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Anybody eat woodchucks?

chiefbkt

By chiefbkt,
in General Hunting

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chiefbkt Newbie

chiefbkt

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I was talking to a guy today and we were talking about woodchuck hunting. I told him I shoot 10-20 off the farm every year. He responded with "how do you cook em?" I responded with I don't! I've never thought about cooking one up, but after talking to this guy, I just might have to! He said it tasted like roast beef...not sure I believe that. And that you just had to make sure you remove the glands/sacs on the back and under the armpits. Anyway, anyone on here shoot them and eat them? Or has anyone ever tried it? After scouring the web I found some recipes that actually sounded pretty good. I will try pretty much anything at least once. Looks like woodchuck may be on the menu at least once this summer!

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fasteddie Grand Master

fasteddie

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I shoot most of the chucks with a 223 V-max bullet . It makes a mess out of them .

Some people say they are cleaner than rabbits . I have never been able to bring myself to eat any wood chuck . I recall seeing a couple crock pot recipes but I didn't save them . I bet they could be GOOGLEd though .

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Pygmy Experienced

Pygmy

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So do the Hippies!

I never ate a hippie...OOPS there was that time back in the mid sixties when I met that long legged flower child and..Never mind...

 

As far as woodchucks go, I  have eaten them several times...

 

The young of the year taken in July or August  ( having been born in April or May) are tender and very tasty..I would compare them to squirrel or cottontail rabbit..

 

The adults are edible, but somewhat stronger tasting and more gristley.. They would be best stewed or crockpotted or some other long, moist cooking method.

 

Edited by Pygmy
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hunter49 Newbie

hunter49

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 My buddies mother would make a stew out of the young ones & it was great.  When we would hunt them she always said "leave the big old ones & be sure to bring home the little ones"!  All they eat is grass & clover.  She roasted a racoon once it was ok but very greasey. She was from Tenn. said both were reg. meals when she was a kid. I would eat the chuck  stew but pass on the coon.

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Doc Experienced

Doc

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I have this image from back in my childhood of woodchucks that our dog used to drag home. You know .... something for him to roll on. The smell and appearance and the maggots were somewhat traumatic for a youngster ..... lol. I think I won't be eating any woodchuck soon, even though I know through all logic that they should be as good as any of our more common edible grass-eaters.

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PREDATE Newbie

PREDATE

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I have this image from back in my childhood of woodchucks that our dog used to drag home. You know .... something for him to roll on. The smell and appearance and the maggots were somewhat traumatic for a youngster ..... lol. I think I won't be eating any woodchuck soon, even though I know through all logic that they should be as good as any of our more common edible grass-eaters.

I'm in the same boat as DOC, although I'd prolly try it once.

 

 If Miss Kay won't eat the brains , then I'd have to pass. lol

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G-Man Veteran

G-Man

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They are pretty good, at least the young of the year. My grandmother use to cook them wrapped in bacon like squirrels. As for being a rodent they are all tasty if eating naturally and not of some garbage pile, kind of like bear...

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G-Man Veteran

G-Man

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They are pretty good, at least the young of the year. My grandmother use to cook them wrapped in bacon like squirrels. As for being a rodent they are all tasty if eating naturally and not of some garbage pile, kind of like bear...

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Culvercreek hunt club Enthusiast

Culvercreek hunt club

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I have eaten them but never prepared them. SPot on with the ones born this year!! I have no idea if this is an ole wives tale but the guy that prepared them talked about a scent gland in them that needed to be removed and he compared it to a tarsal gland. I have no idea where it/they are or what they look like, but he swore that is what made them taste bad. I liked his. it was like stringy pot roast.

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Pygmy Experienced

Pygmy

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I have eaten them but never prepared them. SPot on with the ones born this year!! I have no idea if this is an ole wives tale but the guy that prepared them talked about a scent gland in them that needed to be removed and he compared it to a tarsal gland. I have no idea where it/they are or what they look like, but he swore that is what made them taste bad. I liked his. it was like stringy pot roast.

         The glands, or "kernels" as some oldtimers call them, are on the underside of the shoulder blades and on the inside of the body cavity next to the backstraps, one  on either side of the spine.

 

       Squirrells have them in the same places..I have always removed them on woodchucks but have had squirrels with them present and with them removed, and I can't tell the difference. I  usually remove them anyway, just because my Old Fat Father told me too....

 

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chiefbkt Newbie

chiefbkt

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I went out yesterday and filled in all the holes in our fields I could find, all 23 of them! I figure this way I will be able to tell when they start to get active without actually seeing them. I think I will wait till summer to attempt eating one though, as it seems like most people recommend the youngins which won't be available till then. It seems like I should have a pretty good herd of them this year too (with all the holes), so if anyone is nearby and wants to try some, stop in! I also found this website that has a bunch of wild game recipes. <br /><br />http://www.wildliferecipes.net/Game_recipes/Small_game_recipes/Woodchuck_recipes/index.asp<br /><br />The woodchuck patties sounds pretty good! That might be what I try.

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hunter49 Newbie

hunter49

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I'm not sure I get it. I dont eat the shells. Everyone eats eggs. Very few restaurants serve groundhog.

 

Again, I'm not hating. It's only an opinion.

  Just saying when you think of what some eat;  mountain oysters, brains, tongue, pigs feet, etc.

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