Squirrel Hunting

[Lupinus]

For some reason squirrel hunting seems to interest me the most and when the next season for it comes around I plan to try my hand at it.

Question is I don't really know anyone who does much hunting and wanted to ask some squirrel hunting tactics.

Is it stalking? Waiting? Combination? Camouflage or no?

Basically what's some of the better techniques and tips/tricks when hunting squirrel?

 

[Cosmoline]

I love squirrel hunting, and I'm about the only person who does it in this state. I picked up the habit as a youngster down south. The method I prefer is stalking to a nice stand and then remaining perfectly still and silent. Eventually the little buggers emerge and start to quarrel amongst themselves. The times of highest activity are dawn and dusk and sunny breaks in the middle of rain storms. They are quarrelsome and priapic little monkeys, and cannot long resist the urge to bark out their territorial boundaries. During breakup here they seem to be in their mating season, so it's a good early spring hunt.

Next month when the ice lets up I'm going to try something new--hunting them with my CCW piece. That's going to be a real challenge, but should help hone my handgun skills wonderfully.

 

['Card]

Cosmo pretty much nailed everything I would have told you. They're pretty simple critters to hunt, to be honest.

Just look for what they're eating, and figure out where they're eating it. Finding their daynests first can help a lot. Do you know what those look like? (I'm sorry if that's an insulting question, but I have no idea how much you know about this)

That's a squirrel's nest. They will usually collect and bury food (nuts) all morning, then take a nap in these things, and then go back out in the afternoon and collect and bury some more food (nuts). The (predominantly) hollow trees they sleep in at night won't always be in the area where the food is, so they build these nests near their food supply.

So what else can I tell you, really? You can't really stalk them because they will see you coming before you get close enough for a shot. Find yourself a good spot with a good supply of food (acorns, buckeyes, whatever) and a few of these nests in the neighborhood. Sit down, be quiet and wait. Camo isn't important, really. You could sit in the woods in a clown suit and it wouldn't matter. They won't notice you at all unless either you move or they get really close to you - like within 10 feet or so. If you've been in one place for more than 30-45 minutes and haven't seen (or heard) anything, then move somewhere else. After you pop one, you just collect it, put it away, and sit back down. Within 20 minutes or so they will completely forget you're there, and will come back out to feed again if there are anymore in the neighborhood.

They're easy to clean and skin, easy to cook, and taste great. Just be careful that you dig out all of the shotgun pellets before you cook them. Biting down on one of those can be... unpleasant.

 

[MCgunner]

I like to get up just before dawn and get to my spot and sit. I lean against a tree trunk and just remain still and silent. The squirrels get up around dawn and start to become active. In areas where there are lots of squirrels, it can get sort of exciting. After I've sat a while and action is dead, I'll get up and walk slowing, still hunting style, and listen for the rustling of claws on tree bark, the bark or cry of squirrels, etc, anything to move toward. If I spot 'em, I'll ease, crawl, whatever in their direction to try for a shot. If I don't see or hear anything, I'll pick a likely spot and rest and see if anything comes out. I can spend all morning doing this, come in for lunch, go back out all afternoon. If I need a nap, I'll find a comfy tree to lean against.

East Texas in the piney woods is where I go now days. I grew up next to some woods near a creek in South East Texas south of Houston and we had plenty of squirrels. There's no season down here on the coast, open all year, but in east Texas it runs with deer and there's a May season in most counties. I plant to take advantage of it this year and do some squirrel hunting with my Contender .22.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Squirrel hunting de luxe

My Father-in-law was the greatest squirrel hunter I ever knew. He didn't have to wait for them to calm down--he'd walk into the woods with his old .22 and start giving their territorial barks. They would FLOCK to his location, looking for the new strange squirrel to beat up, and he could take his pick.

One of his major disappointments with me was that I just couldn't learn the call. I can get a squirrel's attention, but the squirrels quickly figure out that that noise just isn't another squirrel.

However my FIL did manage to teach the trick to my boy, so all was not lost.

Anyhow, if you can imitate that bark, you don't have to wait at all for 'em.

 

[xring44]

I don't know how it is in other states, I've only hunted them in Arkansas, we have three species, the red or fox squirrel and the grey or cat squirrels and the flying squirrels.The fox squirrels are commonly found in smaller wood lots and the edge of larger forests. Hes more laid back than the grey squirrel, he begins his forageing later in the mornings, goes about his business at a much slower pace than the grey squirrels and is a much eaiser target than the grey squirrel. He is also about 1/3 larger than his cousin.
The grey squirrel is quite a different animal, he idles at about 90 MPH Will begin his day earlier than the fox squirrel, he has a nervous twitch about him, hes always in a hurry, he works tirelessly, burying nuts and depositing them in dens in hollow trees. The excelent photos above of the leaf nests are refered to locally as summer nests.
The flying squirrels are actually gliders, mostly nocturnal and never hunted.
Contrary to some posts above, camoflage is absolutely necessary here, the squirrels have exceptional eyesight, super hearing and apparently are equipped with sensitive nose's as they can retrieve buryed nuts later in the year, even into the spring. They do not require your use of the wind to stalk them however so the ability to relate the oder to a human is questionable.
My favorite technique is a method locally called still hunting, it is best employed after a light rain which wets the leaves on the forest floor and allows a silent approach. I slip from tree to tree, pauseing at each tree to survey the area ahead and to each side, I try to hunt with the sun at my back and at a painfully slow pace, always watching for the swaying limbs that are indicators of a squirrels location, dead clam days are favored, high winds will normally find squirrels on the ground and they are not as sporting to take on the ground. I hunt with either a scoped .22 rifle or a red dot equipped 617S&W handgun. Shotguns are favored by most people but I enjoy the hunt much more with a rifle or pistol. A good squirrel hunter will almost always be a top notch deer hunter, this is my take on squirrel hunting....enjoy the hunt!

 

[Geno]

Talkin' Squirrel

Sounds kind of funny. I mean, I am bilingual (Spanish / English) but I never considered myself "proficient" at squirrel, just enough to somehow get their attention. These have been great posts all! And, I can add something. I don't think that what I am about to post pertains to Michigan per say, but this tactic is what I ALWAYS have to do--

The time of day that I have greatest success is mid to late afternoon. I watch for their nests, and start calling. IN my area, they are not accustomed to human folk and will quickly dispatch them right up the closest tree! They will hang upside-down, side-way, left-way this way and that way). But most interesting, they always try to get a tree between you and them).

As you circle the tree, they don't always go up--they circle. So, my friends, this is what I can add--the tactic for getting a circling squirrel to cooperate. Stand right where you are. Stop circling. Removed your cap, or your coat and throw it to the far side of the tree where the furry little morsel of food is. But, be ready with the rifle (or pistol), because 99 out of 100 times, it will promptly circle right to you. Problem is, you don't know if it will circle left or right.

By the way, I hunt exclusively with .22LR, either pistol or rifle. For me, shotgun ruins too much meat. Take a head shot. And believe me, NOTHING works better than a red-dot sight for FAST shots. Don't buy a $500.00 AimPoint. Any cheap little $50.00 red-dot works. I really like my Redhead dot, and that cost I think around $69.00!

Here's a picture of a red-dot set up for my .22LR upper for my Colt 1911.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/Doc2005/SmallGamePistol.jpg

Good luck and have fun.

Doc2005

 

[shermacman]

Hunt them?
Damn tree rats are trying to eat my house. I keep the Crosman pellet rifle pumped and loaded by the front door. Pretty much any time of day I crack open the door and pick 'em off. No skinning, no eating, just toss 'em in the garbage can, right where they belong. They chew through trim boards, soffit, and fascia; then they get inside to feast on wires and tear up insulation. Hate 'em.

 

[MCgunner]

I can bark, been doing it all my life. Sounds great to me, but it never works on the squirrels. Not sure what dialect I need to be speaking, just that mine ain't right. LOL

By the way, I hunt exclusively with .22LR, either pistol or rifle. For me, shotgun ruins too much meat. Take a head shot.

I always figured shotgunning squirrels was cheating. I'm a rifleman at heart, anyway, but in later years I prefer the handgun, nice .22 caliber accurate handgun. My contender has a 2x scope on it, but I have shot 'em with an iron sighted .22 before for a real challenge. Really like that contender, though. It's got rifle accuracy in a 10" barreled handgun. It's a squirrel gitter.

 

[Art Eatman]

A buddy of mine's so homely he scares little kids. He just goes out in the woods and uglies squirrels right out of the tree. Just one look at him and a squirrel just freezes up and drops.

I asked him one time if he took his wife along. He said, "Naw; as ugly as she is, she'd tear'em up too bad."

, Art

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The first step in any hunting is to locate habitat. Squirrels are generally found where you find mature hardwoods (but they can be found in pines and amidst soft mast at the right time of the year.) Hardwood ridges are productive, but in lean years, more squirrels will be found in riverbottoms.

I like to get up just before dawn and get to my spot and sit. I lean against a tree trunk and just remain still and silent. The squirrels get up around dawn and start to become active. In areas where there are lots of squirrels, it can get sort of exciting. After I've sat a while and action is dead, I'll get up and walk slowing, still hunting style, and listen for the rustling of claws on tree bark, the bark or cry of squirrels, etc, anything to move toward. If I spot 'em, I'll ease, crawl, whatever in their direction to try for a shot.

This is classic squirrel hunting technique. I'll often take a folding stool to sit on, getting into position before dawn and watching the woods come alive. Once the action dies down, I start still hunting, leaving the stool and coming back for it later, as I leave the woods.

A lot of hunting like this is pure stalking -- the idea is to locate the squirrel first and then slip up on him. The great thing about squirrel hunting is you don't have to draw a tag, and the bag limits are generous. If you flub a stalk, so what? There are plenty more squirrels in the woods.

My squirrel rifle is a Kimber Model 82 with a 4X Burris mini-scope -- a very nice little rifle. I practice shooting this rifle offhand (but like to take a "lean" against a tree when shooting in the woods.) I carry a claymore bandolier with kraft paper bags (for the carcasses), latex gloves for skinning and dressing, and handi-wipes for clean up.

I make my own squirrel knives -- but relatives and friends talk me out of them so fast that I often have only a standard 3-bladed stock knife in my pocket.

I like the "Mister Squirrel" call -- this imitates a young squirrel in distress. It will often bring a big dog squirrel on a dead run.

 

[MCgunner]

This is classic squirrel hunting technique. I'll often take a folding stool to sit on, getting into position before dawn and watching the woods come alive. Once the action dies down, I start still hunting, leaving the stool and coming back for it later, as I leave the woods.

I got one of those butt pads, now, that snaps to my belt. It goes with me when I stand up, pretty cool. I like to lay back on my back and either use my shooting sticks to shoot up or brace the contender with my knees to steady it. That's the challenge of handgunning, getting steady for the shot. The knee technique works pretty well, call it a "modified Creedmore" position. Well, sorta...

I like the "Mister Squirrel" call -- this imitates a young squirrel in distress. It will often bring a big dog squirrel on a dead run.

I might look for one of those. I've always just barked with my mouth. I started doing it as a kid and it sounds real good to me, but apparently it's just me. I don't have a bushy tail. LOL

 

[Cosmoline]

How are you guys making the squirrel bark? I've never been able to master it. Is there a trick to it?

 

[Smokey Joe]

Squirrel bark

Cosmoline--Best I can describe making the "squirrel bark" is to make a noise like frying bacon by blowing through saliva on yr tongue, with yr tongue kind of arched. Then as you're dong that, pronounce the letter "P" several times rapidly. You don't use your own vocal cords at all.

I know that sounds crazy. And, as I said, I can't talk to squirrels for squat. But that's how my FIL did it, too, and that's how my #1 son does it.

It's not called a "bark" because it sounds like a dog barking. When a squirrel is doing it, the squirrel ACTS like a dog barking. Fortunately for hunters, you don't have to do the acting part!

 

[eastwood44mag]

Squirrels are the only thing I can successfully hunt.

My advice:

-Avoid calls altogether--they work on city squirrels that are stupid--real ones know the difference.

-Use a 20 gauge (most of mine are shot running, so head-shots are almost impossible), and check the tissue at least 3 times after skinning it for pellets--I have bitten down on a few, and it hurts something fierce.

-Hunt over water--they like to run across branches over water, and make for easy pickens out in the open

-Leave the dogs at home--they may enjoy it, but they won't shut up, and you won't see anything

-Sit down, have a cup of coffee, and stretch your legs--if you've set up in a good spot, they'll come to you

Happy hunting.

 

[MCgunner]

If you gotta shoot 'em running, you ain't using the right technique. If they don't know you're there, they sit a lot. Shotgunnin' 'em is too easy. I prefer at LEAST a .22 rifle and really have gotten into the handgun with squirrels. Just kinda makes it more fun for me. I have shotgunned squirrel with both the .410 I had as a kid, and a 12 gauge. But, I got bored with the shotgun pretty quick. I sorta prefer rifles anyway to shotguns if I have the choice. I like the challenge of marksmanship. I use the shotguns for birds on the wing.

If you want the meat, you'll get more with a shotgun, but I'm out there for fun and sport as much as the meat.

 

[gbran]

I'm in central CA and go up into the surrounding mountains to hunt gray squirrels. During quail season, I carry a shotgun for the birds and usually shoot the squirrels with a scoped handgun. Elsewise, I just use a rimfire rifle. Up in the mountains, I usually find them in oaks or sugar pines. I just walk around, look for signs, listen for barking. Once in awhile, I get a shot at them on the ground or a log, but usually have to shoot them out of the trees. If they know you're there, they will hide on the other side of the tree or go to the top. Often they will jump from tree to tree. It was a whole lot easier hunting fox squirrels in KS. I use a 17 mach2 rifle or a 22wmr handgun.

 

[arcticap]

.410'ing for Squirrels

I mostly use a .410 so that I don't have to limit the direction that I can shoot up into the air with a far reaching round like the .22lr. (Yes, some woods have boundary limitations.) The .410 has plenty of killing power and range for squirrels without having to deal with much meat destruction or lead in the meat. While the full choked .410 may provide an aiming advantage over the .22lr, it still requires a high degree of marksmanship when you're shooting up into trees at 40 yards or more, and not always at sitting squirrels.
One of the methods I employ once I've gotten a fix on a squirrel's general location and start the stalk through the noisy leaves, is too try to fool the squirrel into thinking that I'm another squirrel or forest animal to not cause it to become alarmed. So sometimes I will gently call to it with an Olt bellows squirrel call as I quickly take a few steps at a time through the noisy leaves towards it. You have to try to step softly and sound like another squirrel without being too noisy by over rustling leaves. You often are forced to make some kind of noise as you advance, but you have to learn how to not make the advance sound too unnatural as you move into gun range. If the squirrel does get alarmed, I just might rush toward the tree he flees too and try to get a shot or two at the elusive target. Sometimes they move up high into a tree, hugging the top side of a branch and will offer you a shot if you can locate the wisping of its tail (a breeze helps). Other times, they will scurry to another tree and possibly give you a chance to shoot at a quickly moving target. This is where the .410 really shines over a .22. Not that it's overly easy, but it can certainly help to make it a more makable shot than with a .22
When a shot on a squirrel does come at relatively close range, I may aim off to the side just a little bit so that the whole payload from a 3 inch .410 shell doesn't damage too much meat, but hopefully inflicts just enough damage to do the job.
Nothing is quite as gratifying to the squirrel hunter as a well placed quick reaction shot on a fast moving squirrel, especially once its been successfully located & stalked to within gun range.
What a noble and challenging small game animal!

 

[osteodoc08]

If you want to see a lot of squirrels, go deer hunting!

Seriously though, everyone has pretty much nailed everything. Just getting out in the woods is the most important part, especially for body and soul. There is nothing like being in the woods without the sounds of cars, trucks, trains, people, machinery in general! I miss the fact that I'll be unable to do some squirrel hunting this year. It is truly my favorite, even above deer hunting.

You'll learn about what many "sport" hunters truly miss.

 

[22-rimfire]

I always used a 22 rifle and paid attention to the backstop. I got tired of using a shotgun, but the backstop issue is frequently covered by the shotgun's more limited effective range. I am not really interested in the score.

It is really peaceful to get out early when the weather is still warm-ish and do some squirrel hunting. It is just good for the soul. As was said, best times are the first few hours after daylight and the last couple of hours before dark.

My favorite method is to still hunt... walk very silently (one step, stop, look, listen; take another and repeat). The stalking aspect is what really makes it fun and challenging as sitting in a good area where there are a lot of squirrels seems too easy at times. It is also a great side benefit in polishing up your skills if you archery hunt or deer hunt.

Like any hunting, locate the food source and you will find squirrels.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Reminds me of when I was in Singapore. My job with the Singapore Army took me into the jungle and occasionally to Borneo. I'd be walking through the jungle and crash! "Wuzzat! Holy cow! What a squirrel!"

Of course it was monkeys, not squirrels -- but it would stir my Ozark soul.

 

[Cosmoline]

To the true mountain folk, all tree dwellers are mere subspecies of squirrel. Up to and including leopards.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

To the true mountain folk, all tree dwellers are mere subspecies of squirrel. Up to and including leopards.

That's how I see it, anyway.

There was some sort of tropical fruit that has to be picked from the tree. I'd see the locals up in the trees foraging and itch for my Kimber.

 

[hillbilly]

Another Arkie squirrel hunter here.

Squirrel hunting is a great way to just learn "the woods."

You'll learn all kinds of stuff squirrel hunting.

Here's one.

Because of my squirrel hunting experience, I can tell, by feel, when the time is likely that wildlife will be moving around.

It's hard to describe, but the air is typically very still, and humid, and for what ever reason, the squirrels are just out going crazy....moving, chattering, jumping from tree to tree.

During these peak times, the squirrels are very easy to find and shoot. And when they act like that, typically all the other wildlife is moving around, too.

I learned that when I was about 12 years old in Scott County.

Whenever it just "feels" and "smells" like a squirrel hunting day, that's the time to go into the woods.

But there's some combination of wind, barometer, humidity, etc, that makes it much more likely that critters are active.

Sometimes it's in the morning. Sometimes it's in the afternoon. Some days, it just never happens.

And while I can't tell you the exact scientific specifics of that meterological combo, I know exactly when it's happening based on the way the air feels, smells, and how the squirrels are acting.

hillbilly

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I know what you mean. You can feel the woods and all that's going on -- reminds me of my first elk.

At first it was a mere disturbance in the atmosphere, but I knew something big was coming. Then mice and birds came past. Then coyotes and bobcats. And finally mountain lions and grizzley bears, fleeing in stark terror.

When he stepped out onto the scree, his hooves struck sparks from the granite. Steam gushed from his nostrils. Lightening played around the tips of his antlers.

A lesser man would have fainted dead away. But I barely soiled my underwear.