Where do you live that shooting the fox squirrels is legal? I'm from md. & the Delmarva fox squirrels in that area have always been illegal to hunt. Same in Wva. Now I'm in north central Fl where we have big beautiful fox squirrels everywhere & they are illegal to hunt as well.
My fam has always cooked squirrel in flour S&P & fried in bacon grease then white country pan gravy with taters - mashed or fried with onions.
I've raised 5 grey squirrels from the size of mice as pets. I don't hunt them anymore, but I'll still belly up to the table in a flash if someone else kills & cooks them tho.