that reminds me of a story an older realtive shared with me - he was raised in rural Alabama during the depression.
He said he once talked to a neighbor about how to prepare opposum.
He said you skin and clean it. then find a good strong oak board and mount it and hold it next to a good strong slow fire and let it cook for about 2 hours
take the oppossum off the board - throw away the oppossum and eat the board.