that 20 will do just fine for tree rats...just dont use a turkey load

gutting a tree rat the first time you will feel like you have nothing but thumbs but after the first couple you will be a pro.

take your knife(i like to use a small pocket knife) and make a insision right at the Y(breast bone).
then cut down to the vent(anus)...just try not to go too deep.

when you are done take your finger and starting at the ribs scrape/pull the inards out.(i also find it easier if i split the small pelvic bone so that i can get all of the guts out in one easy pull).

you now have a treerat that is ready to be skinned.

this part too at first will be somewhat akward but dont worry you will get it.

the way that i skin out a tree rat is that i will place the body flat on it's belly.

then i will cut straicht across it's back(about the middle)

then i will pull the skin downand over the legs until i reach the joint between the upper and lower leg.

at this point you will cut the leg completly off...along with the tail... do the same with the upper body and the head.

ohhhhhhhh now you want to know why that bushytail has more bdy hair than a woman from europe... hold him under running water to get the worst of it.... then take a large pot....add some cold water and some salt(salt will draw out some of the blood) let em soak for a bit then rinse and either cook or freeze.

if you are gonna fry them up what i do is brown them slightly first...this makes pulling those last stray bits of hair easier

best of luck to you and your wife and enjoy the hunting/cleaning and then the eating together