Squirrels, Puff Balls and a Skull

canadian hunter312

canadian hunter312

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Went out scouting for deer yesterday on a new property and decided to take the .22 to get a few bushytails for the deep fryer and wasn't disappointed. I ended up seeing about a dozen squirrels in one small area and being quiet and stealthy was definitely in order as they were being their normal skittish selves taking about 15 minutes to show themselves after I found a big walnut tree and a bunch of sign. All head shots ranging from 15-45 yards with grandpa's (RIP) BRNO 591...might as well hunt them in style :cool:

I also found 4 puff balls, but only this one looked good as the other 3 were full of holes. Oh well, leave the others to produce more for next year...

I then found a complete skeleton of a canine of some sort, but I haven't a clue if it's a yote or dog. Is it possible to ID the skull if I were to take some pics with measurements for you guys to examine? I thought it was rather odd that it appeared that every bone was in the pile, except for one half of the lower jaw? I was looking over the skull while thinking about cleaning it (any tips?) and discovered a small ball of lead the size of #6 shot completely embedded in the skull above the eye socket with another indent, that's not on the other half of the skull, right below this about 4x larger and 1/8" deep. Yote that met a turkey hunter who shot him with #6 shot with just a random divot in it's skull? Maybe hit with a larger piece of lead and the larger shot fell out while the small fragment remained embedded in the bone?


Shake n Bake squirrel and pan fried puffball for dinner tonight! :D


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I found an awesome spot for the deer stand too in an unlikely location with multiple heavily used trails intersecting and 5 rubs close together not 40 yards from the road. At least it'll be an easy drag bag to the truck if i get one there.
 
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I have no idea how they (taxidermists) whiten skulls, but have heard peroxide is used some how.
That or use Crest Whitening strips ;)
Very cool find and someone has a story about how they pasted a coyote maybe.
Not sure about the buffet spread on the squirrels either.. Then again I have never had them before .
hence my apprehension.
A Good Days outing though and Thanks for sharing the story or Grandpas Gun too.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
We used to eat the big puffballs as kids back in Alberta. Never tried squirrel as non have ever been around where I lived.To whiten the skull I use bleach and water and let it soak a few days but not to long or the smaller teeth loosen to much.Peroxide would probbably work also but never had any to try it with.
 
NShunter1254 said:
Fungus and rodents for dinner, sounds delicious,I think I'll try a T bone steak and mashed potatoes.But don't feel sorry for me i will survive.
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LOL...you're making me sound all redneck and such. Thanks :D

While I agree that steak rates higher than squirrel, when deep fried in shake n bake it's much better than any chicken, and healthier. As for the puff balls, they offer a very nice nutty flavor and are excellent sliced then fried in butter.


I'm actually surprised by the quality of this large puff ball as the big ones I find usually aren't any good for eating.
 
tg07lq said:
What is a puffball? Lol
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Puffballs are a large mushroom that is completely safe to eat and easy to identify, there are no poisonous species of mushroom that resemble a puffball so it's hard to mistake. Google the wiki on "Giant Puffball" to find more info.

I've been looking all over for puffballs this year, glad someone has had some luck.
 
Wrap the skull in paper towel, toss into a ziplok freezer bag, dump in one bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Turn daily for a week.
 
You can boil the skull in water to get the smell and stuff like that out looks like it could be a fox or a wolverine.
 
I'm gonna have to check out my local puffball spot. Maybe take the 410 with me and knock of a couple tree rats in the morning after bow hunting. Then I can make the gf some squirrel for lunch. :)
 
haha49 said:
You can boil the skull in water to get the smell and stuff like that out looks like it could be a fox or a wolverine.
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If you boil it, the teeth will come loose and fall out. Too big for a fox, most likely a large coyote, dog, or wolf depending on the area.
 
I wish I had better luck when I was out hunting squirrels and trapping squirrels. But that puffball looks really good and that is ance looking skull. As to whiten it I heard bleech and baking soda. I might go out squirrel and chicken hunting again soon.
 
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