The sounds of frenetic scratching on pine bark pulled my eyes skyward. Scanning the uppermost branches for any tell-tale motion, I anticipated to see the refined shimmy of pine needles or a twitching bushy tail. But the cover was nonetheless.
As I reached for binoculars, a flurry of lacy white flakes fluttered down from immediately overhead — the inside duff of a pine cone shredded by famously industrious rodent incisors. The flakes got here from a dense weave of pine needles however one with open branches on both aspect. All I needed to do was wait.
Finally, somewhat grey physique bounded towards the tree’s trunk and paused within the open. I had simply sufficient time to click on the security off and stage the shotgun’s bead on the squirrel’s head. The 20 gauge boomed and the squirrel thumped to the bottom almost at my ft. Agitated chatters erupted not 30 yards up the hill.
Squirrels are the everyman recreation animal. They are delectable on the plate, ubiquitous and comparatively straightforward to hunt, but difficult sufficient to maintain it attention-grabbing. One of the most effective issues about squirrel looking is that it requires minimal gear. Even should you’re not a squirrel hunter, chances are high you already personal nearly every little thing you want. With that in thoughts, right here’s our final information to squirrel looking.
Gun Options
The primary kinds of weapons for squirrel looking are shotguns, rimfire rifles, and air rifles. Some people will chase squirrels with a pistol however we’ll keep on with lengthy weapons in our information.
Shotguns
I hardly ever pack a shotgun for squirrels. Stalking with a .22 is my most well-liked technique, however I used to be jonesing for squirrel meat in a foul approach and the thick September forest cover had stymied my efforts with the rifle. It wasn’t for lack of recreation, grey and fox squirrels have been plentiful on the general public lands I hunted. But settling the crosshairs on a stationary squirrel’s noggin’ simply wasn’t occurring. My elitist preferences apart, the shotgun is all the time the highest choice for early-season exactly for the explanations already talked about — fast-moving squirrels in dense foliage.
I’ve killed squirrels with 12, 16, and 20 gauge shotguns. And the proper squirrel shotgun, for my part, is an automated or pump 20 gauge. It’s mild sufficient to tote comfortably for miles, throws loads of pellets, is simple on the shoulder, and yow will discover hundreds all over the place.
Choke choices must be restricted to modified or full. Modified is greatest for conditions when you recognize you will get near the squirrels, say, if the woods are damp after a bathe or barely breezy. For most outings, go together with the complete choke. Treetop squirrels within the woods are sometimes farther than 30 yards away making sample density, or the dearth thereof, a problem. Tighter patterns are a requirement as a result of squirrels are surprisingly robust. Just a few pellets gained’t essentially kill and even cease them. Yes, the full-choke can wreck meat on nearer pictures. But for 20 yards and below, you may edge a sample towards the entrance finish of a stationary goal. Centering your load on the pinnacle ensures that a number of pellets will penetrate very important areas and mitigates meat harm, or at the least confines it to the shoulders and saves these juicy hindquarters.
Shot dimension is all the time a subject of debate. Some hunters want to saturate a squirrel with 7 1/2s whereas others want to blow holes fully by means of them with #4s. While 7 1/2s will undoubtedly kill squirrels, the smaller shot loses a whole lot of thump at longer ranges. And even when it does put the squirrel down, you’ll be choosing shot out of the meat when you’re cleansing them and out of your mouth when you’re consuming them. I’d go on the 7 1/2s.
Number 4s carry greater than sufficient vitality to fully go by means of a squirrel and anchor it. There’s some argument towards 4s — fewer pellets and presumably extra intensive meat harm — however these arguments are comparatively flimsy. Within the context of acceptable vary and thru a full choke, the shot cloud must be ample.
Even with my reward of #4s, although, I shoot #6s. In 4 a long time of squirrel looking, #6 shot has hardly ever let me down. It’s lots heavy to roll a squirrel (damaged squirrel bones are a regularity), the shot cloud density makes me really feel somewhat higher about saturation, and, more often than not, the pellets go fully by means of. But let’s hold it easy, seize a field of both #4s, #5s, or #6s and slip into the leafy squirrel woods with confidence.
Nontoxic shot for squirrels is one thing I haven’t experimented with but, nevertheless it’s on my listing for the low season. Steel and bismuth are the choices I’m for each environmental causes and the true chance of necessities from recreation companies.
You doubtless seen that there was no point out of the .410 on this shotgun dialogue. Yes, some people hunt squirrels with a .410 and do exactly superb by limiting the vary and situations for pulling the set off. But shotgunning squirrels is about most effectivity. If you wish to up the problem, seize a rifle.
READ NEXT: Best Sub-Gauge Shotguns for Squirrel Hunting
Rifles
Rimfire rifles and squirrels are the proper pairing in my thoughts. You can construct or subtract from the problem with alternative of caliber and optics. The .17 HMR and .17 M2 supply whisker-splitting accuracy out to 100 yards if long-range rodents are your factor. But the HMR (a necked down .22 magnum casing with a .17 bullet) packs a substantial wallop on affect and might obliterate edible potions of a squirrel with something apart from a headshot. The M2 (a necked down .22 lengthy rifle casing housing a .17) is a slower spherical and proclaimed by some followers as the proper squirrel rifle, although, ammo will be pricy and tough to search out.
In the .22 calibers, the .22 WMR is the reply for 100-yard-plus squirrel sniping, however just like the .17 HMR, it may simply be thought of overkill.
That leaves us with the plink grasp, the primary rifle many people known as our personal, the standard .22. But even right here there are alternatives amongst hundreds with the .22 brief, .22 lengthy., .22 lengthy rifle, and .22 lengthy rifle subsonic. Most .22 rifles have to be particularly chambered for the corresponding spherical, although, some like my Henry rifle can deal with all of them. The variations between rounds hinge on velocity and bullet weight. Shorts are the lightest weight, lowest speeds, and are a sub-30-yard squirrel spherical whereas .22 Ls are flatter capturing with the identical weight bullet and longer casing holding extra powder. Long rifle cartridges supply heavier bullets — as much as 40 grains — with that additional powder of the .22 lengthy and have principally supplanted .22 Ls. Subsonic .22 hundreds mix the quiet “pop” of a .22 brief with the skull-penetrating weight of a 40- and even 45-grain bullet.
You can go for hollow-point .22 rounds, however they’re not wanted for head pictures. And, just like the .17HMR, can destroy rather a lot meat in case your purpose is off a bit.
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Scopes
Keep it easy. At .22 ranges, a 4-5X scope is the proper magnification for zeroing in on a squirrel’s head from 25 to 40 yards whereas offering a large subject of view to trace a shifting goal. Scopes designed for higher low-light visibility are a plus since many shot alternatives will occur within the gloom earlier than dawn and proper after sundown. Zero your scope at 25 yards and also you’ll be good out to 50.
Air Rifles
Occasionally, if I’m feeling notably stealthy (or want a dose of humility) I’ll tote a scoped .22 air rifle into the woods. The air rifle is a close-range weapon (25 yards or much less), and head pictures are a requirement. There’s simply not sufficient vitality to reliably penetrate a squirrel’s conceal and attain the vitals at regular capturing distances. And whereas squirrels will die with a .17 pellet to the mind, the additional heft of the .22 provides a measure of assurance. Be positive to examine native laws regarding looking with an air rifle.
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Gear for Squirrel Hunting
You don’t want camouflage clothes for squirrels. Since I personal a whole lot of it, that’s normally what I’m sporting, however any olive-drab, darker greens or browns will likely be superb. Earth-tone plaid flannel shirts are nice for cooler climate.
Footwear must be habitat acceptable. While you’ll be sitting and standing nonetheless for intervals of time, you’ll even be shifting. If you’re looking lowlands, go for one thing waterproof. The uplands name for boots with extra assist. Here within the Ozarks, I put on snake boots from late summer time by means of November as a result of copperheads and timber rattlers prowl the ridges even after a couple of frosts. Besides serpent safety, the boots are waterproof, robust, and usually do every little thing I would like them to do.
Other gear consists of binoculars, to determine that suspicious-looking bump on a limb, and a squirrel name. Squirrel calls don’t convey squirrels to you. Instead, they reveal a hidden squirrel. I take advantage of mine sparingly, and solely once I know a squirrel is close by and hiding. Even in ultra-stealth mode, squirrels appear to have an involuntary response to the smooth chatter of one other squirrel. It’s normally refined — a slight tail twitch or small repositioning to get a greater view — however generally they boldly bounce out on an open limb and bark again.
READ NEXT: Best Squirrel Calls
I don’t carry a lot into the squirrel woods — a gun, ammo, bug dope, squirrel name, binoculars, possibly a jacket, and a bottle of water. The greatest approach I’ve discovered to pack it’s in my turkey looking vest. There’s greater than sufficient pockets for gear, a built-in cushion for extended sits, and a giant again pocket that will even carry half a dozen squirrels or extra.
Habitat and Behavior
There’s all kinds of squirrel subspecies on the market however in Eastern, Midwestern, and Southern woods, hunters goal each fox squirrels and grey squirrels. There are species-specific habitat preferences, fox squirrels want barely extra open woodlands whereas grays will be discovered anyplace and all over the place, however populations overlap. (Red squirrels are additionally discovered all around the nation, however hunters hardly ever goal them due to their very small dimension).
In autumn, squirrels begin feeding earlier than the break of day and are on a mission to pack on as a lot fats and bury as many caches as they will earlier than winter hits. Food preferences are the identical for each species — hickory nuts, white oak acorns, pink oak acorns, walnuts, pecans, some smooth mast. And grey squirrels love pine nuts, although, I hardly ever discover fox squirrels in pine timber.
As fall transitions into winter, meals sources dwindle and squirrel populations change into extra concentrated. The hottest squirrel spots are normally pink oaks, which are sometimes handed over early as a result of they pack extra tannic acid, amping up the bitterness. Winter squirrels are much less choosy, however you’ll nonetheless discover some of their autumn haunts looking for loot they buried when meals was all over the place.
While low mild intervals are greatest in autumn, winter squirrels are late risers with exercise peaking in the course of the hotter hours. On particularly chilly and nasty days, they don’t depart the den. Neither do you have to.
Squirrels have two breeding seasons per yr: one in summer time and one in winter. I can’t say that looking rutting squirrels has led to extra bushytails within the bag for me. Winter exercise ranges are regulated by climate and meals greater than lust. But watching two or extra boars in sizzling pursuit of a sow in warmth is excessive leisure as they swirl across the trunks and branches.
Squirrels are messy eaters and depart ample signal within the areas they frequent. Look for gnawed mast hulls and shredded pine cones on the forest ground or scattered on a favourite feeding stump or rock. Besides feeding signal, you may scan the limbs for warm-weather leaf nests and take a look at hollowed standing timber as nicely.
Pack your binoculars whereas scouting. Besides confirming the mast crop earlier than it hits the bottom, you may typically discover gnaw marks across the holes of an energetic tree den.
How to Hunt Squirrels
The tried and true technique is to be sitting in the midst of woods loaded with mast at daylight or a few hours earlier than sunset. Like so many different forest hunts, the primary indication that your quarry is close to will doubtless be by means of sound— swishing branches, claws scampering on tree bark, mast hulls pattering on the forest ground, the excited barks or low whistles of a squirrel that has noticed you or one other potential risk. If squirrels are round, you’ll quickly hear them.
The subsequent step is to search out the squirrel visually, which will be difficult when the timber are filled with leaves in early autumn. Don’t search for the whole squirrel, you in all probability gained’t see one. Instead, search for fuzzy tree knots, bushy wanting bark or possibly even the glint of early morning solar in a small black eye.
Then you’ve bought to shut the space if want be. In early season, all that foliage hides you simply because it hides the squirrel. Basic stalking is the secret right here. If potential, method with the solar at your again. Plan your path to a tree that’s nearer to the squirrel and may also conceal you as you utilize it for a gun relaxation. Go sluggish after which even slower. Time your actions with the squirrel’s and pay attention to twigs or different obstacles on the bottom that would alert the animals to your presence. Hunted squirrels, particularly on public lands, should not the identical animals encountered in metropolis parks and suburban again yards. They’re not dumb, and a squirrel on excessive alert is hard to kill.
Later within the yr, when the limbs are naked and any mast is already on the bottom, squirrels are even noisier as they pilfer by means of crunchy leaf litter. They’re extra seen as nicely, however you might be, too, so that you’ll have to maneuver even slower. Or, as my dad all the time stated, “just keep your butt planted at this tree.” Remember these hours-long sits within the deer stand if you misplaced depend of the squirrels parading round? Probably the easiest way to kill squirrels in mid-autumn is to take a seat in the identical place all morning lengthy.
Squirrels have a comparatively brief consideration span when spooked. If they don’t depart the realm solely, they’ll be again to enterprise after a 15- to 30-minute wait. Likewise, a gunshot doesn’t essentially ship them operating. In this regard, the .22 rifle with its softer report presents extra a number of shot alternatives. But typically, even a shotgun blast simply reveals extra squirrels as they bark and maneuver to get a greater view of what’s occurring.
After the shot, mark the placement of any downed squirrels, ensure that they’re lifeless, then sit tight and scan the branches for extra motion. If different squirrels are shut by, you’ll hardly ever wait lengthy.
If no squirrels have revealed themselves after a 20-minute sit, ease by means of the woods listening and watching. When you uncover an space with a number of signal, give it one other 30-minute sit and so forth and so forth till exercise dwindles. On cool days, that won’t occur till early afternoon. And on cloudy, misty days with a sluggish drizzle, squirrel motion will be implausible all day lengthy. The best instances to be within the woods is true after a bathe or the morning after a day or two of heavy rain. If circumstances are calm (windy days are robust), hungry squirrels will likely be swarming the mast.
Squirrel Hunting in Winter
Many states have squirrel looking seasons that run late into the winter. After huge recreation, waterfowl, and upland seasons are closed, you may nonetheless get out and chase squirrels. In northern states, the place frigid winter climate quiets the woods, the secret’s to hunt on (comparatively) heat sunny days. Ideally, choose days with minimal wind and also you’ll see probably the most squirrel exercise.
With all of the leaves down and snow on the bottom, squirrels will see (and sure hear) you coming from a protracted methods away. That’s OK. Just head for a spot within the hardwoods the place you see a whole lot of squirrel signal, sit down, and be nonetheless. Eventually squirrels will overlook about you and get again scampering. If there’s snow, concentrate on areas the place you see a whole lot of squirrel tracks.
For late-season hunts, it pays to have an correct rimfire rifle for longer pictures. With minimal cowl within the woods, you’ll have a tough time sneaking near squirrels. —Alex Robinson
Squirrel Hunting in Spring
Spring squirrel season will look very like the early fall season. Leaves will likely be again on the timber in late spring, so that you’ll have to make use of your eyes and ears to find furry targets tucked into the heavy foliage—it’s a enjoyable problem.
Also like the autumn season, spring squirrels will be discovered looking for meals within the early and late hours of the day. However, a squirrel’s feeding patterns will likely be barely totally different within the spring. You gained’t discover squirrels within the treetops slicing on hickory nuts simply but. Rather, they’ll be feeding on smooth mast meals sources, buds, berries, or on the bottom, looking for leftover nuts. Key in on these potential meals sources close to squirrel dens or nests, notably close to a water supply, and you must have loads of motion.
Squirrel looking within the spring will be tough as a result of heat temperatures. The warmth is hard on the squirrels in addition to hunters and canine. They’ll transfer early and late when temperatures are cool. That’s when try to be making your transfer as nicely. Key in on potential hotspots, get in earlier than dawn, and be prepared when the motion unfolds. Squirrels will make their transfer once more within the afternoon as temperatures start to drop earlier than darkish. Don’t miss the chance to beat the warmth and bag your squirrels within the first and final hour of the day.
Warmer temperatures within the spring squirrel woods additionally means the potential for doing battle with snakes, ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes, and poison ivy. Make positive you’re looking out for rattlers and be ready for the bugs with varied replants.
Here’s a have a look at the states that provide spring squirrel looking alternatives (discover particular season dates on every states fish & recreation web site). —Brodie Swisher
- Arkansas
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Missouri
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
Squirrel Hunting Dogs
Using canine to search out and tree squirrels was a practice throughout the South and one which has been revived in recent times. The quiet solitude of dawn alone is among the main charms of squirrel attempting to find me. But for individuals who get pleasure from dialog, camaraderie, and the earnest work of canine within the subject, listening to a mountain cur or feist bark “treed” is somewhat little bit of heaven on Earth. My recommendation: Find a neighborhood squirrel canine fanatic and be part of them on a hunt. Nearly all are keen to point out off their canine, and also you may uncover one other curiosity as nicely.
READ NEXT: How to Buy and Train a Squirrel Hunting Dog
Squirrel Recipes
Squirrel meat is among the most underrated recreation meats in America. You can get fancy with squirrel recipes or you may merely fry the meat and dip it in sizzling sauce. Here are a few of our go-to recipes.
Get within the Game
Back once I was a child, squirrels have been the primary recreation animal pursued by new hunters, however in recent times, small recreation looking has largely fallen by the wayside. Lost with that have is a plethora of looking abilities and the enjoyment of a pursuit that’s a cornerstone of our out of doors heritage. But the simplicity of the squirrel looking implies that it’s an expertise nonetheless inside attain of almost each hunter.