Wanna hunt squirrels. Will travel.

[ArmyAviator]

God Bless this site. And incessant provision of wisdom and guidance, really.....solicited, or otherwise.

All,

I now only hunt 2 types of game. I have lotsa deer and turkey on my land here in south Alabama, but truly prefer squirrel and anything winged (turkey excepted). To the point, I'd love to hunt squirrel in some of the large hardwood areas of the midwest. I've heard that Ohio, Missouri, and north Arkansas are prime. How does one look for such? I would imagine start with departments of fish/game/wildlife in respective states? Has anyone had success contacting local game wardens for advice? Thoughts? Recommendations? Best regards, All.

--Bryant.

 

[Chawbaccer]

You can look for public hunting areas in the states you want to hunt in. My experience seems to be that just because squirrel hunting was good in one spot last year don't mean it will be this year, weather really seems to play a part in the deal, especially late spring frosts that kills off the years nut crop.
Another thing is, dense forrest ain't as good as edges, especily if there are grain crops near by. No matter what nuts are in the area, my favorite spots are up on the ledges where white oak acorns are plentiful.

 

[arcticap]

I would definitely start with the game dept. and by asking Conservation Officers who will generally point you in the direction of the right tracts of land. Hardwoods and proximity to any type of small waterways are a plus for grays, but from what I've heard the fox squirrels are found more in the treed edges of farmland.
One of the major hunting magazines used to give it's annual recommendations every year in the issue with all of the dates of the upcoming hunting seasons which should be just about in the August/Sept. issue. The magazines get their info. directly from the game depts. public information officers. It doesn't usually change very much and generally will mention a good generic larger public hunting area or three, but by no means to the exclusion of other good areas since squirrels are so widespread anyway.
Since you desire to go to the midwest, is it the larger fox squirrels that you're after? Or are there any other types of squirrels or terrain (like National Forests, mountainous/hilly areas [Appalachians] or the almost exclusively black phased squirrels in parts of Ohio [S.E.?] that you are after.
Weather and the potential for getting washed out may be something for you to also consider for where ever you decide to go for the time of year.

 

[mete]

It's not hardwoods that you want but the nut bearing ones - oak, walnut ,hickory, pecan, etc. These nut crops can vary yearly. If you've had a predator in the area they can wipe out the squirrels.This happened on my land last year when a red fox took squirrels, chipmunks,woodchucks and many birds !!

 

[ArmyAviator]

Thanks.

Thank you. Arcticap...yes, I prefer the fox squirrels. I've seen many variations in color in diff parts. We grew up widow poor in south Louisiana, so we hunted to eat. The term "coonass", so oft used in ref to LA natives, is actually of very old Castillian Spanish origin, "cannas"....a man who eats what he catches...certainly applicable to us. I deeply enjoy traveling to hunt the less chased game or varmints...when the Army doesnt have other plans for me. I enjoy meeting the salt of the earth people who truly hunt and are not led to the shot. If any wanna come down here to south AL, we go into the swamps of S AL and FL to float hunt squirrel. Loads of fun. Thanks again, all. --Bryant.

 

[Oldnamvet]

Float hunting.

That's a term I had almost forgotten. Back in the 60's some friends (now gone) and I used to float the Shellrock river in Iowa. We'd shoot squirrels and catch smallmouth bass all day long. Some of the greatest times we had, and shots made on large squirrels in treetops hanging over the river. All done with .22 shorts, once in a while using a pistol on a close one. Sometimes had a bass on at the same time another guy was popping a squirrel.

 

[arcticap]

Black phase grays

These are a couple of black phase gray squirrels that I felt fortunate to locate on public land in CT about a mile apart from each other, but at 80%-90% black with some dark brown present, they aren't nearly as uniformly black as the multitude of black phase ones that I saw in Eastern Ohio (on the way to Kent, Ohio) many years ago.
Not very many blackies in proportion to the population are located here. I did locate another one last year during deer season, and I intended to go back and give it some "squirrel medicine" sometime. Thanks for reminding me!
What exactly are "cat" squirrels, is that a nickname?

 

[xring44]

Here in Arkansas, the grey is refered to as Cat squirrels. This year looks good in the Ozarks for grey squirrels, looks like a bumper crop this year.
I favor the greys over the fox squirrels, the fox squirrels are more edge creatures whereas the greys are more deep woods squirrels. The fox squirrels are much slower moving through the timber than the smaller grey squirrel.
Unless you know someone who lives in the area you want to hunt, it might take a few days to locate the squirrels. I usually locate them by driving the forest service roads and watching the road edges for squirrels, if I see a couple in a short distance, I park and begin my hunting, assumeing your on national forest land. On paved roads, squirrels that have been run over by vehicles can give you a lead in where to start hunting.
Season begins here next saturday, my .22 is ready, so am I! Love that squirrel hunting.

 

[1911 guy]

Bumper crop in Ohio this year.

Everything is looking pretty good for a big squirrel population here in Ohio this year. Ohio has some pretty large public hunting areas. Big is good, because the "weekend warriors" never get past the first mile or so. You've got the rest of it to yourself.

If you decide on Ohio, I can give you maps of some local places in my area. The state DNR can give you maps of Wayne National Forest in the south of the state (I'm up north). Bring your compass. Some of the places I hunt are genuine "boonies", lots of swamp and easy to get turned around in. One place I hunt is mostly hardwoods with lots of oak and hickory. A little tough slogging through the swamp (yes, we do have rattlesnakes). Rangers bring out five or six people every year that get turned around and can't find their way out. Fox squirrels, by the way. A few black ones, but not many near me. More down south.