Trying again on my first squirrel hunt as a teen, searching the piney woods of Southeast LA, I used to be about as inexperienced as they arrive. I’m amazed how I used to be in a position to kill a single squirrel. However that’s the way you be taught on this recreation – one mistake at a time, one lesson at a time. After years of stumbling by the timber, lacking straightforward photographs, and spooking extra squirrels than I care to depend, I’ve discovered what works and what doesn’t. These 5 suggestions aren’t fancy theories – they’re battle-tested ways that can put extra squirrel meat in your freezer. They’ll assist you skip the trial-and-error that took me years to work by and get you searching smarter, not tougher. Listed below are our 5 squirrel searching tricks to get you off and working in direction of success.
Squirrel Searching Tip #1: Select the Proper All-Round Gun
In the event you’re searching for one gun that’ll serve you nicely all through all the squirrel season, seize a high quality .22 rifle. It’s gentle sufficient to hold all day at simply 5 kilos, correct sufficient for exact headshots at 50 yards, and dependable sufficient to work if you want it. High it with respectable glass, and also you’ve bought a rig that’ll deal with all the pieces from early season treetop photographs to late winter ground-feeding alternatives.
What makes the ten/22 stand out is its versatility. The semi-auto motion offers you fast follow-up photographs when wanted, however it’s nonetheless lots correct for these precision headshots that maintain your meat clear. The usual 10-round journal is ideal for a morning within the woods, and the gun handles each customary and high-velocity masses with out flinching.
Positive, you possibly can go along with one thing fancier like a bolt-action or step as much as a flat-shooting .17 HMR. However for an all-around gun that gained’t break the financial institution and can nonetheless be placing squirrels in your recreation bag 20 years from now, it’s exhausting to beat a ten/22 with good glass. Simply keep in mind – any .22 is just pretty much as good because the shooter behind it.
Squirrel Searching Tip #2: Discover the Meals, Discover the Squirrels
Discovering squirrels isn’t rocket science – it’s about following their abdomen. These tree rats are creatures of behavior, and their habits revolve round meals. Your first transfer is to find the fitting bushes. Hickory, white oak, and pecan are prime targets. Beech, crimson oak, and pine will work too, however they’re second-tier meals for squirrels.
The bottom line is discovering energetic feeding zones. Search for “cuttings” on the bottom – these shredded nut hulls and half-eaten morsels squirrels drop whereas feeding. Recent cuttings imply squirrels are working that space proper now. In the event you discover a spot the place pine cone bits litter the bottom close to some nut-dropping hardwoods, you’ve hit the jackpot.
Don’t overlook journey routes both. Squirrels aren’t silly – they know hawks and owls are watching. Search for thick vine development or low-hanging branches connecting feed bushes. These are their highways, protecting them secure from aerial assault whereas staying out of attain of floor predators.
Squirrel Searching Tip #3: Double Your Odds with a Associate
These previous bushytails is likely to be good, however they will’t outsmart two hunters working collectively. Having a companion doesn’t simply provide you with an additional set of eyes – it helps you to outmaneuver squirrels which were taking part in hide-and-seek with hunters their entire lives.
Right here’s tips on how to work it: Area yourselves about 20 yards aside when strolling. The lead hunter naturally attracts the squirrel’s consideration, whereas the trailing hunter typically will get the shot when it tries to slide across the bottom of the tree. It’s a easy trick, however it works.
Acquired a squirrel pinned in a tree? One hunter stays put whereas the opposite circles. Squirrels will attempt to maintain the tree between them and the transferring hunter – and that’s precisely what you need. They’ll shimmy proper into the stationary hunter’s sights.
Need to actually stack the chances? Have one hunter carry a shotgun for these fast photographs at transferring targets, whereas the opposite packs a scoped .22 for precision work. You’re prepared for regardless of the woods throw at you
Squirrel Searching Tip #4: Take Benefit of the Rut
If you wish to see squirrels appearing loopy, hit the woods through the breeding season. Identical to deer, squirrels throw warning to the wind when love is within the air. These usually cautious bushytails shall be working up and down bushes, chasing one another by the cover, and supplying you with shot alternatives you gained’t see another time of yr.
December is prime time for this motion. On a sunny winter day, you’ll see boar squirrels chasing sows everywhere in the woods. They’re so caught up of their breeding routine that they’ll typically run proper previous your boot tracks. That is when you may actually rack up these clear head photographs – the squirrels are too busy chasing tail to fret about hunters.
However right here’s the important thing: you want to be affected person. These breeding squirrels gives you loads of shot alternatives, however speeding issues will nonetheless ship them into hiding. Put up up with a superb view of a number of bushes and look forward to the present to start out. Once they’re rutting, you gained’t have to attend lengthy.
Squirrel Searching Tip #5: Use Your Ears
Most hunters spend an excessive amount of time scanning treetops and never sufficient time utilizing their ears. Good squirrel hunters know that listening is commonly more practical than wanting. These bushytails make every kind of noise – you simply must be taught their language.
That crunching sound up excessive? That’s a squirrel chopping nuts. The rain of hulls hitting leaves beneath tells you precisely the place to look. Hear that indignant chatter coming from a den tree? That’s probably a sow working a boar out of her territory. Even the sound of claws on bark can level you to a squirrel attempting to slide away quietly.
Need to actually up your recreation? Strive working with squirrel calls. The essential bark name works, however right here’s a trick that’ll fill your restrict sooner: Hunt with a buddy and double-bark. Area yourselves about 75 yards aside and take turns calling. When one hunter barks and the opposite solutions, it sounds pure to the squirrels – they typically can’t resist becoming a member of the dialog. The closest hunter takes the shot, you then transfer 50 yards and begin once more.
Whether or not you’re utilizing calls or simply listening, keep in mind that early morning and night are prime time for squirrel sounds. They’re most vocal after they’re most energetic
Remaining Ideas
Squirrel searching isn’t difficult, however it calls for your full consideration. These rodents have survived numerous seasons of hunters and predators searching them down. They’re taking part in protection with their lives on the road. The hunters who persistently tag out are those who keep sharp and use each benefit they will get. Put these tricks to work, and also you’ll begin pondering like a squirrel as an alternative of simply hoping to see one. That’s when the true searching begins – and that’s when your recreation bag begins getting heavier.
