I have recently reintroduced myself to hunting after many years away from the sport. With all the time away my ideals have changed. Now I want to use as much of the animal as possible. What is the best way to dress and skin a squirrel and still retain the hide in the best condition for tanning? This is not a commercial endeavor but is just for my personal use and satisfaction.

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Hi, Can the tail also be preserved this way and retain the color and bushy look? The squirrels I've taken this year show nice color on the tail hairs when you view them close up. Gray, black, brown and white hairs that blend together to look gray from a distance. I've been eating the squirrels but not using the hides yet and I really appreciate Bloodnativ's idea to use more of the animal and appreciate also the info you provided, Thanks!
-BB-

Thank you Edward. That's the way I did last weekends harvest. I just wasn't sure that I was doing it right or using the best method. I have only dried the skin so far and have not started any tanning yet. You mentioned the salt and alum method, but what about the Alchol and terpentine method. I can get the supplies for that easier and from what I have read sounds like an easier method and may produce better results for the inexperienced such as myself. This is my very first tanning attempt.

IAMBOB, mine also show that same color on the tails. They are very beautiful! I live in Florida where are you? I wonder if it is diet or a regional color variation or maybe just genetics. Don't know. I still have them tacked onto a drying board so I haven't looked at the body of the hides yet. I'm hoping all that will come through after tanning.

Hello Bloodnativ, I'm in New Jersey. This is my first season as a hunter although I'm middle-aged. Before becoming a hunter I was not much of an outdoors person at all so you can imagine how much I'm enjoying this addition to my life.
About the squirrel tail colors: I'm leaning towards the genetic and natural selection factors especially now that I read from you that they are so similar down there in Florida and knowing that their diet has to be different from that here in NJ. What a suprise when I retrieved that first animal and saw the tail up close!
Good hunting, let us all know here on the boards how you are doing!
-BB-

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I think I'm going to try the Alchol and Terpentine method of tanning. I have read that it is just as easy as salt and alum and produces a better hide. I'll let you know how it goes.