Squirrel Hunting advice

Squirrel hunting is a great way to get ready for the fall season or just to have a fun day in the woods. Whether your a young child or an adult, its a great way to get experience in the woods. It helps you focus on the environment and listen to the world. Such as hearing chipmunks,birds, or other critters. This will all help familiarize yourself within the woods and help you become a better and more experienced hunter. The squirrel is a great animal to hunt, they are normally in abundance and can be good food to eat as well.

For children, this is a great animal to take your son/daughter out hunting. You can teach them the fundamentals of hunting. This does mean you can not enjoy yourself as an adult. Many people at any age go out squirrel and hunting. It helps to sharpen your perception on the outdoors.You can teach them safety in the woods and the basic principles of hunting.

     Here where I live, Pennsylvania, hunting squirrel requires 250 square inches of orange. Check your local game laws, but this is most likely very similar if not the same in your state or country. So you will need an orange hat and vest to safely hunt squirrels which are small game. Squirrel are categorized under small game so check that.

I can not stress enough that being patient is the most valuable tool you have when hunting squirrel. If you do not have patience then you will not get any or may get less than you would if your were patient. Patience is the key to hunting squirrel just like any other hunting endeavor. Be sure to wear proper camouflage and orange when hunting squirrel. Squirrel mostly act towards movement more than color so you really do need to worry about "oh I have blazing florescent orange on they will see me". This is not necessarily the case. If you do feel the need you can use face paint to help cover area around your eyes and such.

When a lot of people hunt they walk straight into the woods as if they were entering a shopping center. This is a big mistake. Before you enter take proper care to listen to the environment for squirrels. Squirrels often produce a ticking sound that they do a lot. This is called a bark. It sounds like if you were take take your tongue and move it to the bottom of your mouth quickly that makes that ticking sound. You could also refer to it as a thud sound. You will need to listen to this sound that you will eventually get used to hearing.

Another sound to watch out for is the sound of leaves rustling every couple seconds.The only downside of this is that it is often chipmunks that make this sound and it can confuse you. Chipmunks make a squeaking sound so if you hear this you know it is a chipmunk, however a squirrel could be nearby. Another similar sound to listen for is above in the trees. It is usually a very aggressive rustling sound. You may hear branches moving nearby. The squirrel is most likely jump to one tree to another. This is a possibly that it is a squirrel and so you should watch in that direction. There is this other sound which you will only hear if it is very quite and listen keenly. Squirrels climb the barks of trees and it produces a "slight" crawling sound along the bark of the tree. Now this sound will only be heard like I said if its quiet and you listen carefully.

To hear all this you will need to be very patient and quite. Patience is a virtue. Another point to make is that you must not move that much when you are hunting. Which I will explain in the next section.

   As mentioned earlier you will want to be patient and quiet when hunting squirrels. When you are in the woods try to find a spot by a tree where you can watch for a squirrels and get a good shot angle from. When you find a good spot begin listening to sounds of nature around you and those sounds a squirrel will make. This is important because once you sit there a while everything around you will start to become "alive ". What I mean by this is that when you enter a forest animals are immediately alerted to you, but once you set up somewhere things will start to spruce up. Scan the area and look for squirrels. Slowly move your head. Do not move your head very fast. You will want to restrict your movement as if you were never there. The same goes for deer hunting. Remember be patient.

  You do not have to sit in the same area forever. If you wish to move because you think the area is no good currently then you can. When doing so try and do it stealthily(quietly). Look out for squirrels nestw up in the trees or the possibly of a squirrel running amongst the ground,jumping to trees, or anything else. Sometimes you may come across a squirrel and alarm it. Its possible to get squirrels by moving you just don't want to do it all the time.

   If you alarm a squirrel and it goes up a tree watch carefully. Squirrels will see you as a predator and will try and go on the opposite side of the tree to avoid detection. Keep this in mind and be ready cause they could move higher come to your side. A little tip to give is to throw your hat on the other side and the squirrel may become alarmed move to your side. This may work or it may not. Try and keep this in mind if this scenario comes about.

Obviously you will need a hunting license to hunt squirrels and the required amount of orange in your area to be safe. When it comes to firearms its best to use a gun that is efficient enough to kill but not to strong. The 12 gauge may be to much depending on the ammunition used but it depends on how far the squirrel is and shot placement. I would recommend to use the 20 gauge cause you can opt to use 3 inch mags or 2 3/4 if you want more power but this will be good enough. Its also nice for younger kids cause the 20 gauge has less kick. Even a 28 gauge will be fine. Just remember to have good shot placement such as a neck shot or head shot.

As for calls you do not really need them but I have used one call. You hold it on one side and hit it on the other side with your other hand. Its a hand call that produces a squirrel sound. Try and use it sparingly or when needed. A lot of times you may make squirrels alarmed and they will start chattering. This is a sound that I did not mention early. When squirrels are alarmed they will start chattering and squeaking with there tail in the air moving spasmodically. A call may trigger this or it will make them produce a bark. Calls are not really needed but they may help and are small and easy to use so it does not matter if you use them or not. Its personal preference.

   You may want to carry a bag or sometimes orange vests have a place where to put your harvested squirrels at. Anything such as a garbage bag or wal mart bag would be fine. Just use what you will think be big enough.

-Be patient and quiet

-Find and area to sit and scan the area and listen for sounds

-Use a squirrel call sparingly if you have one

-Look for squirrel nests

-Something not mentioned: Listen for nuts that hit the ground, squirrels are gathering nuts in the fall and you may hear them hitting the ground

-If you have to move do it quietly and still watch and listen carefully

-Listen for squirrel barks and any other sounds that they make

-Carry a bag for the harvested squirrels

-If you alarm a squirrel watch them climb the trees they may climb higher or go on opposite side. (Remember the hat trick mentioned earlier)