wild game

[aczeller]

bottom line, I love killing things. deer, rabbit, pheasant, etc... my target of choice is squirrel due to them attacking my garden every year, but that is another story for another rampage some other time.

anyway, like I said, I have an uncontrolable desire to kill something, then eat it. that being said, I would really like to try rabbit and squirrel this year. alledgedly, the first frost of the year is coming tonight, so I have a feeling that i could justify the cost of a permit this year and stuff my freezer with some litty bitty furry critters. i have a feeling that I could probably smoke them too... i dunno why, but i think you guys may be able to help me out on that one.

My problem is how do I cook them? I have heard good things about bunny stew and fried furry things, but never tried it. anyone got any good starting recipes? nothing too spicy, nothing too strong. it pretty much boils down to the fact that if my wife doesn't like it the first time we try it, i may never get to eat them again. lol.

Later,
Andy

[Richtee]

Rabbit is an excellent stew meat. While it is good roasted and perhaps smoked..(never tried) to me the stew's the way to go. Do a salt/pepper/rosemary/thyme/onion/garlic flour dredge, brown in some rendered bacon fat (or veggie oil... heh!) and add some red wine, water, carrots, celery, peppers...etc and set to simmer. Accompany with noodles, rice, or good crusty toasted bread.

Google fricassee for more options....

[RowdyRay]

Well, I've never smoked one......yet. We ate both squirrels and rabbits all the time growing up. You can do them in a roasting pan in the oven. Put a little water in it with buillion if you wish, or a good pile of onions. Throw in taters and carrots after while too.

Where we used to deer hunt was loaded with fox squirrels. (bigger) Because of the small oven in the camper, dad always brought some of those roasting bags, it worked better. He'd throw a couple of them in the bag with veggies and some water and go out hunting until dark. When we got back, dinner was done.

[Texas-Hunter]

If you plan on smoking rabbit, be sure you drape it with bacon so the meat does not dry out.. Wild Hare seems to be more lean than anything else I have smoked..

Now Tree Rat is some good stuff cooked in a crock till it falls off the bone... Chop and mix with some gravy for breakfast along with biscuits....

[RowdyRay]

If you plan on smoking rabbit, be sure you drape it with bacon so the meat does not dry out.. Wild Hare seems to be more lean than anything else I have smoked..

Now Tree Rat is some good stuff cooked in a crock till it falls off the bone... Chop and mix with some gravy for breakfast along with biscuits....

Yep, the crock works good too. Made a gumbo with squirrel and a creamy wild rice soup with rabbit all in the crock. Both times the folks that ate it didn't have a clue. Hehe.

[THE__DRIFTER]

One of my favorites over the years. Unfortunately this is not my recipe since I actually have no recipe. Mine was always of the bit of this and that nature. You can get the idea though..

• 1 cup Bisquick (Original Recipe)
• 1 cup of milk
• 2 cans cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can sliced mushrooms (drained)
• 1 one pound bag frozen mixed vegetables (thawed and warmed on stove top)
• 2 large eggs
• 3 guttted/skinned/boiled/de-boned large gray squirrels cut into chunks.
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
2. mix eggs, bisquick and milk with a fork til blended well and set aside.
3. mix soups, meat and vegetables in ungreased 9 inch baking pan.
4. Pour blended batter on top til covered completely.
5. Cook 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Notes from Steve: for variety soups can be interchanged with cream of brocolli, cream of asparagus, cream of celery or cream of chicken.. Makes a hearty meal for 4 adults/ feeds six children...

Personally I like a brown gravy and an actual pie crust. Pretty much stew with squirrel, veggies, and a crust. Never smoked a squirrel but might be interesting.

[Fishawn]

Craig has a recipe for the South African Hissing Skunk Rat around here somewhere.... .... Never tried it though....

[aczeller]

thanks guys. i picked up my new scope this afternoon over lunch. gonna sight it in tonight and start plinking tomorrow. the freeze didn't leave until about 9 or 10 this monring, so everything should be a little more "normal" i guess. I was always taught that rabbits and squirrels are not to be eaten/killed until after the first good freeze due to infection, boils, etc. i dunno if it's true, but i'm not about to chance it i guess.

Later,
Andy

[mulepackin]

We used to get some as a kid. Cottontails were good basically prepared like chicken (no cliche intended). Roasted or breaded and fried. As already stated, be careful about them drying out, same as most game. Jack rabbit was another story, very tough no matter how cooked.

[Mark R]

thanks guys. i picked up my new scope this afternoon over lunch. gonna sight it in tonight and start plinking tomorrow. the freeze didn't leave until about 9 or 10 this monring, so everything should be a little more "normal" i guess. I was always taught that rabbits and squirrels are not to be eaten/killed until after the first good freeze due to infection, boils, etc. i dunno if it's true, but i'm not about to chance it i guess.

Later,
Andy

I live in Florida and grew up (did not) shooting both sqirats and rabbits. Generally no first freeze here, so I'd say not true. Squirrel we always put in gumbo, rabbit - baked, stewed, fried, gumbo, BBQ(grill) or smoke but as others have said wrap in bacon to smoke or it will be a brick.

[HawgHeaven]

Grew up on pheasant, squirrel, and rabbit... although I am not a hunter. My grandpa and uncle were big time hunters, and we feasted on them critters. Love eating 'em, fried mostly, but my crew does not want to even consider ingesting such "madness"...

Someone invite me to a pheasant/squirrel/rabbit feast... I'll be there!

[aczeller]

thanks guys... I have only seen a couple squirrels around my neighborhood over the past couple of days. i think the cooler weather scared them to the trees for a little while. today is supposed to get to 72 though, so hopefully I can get one or two. I doubt I will go to a small-game only diet, but it'd be nice to have some free meat to tinker with for a change.

Later,
Andy

[curious aardvark]

mate of mine's just got into rabbit shooting with some enthusiasm so I've told him i'll have a go at ground rabbit jerky, sausage & snackstix. just need a bunch of rabbit meat :-)