Anybody eat raccoons

[Longhunter]

I was raised on all kinds of wild game, Venison, bear, raccoon and porcupine. My grandpa was a hunter and trapper, always kept coon hounds and there was always some kind of wild meat on the table every day. I remember my grandma baked the coons in the oven until they were just about fallin off the bone then she'd put barbecue sauce on em and they were lip smackin good, rich dark meat. You've gotta take out the glands under the legs and trim off all the fat you can.

When I was a kid I had a single shot 22 and a single shot 12 ga shotgun. I spent more time in the woods than I did in school. I sold the coon hides to the fur buyer and nailed the porky skins on the outhouse. when they got too ranchy grandma made me take em down.....Coons...the other dark meat....:~)

The picture is my deer camp in 1959. Two hides from bow killed coons....we ate the rest of em...

[oomcurt]

Hi Ron,

Well...I've eaten possum, which imho is dang good! I've eaten beaver, which to me has the texture and somewhat the flavor of beef. I've eaten woodchuck..now there is some fine eatin also. I've eaten gator, which is really good..sort of a poor man's lobster as far as texture goes...the flavor is not at all bad either, imo. I've eaten moose, which imo is the best of all big game meats. I've eaten elk...which to me is too much on the lean side, in the winter I need animal fat to stay warm. And, of course I've eaten deer meat, which I love also. I also love squirrel. Snake is not bad...but very bland imo.

But, I've never eaten coon....that is something I would love to try.

As far as game birds..I love duck or goose...as well as ruffed grouse. Pheasant....you can keep. Too dry. Pigeon...love it.

[rollingb]

I've ate coon and beaver, in fact I used to provide our local American Legion with coon and beaver (from my trapline) for our yearly BBQ.
Bobcat is another favorite of mine, but Moose is my all time favorite, followed by Buffalo and Elk respectively.
Caribou is good when they ain't in "rut", but I like Black Bear better (espeacialy the ribs) when cooked slowly over an open fire.
 
When it comes to birds,.... "Creamed" Pheasant over biscuts is another favorite of mine, and so is Bob White Quail (I like both better than Grouse).
I'm not much of a Duck, or, Goose eater, but I've ate some that other people cooked and it' was very good.

Of course over the years, I've probably ate close to a "wagon load" of Bunnies, Squirrels, and Jack Rabbits.
One winter when I was a kid and we had a terrible blizzard that closed the road to town, we lived for almost 2 full weeks on nuthin but Jack Rabbits (and eggs from my mother's chickens ).

[Three Hawks]

I dunno if 'coons are legal game animals here in the People's Republic of Washington, but before I was married, over forty years ago, I was hunting in late Fall and shot a raccoon.  I was trying to dress him,  her or it, whichever out, but the stench was so overpowering I chucked the carcass into the brush.  I've always been kinda ashamed that I didn't at least try to cook and eat it, but, lord almighty, that thing stunk ! !  

I've never even spoken harshly about raccoons since.  

Three Hawks

[Longhunter]

I dunno if 'coons are legal game animals here in the People's Republic of Washington, but before I was married, over forty years ago, I was hunting in late Fall and shot a raccoon. I was trying to dress him, her or it, whichever out, but the stench was so overpowering I chucked the carcass into the brush. I've always been kinda ashamed that I didn't at least try to cook and eat it, but, lord almighty, that thing stunk ! !

One mans stink is another mans perfume.... :rotf

[Roaddog]

Yep coon is very good like Longhunter said, Backed and BBQ. There isn't any game I wouldn't eat and I have tried All that has been mentioned except the Bobcat.

[jbullard1]

I hate to think about the number of years since I ate coon.
I was reared in rural Mississippi and game was an extra meat. only certain game was taken during the summer the male Bob White Quail was one. But come fall rabbit squirrel coon were all fair game

[Uncle Russ]

I hate to think about the number of years since I ate coon.
I was reared in rural Mississippi and game was an extra meat. only certain game was taken during the summer the male Bob White Quail was one. But come fall rabbit squirrel coon were all fair game

Jerry, I suspect many of us "more senior" folks are in the same boat. When I was growing up, anything other than wild-game was considered a big treat....which includes pen raised stock as that was used for traddin for other staples......

My Grandpa used to say, "Iff'n it's coon meat ya like, jest stay the heck  away from them ol' he-coons because they'll burn out ya taster's!".....Gawd, I loved that old man!

I have eaten coon. I know I have.
But, from the minute I first read this, I started thinking about when it was that I last ate coon, and for the life of me I just can't remember when it was, and I can't remember the taste.
It had to been after the depression, back in the 40's.

Uncle Russ...

[Fletcher]

I suppose I might be able to try coon if someone else did the skinning and dressing.  Like said above, it is hard to get past the stink.  I remember that from many years back night hunting them in eastern Montana.

I think I have had a few things that I did not know for sure what was in the bottom of the pot!

[butterchurn]

I have never eaten anything like that.  Stupid question, but I have to ask. What about rabies?

[david32cal]

when i was a kid anything dark meat,coon,whistle pig,mom threw in the crockpot with BBQ sauce.lite meat critters,rabbit,possum,squirrel went in the skillet.never cared that much for coon,like Longhunter said it is a very rich tasting meat.would rather have a squirrel or possum myself,but you ate what was put in front of you.

[deadfallpaul]

Yeah!!  Coon roasted in the oven with stuffing, potatoes and carrots and onions!!!
Then you put Frank's Louisiana Hot Sauce on the meat!!  Yum!!!!

 Have eaten most all the above and one that wasn't mentioned.
   Muskrat.
Good done up as barbecue.

Favorite is moose then elk.
A buddy of mine makes the best beaver stew you ever ate!
Brings it to our trappers convention I have been  going to in Maine for years.

Oops!!
I forgot my other favorite.  Squirrel pot pie!!

[Uncle Russ]

Oops!!
I forgot my other favorite. Squirrel pot pie!!

Don't think for one minute that you've got a monopoly going on Squirrel!
:rotf

I don't want to get off the subject here, but I personally don't think there is any better eatin than the lowly Skwerl!

Pot-Pie, Fried just like Chicken, Skwerll dumplings, or anything else you might dream up, like Skwirl Chili....it's still the little Prince of wildgame!

I envy the heck out of you guys that live where there's good hunting.

Uncle Russ...

[Fletcher]

Deadfall yer a better man than I....

ya lost me at Louisana...

Pure gringo here... just salt and pepper!

I guess I have been spoiled with an abundance of the big critters as well as clean water mountain trout.

So my wild game taste probably would not be considered as wild and wide as so many of you out there.

[jbullard1]

Unk Russ et all
Come on down to Houlka and join in
We will be after them tree rats in a couple more weeks

My grandmother loved boiled skweril heads; Yep the heads