my dad taught me to skin squirrels like this:

1. shoot 'em in the head (usually there ain't much to cut after a good head shot

2. tie or nail the front feet to the side of the barn (two nails were already there. . . been used alot to skin squirrels)

3. take a REALLY sharp knife and start cuttin' (around front legs then down the belly, and around hind legs, then peel skin back and off

4. once hide is removed, gut out the tree rat

5. remove remainder of head, remove legs and tail

6. rinse off with cold water and then place in pot of salt water

grandma took over after that. . . .