Any of y’all out after coyotes lately? I’m getting a lot of feedback via email, from hunters around the county who have been out targeting song dogs but having a pretty tough time of it. They’re not really coming into the critter in distress calls lately…. I’ve experienced that myself. As the coyotes are in the midst of their breeding season, the only calls that appear to be working are territorial howls and female barks and yips.
Stick to the vocalizations and challenge their right to breed. Do that, and you may bring in a candidate for a new throw rug. But as the coyotes are growing tough to hunt, I’m going to take a break and switch gears back to the tasty little tree rats and rabbits. There is still plenty of season left to get outside for a nice long vigil amongst the oaks while watching for a shaking limb.
I’m still seeing lots of tree-rats in the oak hammocks on the SW side of the Citrus WMA and I’ll be headed there at some point this weekend with my nephews and an ancient family heirloom of a .410. The weather has been perfect and the exercise of getting outdoors is always welcome. Fresh air and the beauty of the forest are quite the incentive to get out of your recliner, but fried squirrel for supper; now that’s what drives me.
FRIED SQUIRREL
2 to 3 squirrels cut into quarters
1/3 cup lemon juice
crushed ice
1/3 cup milk
2 eggs – separated
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
salt and pepper
2 cups all-purpose flour
vegetable oil for deep frying
Place in a large bowl; sprinkle with lemon juice and cover with crushed ice. Refrigerate for 1 to 3 hours. In a small bowl, whisk together milk, egg yolks, and 2 teaspoons of oil. Beat egg whites until stiff; fold into milk and egg yolk mixture. Sprinkle quarters with salt and pepper; dip each in a milk-egg mixture, then dredge in flour. Heat vegetable oil in a deep-fryer or skillet to 375°. Fry the squirrel parts until golden brown. When you remove the squirrel quarters, transfer to paper towels to drain.
And rabbits…. I’m seeing quite a few cottontails lately. In fact, there are quite a few more out and about this Spring than I’ve seen in a very long time. And I’m eager to invite one or two home with me. I’ve access to a parcel of land near Ridge Manor and I’m finding rabbit signs around all of the food plots. Most are showing the new grass growth is beginning to sprout. Find most any fields with heavy grass and cover about the edges and you stand a chance of kicking up a bunny or two. A good beagle would help, but I’m not so fortunate as to have one at my disposal.
If any of you are out in the woods or on the water this weekend, I wish you the best of luck! And as always, if you have any questions or a story to share, feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]. God bless, good hunting, and best of luck to all of the Squirrel Hunt competitors who’ll be joining me at the Lake Lindsey Mall and Deli this Saturday!
