Anybody ever eat ground squirrel?

[Poke 'Em]

I was camping last weekend and there were a ton of ground squirrels all around. It made me get to thinking that while I've never heard of anybody eating ground squirrel, I see no reason to expect them not to taste good. I'll probably shoot a couple next time out and cook them up in a stew or something. Anybody else ever had one?

 

[Tradewind]

I haven't been that hungry

 

[Poke 'Em]

I see people say that all the time, but why? For all you know, it's the best damn thing you never tasted.

 

[hank4elk]

....not yet anyway. I do think I had rat on bamboo ,too dark for duck. Spiced yuck.lol

 

[Ben Long]

Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Rancho Loco]

I hear it's delicious. You won't be disappointed..

 

[VAspeedgoat]

It can't be much different than any other squirrel. In fact I bet its not as tough. Likely more like rabbit.

 

[Sawtooth]

Just south of Boise we were having problems with the ground squirrels carrying the plague so you might want to check with your local CDC before indulging yourself with some of that good old "Montana Ground Squirrel Stew ".

 

[bobbydean]

I, also, thought they carried plague. Be careful!

 

[hank4elk]

They do in CA and they get a bonus here in NM,Hanta-virus.

 

[Tradewind]

I see people say that all the time, but why? For all you know, it's the best damn thing you never tasted.

"I, also, thought they carried plague. Be careful!"

My guess is bubonic. Bon apetite

ps: you're right, I don't know and don't care to know...

 

[whiskeydog]

Ground squirrels are more closely related to marmots and prairie dogs than they are to squirrels...I'll pass

 

[Nameless Range]

When we were little my brother and I would snare them and feed them to our Chesapeake. She would eat them whole, in two or three bites. Shortly after, she'd barf.

Last weekend my brother and I shot a few rockchucks and we discussed eating them. They are cool critters, but I don't know about eating them. I'd definitely make sure the meat was well-done.

 

[fishing4sanity]

Never have tried ground squirrel, probably won't unless I get real hungry. However, when I was in Peru, we did eat a lot of 'cuy' and I really liked it - here we call them guinea pigs and even pets, Peruvians just call them lunch.

 

[johnp]

Presentation is everything!!

 

[kansasdad]

fishing4sanity, Is it "you eat with your eyes first", or "eat the eyes first"?

 

[MHMT]

They taste just fine. Legs are super stringy and chewy but the mini backstraps are great! I will say though that it is a lot of work for the small amount of meat you get.

 

[Gunner46]

Wow! This thread takes me waaaayyyy back... to when we had a ridiculously long descussion on "Roasted Fluffy" (Rats). 10, 11, 14 yrs ago?

I know Paws was in on it, and Moosie, if I'm not mistaken. Schmalts??? TNCB ???

I tried to search my past posts, but they weren't there anymore. Damn shame. Some of those originals were pretty d@mn smokin !

 

[Beartooth83]

I might try it, but I can never seem to execute the "gutless method"

 

[teej89]

I might try it, but I can never seem to execute the "gutless method"

View attachment 59178

hahahaahahahah!!!