Syracuse.com - President of 'Squirrels Unlimited' talks about his passion for hunting and eating squirrels

[HuntingNY-News]

New York's squirrel hunting season begins Sunday.

Joe Wilson has a passion for squirrels. He loves to hunt and eat them, and is on a mission to convince others to join him.

The 40-year-old, Bentonville, Ark. resident is president of Squirrels Unlimited. The group, according to its website is "Dedicated to the recognition and promotion of the squirrel as one of mankind's greatest gifts."

Joe WilsonSubmitted photo 

New York State's small game hunting season opens Sunday, which includes hunting for squirrels.

Wilson said his 1,200-member group's emphasis is to keep, and rejuvenate among young and old alike the long-standing heritage in this country of hunting squirrels and other small game. Wilson said he travels a lot, speaking about the joys and benefits of squirrel hunting at outdoor sports shows, on radio shows and other events.

"For me, like many others, it started off hunting in the backyard and fields around my house, shooting small game when I was young," he said in a phone interview this week. "Now as an adult, I've taken out many youngsters and taught them to hunt. The rewards are great. They'll forget the video game they played yesterday. But their memories of being outdoors will last a lifetime."

In addition to promoting small game hunting, Wilson wants to keep alive the idea that squirrel meat is good-tasting meat. As part of his group's $30 fee, members get "a lot of squirrel swag," Wilson said, including a t-shirt and bumper sticker that says, "Squirrel. It's What's For Supper."

On Sept. 7, Wilson's group is hosting the World Championship Squirrel Cook-off in Bentonville. Entrants from seven different states are expected. The event has been featured on the Travel Channel . Wilson also said he was interviewed recently on the Dr. Oz Show about eating wild squirrel meat.

How old were you when you shot your first squirrel?

I was six. After I harvested it, I was determined to clean it myself. I did it before my Dad came home and cooked it up. I didn't do the best job of getting it ready. It still had small patches of hair on it, but I ate it.

Talk about the history of eating squirrel in this country.

It dates back when this country was first settled by colonists. It's been served at the White House. During the recession, the only protein on a lot of tables was squirrel meat. It kept a lot of people fed during hard times.

What's the current state of squirrels in this country?

Well, they're not endangered, such as bald eagles or alligators. Squirrels are endangered in some small areas. But in most places they're found in great numbers in all sorts of terrain -- deserts, valleys, mountains and in city parks. For the majority of this country, the squirrel population is at an all-time high and squirrel hunters are at an all-time low.

 

For those who've never tasted the meat, how would you describe it? What's the best part?

It doesn't taste like chicken. Depending on the time of the year the squirrel is harvested, it will have either a mild game taste to a strong game taste. A lot depends on what they've been eating. Compared to other animals, it comes the closest to rabbit meat.

What recipe won your squirrel cook-off last year? Talk about some of the other recipes entered.

Brandon and Blaine Espes of Rogers, Ark. won with squirrel sliders - ground squirrel meat made into hamburgers. It beat out such dishes as squirrel tamales, squirrel tacos, traditional dishes such as fried squirrel and gravy and gumbo - even squirrel pizza. If you can cook it with any other meat, you can cook it with squirrel. It's 100 percent organic and all natural.

What did the winner get?

A check for $500, courtesy of Mepps, the company that makes the fishing lures. Mepps buys squirrel tales and uses them to make Mepps spinners.

Why is a good thing to start a young, or novice hunter off with squirrel hunting?

It's cheap and easy. All you need is a firearm and a box of 22-caliber bullets or shotgun shells. When you start off with small game hunting, it's a great opportunity to teach and fine tune the youngster on the basics of hunter safety, conservation practices and the circle of life. Squirrel hunting teaches beginners how to make clean, ethical shots -- not just focusing on the side of a deer, but on the head of a squirrel. Also, it teaches them there's more to hunting, than just hunting big game. There's other small game such as rabbits, quail and pheasants, and they're a lot of fun to hunt. I've heard of 8 or 9 year old boys going out and shooting a (trophy) 185-class buck. What do they have to look forward to in life after that? Dating a super model?

What's your definition of a trophy squirrel. Is there such a thing?

For some, it's getting an oddball squirrel, such as one that's albino or black. For the majority of squirrel hunters, it's just getting out in the woods and getting your limit. That's a trophy day.

Read more about Squirrel Unlimited on the group's website at squirrelsunlimited.com.

Read more about the World Champion Squirrel Cook-off at squirrelcookoff.com.

KNOW THE LAW:

The New York State squirrel hunting season for gray, black and fox squirrels kicks off Sunday and lasts until Feb. 28. Hunters are required to have taken a hunter safety course and possess a small game hunting license when afield. Those hunting before Oct. 1 must have a 2012-2013 license. The daily bag limit of gray squirrels is six. There's no limit on the number of red squirrel that can be taken. For more, see the DEC website.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog