got my first squirrel, preserving the tail?

[metaldonnieg]

I just shot my first squirrel, a small one, by random chance and I'd like to keep the tail as a trophy. I remember seeing this discussed on here earlier but I've searched and didn't find the right topic. can you help?

[fingerz42]

no wonder you dont get a deer.. you're out during deer season shooting at squirrels of all things..

[metaldonnieg]

haha, i was on my way back to the truck and was in sight of it when this fella came hopping across my path.

i ended up not getting to go back out today. family came to visit [:'(] oh well, still got 3 weeks of it...

[outdoorslover]

Congrats on him. They're fun, ain't they? I thought they would be dull to hunt but they're extremely fun.

I just dry the tails out for about a week or so. Make sure they dry straight. I don't know if that's the correctway to dothem but that's how I do it. I know that some people split the tails butI don't think it's necessary. Good luck and happy hunting.

[metaldonnieg]

Ah, I figured that's about all there was to it. I shoved the cut end in salt because there was obviously some meat there so I thought that might help suck the moisture out.

Thanks for the help man!

[squirrelkilla23]

try to get that tail bone and meat outta there

[metaldonnieg]

any instructions on that?

[McKianj]

Hold the tail bone with a pair of pliers, then pull turning the tail insideout oventually the tailbone will finally come free. Then role the tail so its back to normal, take a pair of scissors and cut right down the back of the tail till your atthe base of the tail. Fill will salt and dry, it will take practice for I have done it serveral times and still rip the tail, Have fun.

[Mundt]

all you really need to do is salt it down really good. I have one that was salted and it still looks nice after 12 or 13 years.

[bigdeernofear]

i save all of my squirrels, i stretch the fur out on a board and put salt on it. after about every week put a fresh coat on and it gets really nice