Love squirrel. I have taken to hunting them with a .36 cal flintlock. Now, my dad and grandmother would always argue over the heads. Mom used to fry them with the rest of the squirrel. I never could bring myself to eat brains, but...

For anyone who hasn't tried it, armadillo roasted in the shell is as good as it gets...

Bluefish heads are great. The "tenderloins" in the top of the head and the cheeks are fabulous. Field mouse isn't bad either but they don't have a lot to offer. It would probably take more than two-dozen to make a decent meal for one person.

We were burning a brush-pile when the dog caught a field mouse that was trying to escape the heat. After allowing the dog to worry the poor little beast for a while I rescued it from certain death only to have it die in my hand.... so I roasted it over the fire and ate it - not bad at all... sweet, tender dark meat for what there was of it.

Destry;

My squirrel season netted me one (1) fuzzy butt. I guess I have lost my ability to hunt squirrel. I'll try to find some turtle as I have perfected my soup de turtle, cloned that of the Rockwell Springs Club. Muskrat is mighty good also. My prefered way is to fix rat is to stew it in creamed corn as in Brest Bay style and serve over mashed potatoes.

I'm getting hungary because of this food conversation plus it is time to serve FG.

BTW Destry the Boo Whap gun is up for grab's

Rog

I've eaten squirrel heads just out of curiosity, but didn't find them to be very good really. The old timers at home raved about them though, the jowl meat, the brain, and even the eyes were delicious tidbits to them. The cheeks and other head meat off catfish was also something they'd spend hours digging out.

I'll agree that muskrat is pretty good if cooked right, and beaver is about the same, maybe even a little better. Turtle is the king, if you can get it tender, that's the real trick. Always wanted to try softshell turtle but have never had the opportunity, we'd see them down at home but never got around one big enough to eat.

Squirrels are my favorite wild game though, even above duck or quail.


Destry

Down here on the Eastern Shore, muskrat meats once sold in the country stores for a dollar. I never took advantage because there were always Oysters for sale at the same time. Now we don't see the rats for sale, at least publicly. I don't know much about squirrels. You'll have to ask The Lovely Linda. She knows quite a bit about squirrels and skinning and eating them. I'm a little unsure about the eating part.

All these protein sources reminded me of a great thread on shotgunworld.com. A contributor there inherited his grandmother's recipe box and has been adding recipes from time to time. It is depression era stuff and any source of protein was "fair game". For those who enjoy making a good meal or have a good friend to make it, enjoy GRANDMA'S RECIPE BOX
Mmmmmmmmm..........

Have several cousins who muskrat trap and turtle trap...so if anyone is interested...can get both for you. Last I paid for turtle it was not cheap. Walleye cheeks I can get too, in the spring. Let me know. Can ship in styrofoam and dry ice. Blessings, Lee