squirrel question

I never actually hunted squirrels before and I'm considering trying it if for no other reason than to cut excess consumption at my birdfeeders.  My question is, once you shoot one, do you have to do anything special in field dressing it?  I know squirrels are muskelids, meaning they have a distinct scent producing ability.  Is there anything special I should be doing, or can I just gut em like a rabbit?  I wont shoot one without eating it, and my wife has a good recipe book and the right attitude.

nothing special needed.  They are tough though, so skin them while warm.  Normally when we're squirrel hunting we'll shoot one or two, pick it up and bring it back to where you're sitting.  while you're skinning the woods will calm back down.
 
My dad likes to skin from the back legs forward, splitting the skin around the legs as if he were saving the fur.  I prefer to cut perpendicular to the back and just start pulling the skin apart.  Squirrels are tough so you're not going to hurt the meat.

Thanks,
Rick

Skin them while they are still warm or they are tough to skin.

Not to get technical,, but mustelids refer to members of the family mustelidae, which include weasles, mink, fishers, (formally skunks but they are in a new family now).  Squirrels are not mustelids they are in the squirrel family, as you mentioned they do however have an anal scent gland.  Not trying to be petty just informative. 

you kill it make sure you eat it . the rule of the land . don't kill unless you eat it or someone eles

Hey all you squirrel hunters!
 
Go on youtube and put in "how to skin squirrels."  There are a  few videos on the subject, but watch the one where the guy lays the squirrel on the ground,  stomach side down,  and then cuts right below the tail and up the back for a few inches.  He then steps on the tail and pulls up on the legs. Amazing! The squirrel is skinned in about 15 seconds. I tried it and it really works slick on grey squirrels. It doesn't work that great on fox squirrels though.

too bad you cant speed gut them and skin them like a rabbit.

what i always did was...cut the feet off at the ankles and the tail..make a horizontal slit the middle of the back and then pull apart so the skin slides off over the back legs then cut the head off..then gut the thing.    i think thats what i did..or gutted it first? then made the slit and pulled the hide off. i'd remember if i had a squirrel in my hand....

22 was the route I was gonna go down.  I always have these dreams of taking up small game hunting, then, the next thing I know, hunting season is over.

When I'd get them, I'd make a cut around their midsection and peel the bottom half down and the top half up.  I'd also like to second the recommendation to do em fast.  That skin welds to the meat.