I am apparently at the age where doing things the way I have always done them is getting harder to do. So, I am thinking about making a squirrel skinning plate; (because I’m to cheap to pay for something I can build myself.) I never knew such a thing was out there until a day or two ago. They have one on you tube called a Ridge Runner skinner I believe, and it’s a bit more money than I care to drop for a piece of metal with holes and slots bored in it. I believe it would make my old worn out back happier after a good day of hunting. So my question is, has anyone used one of these things, and if so, do they work as good as they appear too on video ? Let me know what you think. Thanks!
My uncle made and uses one he says there great.
I started using side dykes and catfish skining pliers makes a big difference for me.
My wife taught me how to skin a squirrel when I met her, really. I had been taught to cut a squirrel across the back and pull both ways which results in a hairy squirrel when finished. Now I cut under tail and pull it off like a glove which results in a clean squirrel and a very nice bobcat flag with tail, hide, head and all in one piece.
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That’s how I do it by the tail.
Is there an easier way to cut the tail bone
And leave the skin still in tact
I use a fillet knife and push under the tail bone and pry up that can get a little touchy
Or dangerous
I’m always really careful but don’t know till you ask ?
Two ways
One-cut down to the bone and twist it with your hand and at it will separate.
Two- cut down too the bone and use the tip of a pair of side dikes to nip it into,you can even feel under the tail with your holding hand and control the cut works like a charm.
I’ve skin a few squirrels
Colt
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I’ve skinned a few myself
But I feel like the old saying
Never to old to learn something
And it took me all these years to finally use a pair of linesman’s pliers to cut the feet off like butter
By Dykes you mean wire cutters
Never heard that term before
Remember my brains old
Yep side dykes,I use them to pop of the feet too I always just broke them over my thumb against the blade but you dull your knife quite a bit after 4 or 5. I use the dykes to remove the pelvis to saves my life edge again
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Thanks Colt
I plan on going a couple more times before
Gun season
Love the walk in the woods
The other morning it seemed they were paired
Up
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My 8 year old son killed his first squirrel this evening all on his own with my old Rossi 410 breakdown which is his now lol Proud Daddy is a understatement
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No holding him back from here on ! Better be looking up squirrel recipes now!
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I can still remember my first squirrel I thank I was 4, it was too far to kill with my New England 410 and I was too little to c ock it on my own so daddy cocked it for me and I slipped closer he was setting low on a limb balled up cutting a hickory I put it on his head like Daddy told me and he rolled out at the crack of the gun. I’ll never forget that squirrel setting there when I close my eyes I can see him.
I killed two like that that morning.
It was a gun safety course nightmare but I was a squirrel hunter!
(Before I get asked Daddy had me hold the gun strait out in front of me pointed away from us with both hands as I snuck up on um) and it felt liked I walked into the holler but daddy said I only was going about 10 yards.
Congratulations on your son’s first squirrel
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There’s only one first squirrel. I too took mine with a .410. Tell him congrats and glad to hear some young person is still interested in small game.
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Thank you all a lot I was sure proud yeah he’s into all kinds of stuff we go to the lake he’s on the boat fishing with me half the time he runs the line with me last year he got started wanting to go coon hunting with me now this I ain’t never really tried to force all of it on him it’s always been a just offer him to go and he would sometimes turn me down then show him the days catch whatever it would be and he would get mad cause he didn’t go so he’s come to it naturally like yesterday I never said a word he was home from school I just got home from work and asked if we could go so I didn’t hesitate hoped on the sxs and we went !
I hope this one is one he never forgets , this one he done all on his own I just helped cover his ears lol he wanted them covered so I did thst way he wouldn’t get nervous if the sound and miss which this fall he’s been practicing he’s shot 3 boxes of shells they ain’t been a bottle or can safe at the house lol
That’s what stopped Chloe for ever was she was afraid of the noise she’d flinch cry after she shot, she finally pulled it together last year and killed a few doves and misse some more squirrels.
She still kinda Leary of the noise even with ear plugs in.
Colt
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I just held my hands over his ears and talked him thru it and he smoked it lol I knew if I didn’t cover his ears he would be nervous cause when he shoots in the yard I always have ear muffs on him lol but after he shot he turned around and said I barely even heard the gun I told him that when the adrenaline starts pumping and he’s in the moment he wouldn’t even hardly hear the shot , after that he turned around and said you was right dad I barely even heard it
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