp with 4 scouts this weekend and am desperate for some squirrel for them.
i have access to a beautiful oak woodland with a stream full of cray and rabbit both of which I have been happily hunting. But no squirrel!!
Bit if a first for me to come across old/ancient woodland with no sign of the tasty little tree rats!
So.......
anyone infested and live near to RG45? Happy to pop out ad collect within sensible distance.
ideal would be frozen very soon after dispatch so i can thaw and the scouts can do the prep as well.....
 

ged

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jul 16, 2009
4,995
29
In the woods if possible.
You might find local specialist butchers doing them - it's more common than you'd think thesedays.

I could post you a couple but if they got delayed.... :(
 

Jolyon

Life Member
Feb 1, 2010
66
0
wokingham
There speaks a man who shoots his own ;)
butchers getting squirrel is something the guardian talks about but in my experiance just does not happen, and I'm not going to pay £5 for a squirrel! Lol.

previous years there have been plenty but this year seems rather sparse. Just would like them to try it as well as rabbit , plus I'm not a huge fan of rabbit! LoLolx here
 

Bushwhacker

Banned
Jun 26, 2008
3,882
8
Dorset
Nut harvest was crap last autumn and the winter lasted long, so it hit 'em real hard this time 'round.
This year I've only shot 2 at my place. Not seen any others, nor have I heard any chittering.
 

Elines

Full Member
Oct 4, 2008
1,590
1
Leicestershire
You could try contacting some local farmers.

I think they tend to have people shooting pigeons and they may also shoot squirrels. But I went down to Melton Mowbray market yesterday to buy some dead squirrels (I've seen them unsold at 50p each) but they said they hadn't had any in for about 6 weeks.

Even if the people don't do squirrels maybe you could swap to pigeon instead if they are available.
 

Harvestman

Bushcrafter through and through
May 11, 2007
8,656
26
55
Pontypool, Wales, Uk
Mid-summer is a bad time for squirrels anywhere, as there is little for them to eat. They can actually starve at the height of summer. Therefore, about now squirrels are probably in their poorest condition of the year.
 

Elines

Full Member
Oct 4, 2008
1,590
1
Leicestershire
Mid-summer is a bad time for squirrels anywhere, as there is little for them to eat. They can actually starve at the height of summer. Therefore, about now squirrels are probably in their poorest condition of the year.

Thanks for that - didn't know it was the case - and explains why none available at the market
 

mayobushcraft

Full Member
Mar 22, 2007
260
1
62
Yeovil somerset
When I lived in Florida I would have to clean and soak the squirrels over night in salt water to help draw the tannins out or the meat would taste very bitter. Not sure if it is the same over here. I made a stew out of squirrel and rabbit without the soak and the rabbit was tasty but the sqirrel was awful.
 

Chiseller

Bushcrafter through and through
Oct 5, 2011
6,176
3
West Riding
Summer squiggels are tastier than winter ones IMO due to the lack of acorns they've eaten.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
 

mereside

Nomad
Aug 21, 2010
254
36
hornsea
sorry cant help as too far away but if you do get some and want a tasty snack the best thing for squirrel is bone out all the meat and chop into pieces make a simple batter with beer and seasoning and deep fry in a dutch oven it really is tasty and our last dinner party i did it for everyone not telling them and they loved it the thing is now they want it all the time,good luck in your search,wayne
 

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