This is the cleanest way (less hair) to skin a squirrel. And it is fast.
Cut off 4 paws, cut off tail at base and head. Put knife point with edge up under hide and cut down the back starting at either tail or head, like gutting the back. A gut hook is handy for this also. Then peel hide from back to belly, grab squirrel around belly and pull hide off of legs. Very fast, very clean. Rinse squirrel if water is handy. Now you are ready to gut the critter.
I use the same technique on elk. Remove legs at knees, remove head. Slice down back from head to tail. Skin hide from back to belly. Bone out shoulder, hind quarter, remove neck meat and back straps. Lay meat on hide with flesh side up. When done with that side put meat in bags. roll carcass over onto hide and then do other side. Then saw backbone from top (behind ribs) and remove back straps.
Cut off 4 paws, cut off tail at base and head. Put knife point with edge up under hide and cut down the back starting at either tail or head, like gutting the back. A gut hook is handy for this also. Then peel hide from back to belly, grab squirrel around belly and pull hide off of legs. Very fast, very clean. Rinse squirrel if water is handy. Now you are ready to gut the critter.
I use the same technique on elk. Remove legs at knees, remove head. Slice down back from head to tail. Skin hide from back to belly. Bone out shoulder, hind quarter, remove neck meat and back straps. Lay meat on hide with flesh side up. When done with that side put meat in bags. roll carcass over onto hide and then do other side. Then saw backbone from top (behind ribs) and remove back straps.
