HAS ANYONE NOTICED THAT IT IS O HARD TO SKIN OUT SQUIRREL FEET ON A NORTHERN GRAY SQUIRREL, FOR SOME REASON ITS NOT AS EASY AS FOX SQUIRELLS OR EVEN REDS, IS THERE AN EASIER WAY TO DO IT?
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Dunno why. I grew up hunting and mounting gray squirrels. Some squirrels peel like rabbits, and some seem like the hide is glued down. We used to cut a squirrel across the back legs, through the tail base, from heel to heel but NOT through the tail skin, step on the tail, grab the back feet, and yank the little critters out of their hides. Some gray squirrels defied that technique. Since most rodents were just a passing interest, except for squirrel stew and squirrel pot pies,and the eating qualities of rabbits and woodchucks, I never researched why that difference existed. The phenomena didn't seem to be sex differentiated, or even regional. Two squirrels shot from the same hickory tree often had both characteristics. Time of year didn't seem to matter either.
I have noticed that squirrels are easiest to skin when fresh, but then, so are most critters.
I would have answered this sooner, but I figured someone else would, so I passed it up. Sorry.
I just found it weird that they would be so hard to skin. but like you said it probably varies from squirell to squirell, what i did manage to do is soak the legs in water for about 20 minutes before i did the second one and they came up real easily. i think i probably have to do this next time as a precaution. i looked at the first squirell real well but it didn't have freezer burn, so must just be tough skin