Hunting & Fishing Rimfire tree rats today

[Trevor300wsm]

I left of before the sun came up this morning to do some coyote calling. I went to some public land, which I normally never do. There were oil field workers and seismic workers driving up and down every road. Way too many people around for my liking. After a few stands, I said to hell with it. I came back home, got my .17HMR and headed out to a big bottom east of my house. There are a mix of oaks, pecans, and cottonwoods in this bottom. I laid out prone about 100yds from the trees by some round bails of hay and started looking. I ended up with 3 in about a hour without ever moving. I seen alot more, but they were deeper in the bottom and no clear shot avaialble. Anyway, it was fun and these fat tree rats will be pretty tasty on the grill this evening.

I sometimes forget how fun rimfire can be.

 

[tiNdvenTFHwMdqKW]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

I have one of those that needs nailing. Been raiding my Raccoon trap and eating all the bait.

 

[bornhunter04]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

I've eaten them fried, but how do you prepare them for the grill? Sounds tasty! Also, do you know of any way to 'soften up' the meat of an old boar fox squirrel? Damn things are like gnawing on leather sometimes!

 

[3hundredWM]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

Here's another tree rat taken today with my .22

 

[pdogsbeware]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

Those are some huge squirrels! Jeez! I'm used to them the size of the ones above.
But yes, you said it, you can have a hell of a great time chasing those elusive creatures with a rimfire

 

[Trevor300wsm]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

Yeah there isnt much meat on the lil grey squirrel like 40gr posted above. They usually taste pretty damn piney too. I've only tried to eat one of them before up in Colorado and it was cooked over a open fire. It was warm meat, but that's about all I can say for it.

Our squirrels down here are a bit bigger and they don't eat pine cones either. We fry them and grill them. Either way, we have to tenderize them. We take the meat, cover it with some plastic wrap or wax paper and beat the hell out of it with a meat tenderizer. This typically softens it up pretty well, but doesn't break it apart. Slow fry always works the best, but I like to grill them too. Just soak them in some marinade or rub and then throw them on a low fire grill.

As for a old boar, he's gonna be tough no matter what, just have to make the best of it.

I seen atleast 6 more down there today so I'll be back after em again later this week. With the .17, you pretty much have to make sure you hit them in the head, or your only gonna get about half a squirrel.

Makes me wish my .17 was sitting in a T5A or GAT.

 

[xxtagnastyxx]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

Nice man! Those things are the size of cats

 

[bornhunter04]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

Yeah you've def. gotta hit 'em in the head with that .17! I use eley subsonics on tree rats and those things will purt near take they're heads off! Works good on rabbits too!

- Trevor
do you debone them when you fry or just fry it up like chicken?

 

[armorpl8chikn]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PBinWA</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have one of those that needs nailing. Been raiding my Raccoon trap and eating all the bait. </div></div>
Bait your trap with honey bun or molasses on a biscuit.

 

[krw]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

When I was a kid I stayed with my Grandma a lot. Wooded lots all around and I brought in lots of squirrels. She would always seperate the older tougher squirrels and put them in a pressure cooker. Don't have a clue for how long. Then she'd take em out pat em dry, egg and milk, then roll em in flour salt pepper and fry. Literally would melt in your mouth. Then take the younger ones and make a batch of homemade dumplins and let em cook together. A damn good meal!

 

[Trevor300wsm]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bornhunter04</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yeah you've def. gotta hit 'em in the head with that .17! I use eley subsonics on tree rats and those things will purt near take they're heads off! Works good on rabbits too!

- Trevor
do you debone them when you fry or just fry it up like chicken?</div></div>

Just fry them like chicken. Ive never had much of a problem with the bones getting in the way.

 

[aaronraby1]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

awesome!!

 

[bornhunter04]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

sounds good to me, have to go pop a few more before the season goes out!

 

[Scotty22]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

We have always boiled them until the meat fell off the bone then made a stew out of it!

 

[3hundredWM]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

I deep fry tree rats like fried chicken. Bread em and dunk em. It's good eatin.

 

[pdogsbeware]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

I just fry them in a pan with a lump of butter. Simple but tasty!

 

[pizzamanny]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

Squirrel hunting is very underated. I love to squirrel hunt and it really builds field skills.

 

[One Holer]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pdogsbeware</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Those are some huge squirrels! Jeez! I'm used to them the size of the ones above.
But yes, you said it, you can have a hell of a great time chasing those elusive creatures with a rimfire </div></div>

Those are fox squirrels, which as far as I know are the largest squirrels in north america. I used to hunt them all the time growing up in NE Ohio. They are present in most hardwoods across the midwest. Grey aren't too small either. I transplanted to MN and still find the fox squirrels in the lower third of the state, with greys and those small red squirrels becoming more prevalent the further north you go.

 

[GardDog]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

We are loaded with grey squirrels around here. My ex-grandpa-in-law used to make a gumbo every Christmas with them in it. I really want to find some fox squirrels and get one mounted. Good shooting.

 

[Peloton]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

Tree rats = squirrels.....got it.

Grew up in Montana and live in Washington now. Tried squirrel once; didn't like it. Squirrel just isn't eaten here in the NW.

 

[3hundredWM]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

And just a correction, my squirrel in the picture is a pine squirrel. Not a grey. Pine squirrels taste better than greys because they are very picky about what they eat.

 

[Garvey]

Re: Rimfire tree rats today

My wife an kids are out of town next week and I'm going to be hunting every day I'm not at the fire station. This thread makes me want to fry up some squirrel. I think I'll add some cotton tail to the pan too! I havn't eaten either one of them in more than 20 years, and that's just wrong!