Muskrats!

[ShOrebird]

OK! So not many people may care about this, but I have found muskrats for sale.
You either love them or hate them but, it has been a tradition on the Eastern Shore.
The meat is all dark and tender and soooo delicious!

Dayton's Restaurant on Snow Hill Rd in Salisbury, usually offers muskrat dinners on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the trapping season (FEB-MAR). You get a whole muskrat with hominy, gravy, turnip greens and cornbread. This year, however they only sold them for one week. Gordy, who runs the place, had trouble finding them last season. He had been getting them from New York (of all places???)

I just popped into Fat Boys on Old Ocean City RD (West of Salisbury) on a whim and low-and-behold they had muskrats. Yes, they were frozen, but they were there for $8 a pop. Fresh ones are always better but if pickins are slim, I'll take it!

Just an FYI.

If you need advice on stewing muskrats just lemme know.

 

[Doctor_M]

Muskrat love!

 

[ShOrebird]

Muskrat love!

 

[Jerry M]

Lexington Market used to sell them. But the last time I was down there was 10 years ago, sorry. They are sold on the market sure as marsh rabbits.

 

[44man]

Back when hides were worth something like $9-10 we sold the meat for $5 and the meat was easier to sell than the hides lol

One year in high school I made $10k selling muskrat, coon, and possum hides and meat, plus a few Fox hides but no one wanted that stinky meat

 

[RFBfromDE]

If I were at a place that had a special going on (as described by OP) I'd give it a try.

Being from North of the C&D canal, we were NOT into it!

 

[44man]

If I were at a place that had a special going on (as described by OP) I'd give it a try.

Being from North of the C&D canal, we were NOT into it!

If handled and cooked correctly muskrat is a fine meal

 

[eruby]

Suzie weeps

Sam is inconsolable

 

[TOWcritter]

I have 2 in the freezer right now! Thanksgiving and Christmas side dishes. Great Eastern Shore tradition

 

[ShOrebird]

I have 2 in the freezer right now! Thanksgiving and Christmas side dishes. Great Eastern Shore tradition

Nice.
I bought two at Fat Boys yesterday. Eight dollars each or two for $15.
They're now in the brine for this weekend.
In the early '70s guys used to get about $7 -$10 per pelt and you could buy the meat for $2 a pop. I was told that the muskrat fur was popular to make hats, especially in Canada and Russia.

 

[ShOrebird]

 

[Doco Overboard]

O gosh went by Websters not long ago and it was all closed up.
I was sorry to see all that.
My wife watched the clip with me and was glad to recognize some of the young woman at the outdoor show from her time in the schools. Made her smile.
My friend Norman is a hard core muskrat trapper. FOr anyone who ever saw the ribbon tape and stakes along the side of road over to the refuge or nearby thats muskrat traps.